10 Biggest Mistakes On Track

[steveh]

bobt993 wrote:

Steve, I thought Pinattas are a contact sport. Why not punt him? Hard to pass someone when your trying to get back on the track or stuck in the kittly litter in T1. Ask Darren for some track video of his agression at SP chasing Todd Reid. He would give a slower car one chance to move then simply rotated enough to get a good second ahead.

The Spec Racer Renault I drove this past weekend had a fiberglass nose, so contact would not have been a good idea.

I've watched Darren and Todd race first-hand (i.e., I got out of their way so they could continue their battle), and appreciate their experience and skill. Probably not a good approach for a rookie racer - more experience will eventually allow a higher risk tolerance, and I'll be less likely to receive a black flag and a lecture from the race director.

My goal is first to learn how to pass consistently without contact, even if it might involve the occasional dive-bomb or grass excursion or other wild ride. It can be done - one of the SRR hotshoes hit consistent 1:01's at Lime Rock, in an 89 HP car in traffic, and never touched anybody.