IRL To Include Driver's Weight In 2008

[DanicaRules]

Beginning this season, the Indy Racing League will include drivers' weights in the minimum allotment for cars.

Officials will give teams details in technical bulletins still to be distributed. There almost certainly will be a different standard for oval tracks and road/street circuits. The placement of the weight has not come out yet.

Before this move, the driver's weight was not factored in before the car was weighed in. So you had people complaining about an advantage that a lighter driver had over a heavier driver.

[Ryan]

This is going to hurt Danica Patrick the most. Given she weighs about 100 pounds, her car was 50-100 pounds lighter than almost every other car in the field for the last 3 years.

[DanicaRules]

This is going to hurt Danica Patrick the most. Given she weighs about 100 pounds, her car was 50-100 pounds lighter than almost every other car in the field for the last 3 years.

It wont do anything to help but I dont think it will hurt her either. I believe this is the chance that she will prove to everyone that she didnt have an advantage and that she was just a better driver.:D

[Lizardfolk]

I think that factoring in a driver's weight is retarded.

[JoStream]

I think that factoring in a driver's weight is retarded.

Actually I'm surprised they will only begin considering this next season. I'll give you a good example why it's not retarded.

You go with your buddies to a Kart Race to have some fun and release some of that racing energy. One of your friends is really tall / buff, the other is a bit chubby, one is short / buff and your oldest friend happens to be overweight. We are talking about a difference of roughly 40 kg from lightest to heaviest.

Now if you've been in such a situation before, you will have noticed that these differences become clear during the race (regardless of how much you push). Your heavy friends will be easy to overtake, very easy, in part because the Kart itself is already fairly light. But when weight is taken into consideration, everybody has a fair shot at becoming the fastest man on the track :)

In the IRL of course, I highly doubt that the biggest difference is more than 20 kg. Maybe DR can fill us in on that :thumbsup:

[KillerNut]

They should call this the Tony Stewart rule.

[saltysurprise]

I'm not a big fan of it either. I had to laugh when LF called it retarded:lol::thumbsup:

By all rights, for example, Danica Patrick (purely an example DR;)) vs. Tony Kanaan. He may be nearly twice her size, thus giving her the weight advantage. BUT!!;) No one can argue that Tony is much stronger than Danica. Both of them are exerting themselves to the same forces occuring in the car. Logic would dictate that while Danica had a lighter car, Tony would have had the strength and endurance that would outlast Danica. Fatigue plays a large roll in your perfomance.

The even distribution of weight amongst opponents I have to give a hearty :thumbsdown:

[JoStream]

By all rights, for example, Danica Patrick (purely an example DR;)) vs. Tony Kanaan. He may be nearly twice her size, thus giving her the weight advantage. BUT!!;) No one can argue that Tony is much stronger than Danica. Both of them are exerting themselves to the same forces occuring in the car. Logic would dictate that while Danica had a lighter car, Tony would have had the strength and endurance that would outlast Danica. Fatigue plays a large roll in your perfomance.

The even distribution of weight amongst opponents I have to give a hearty :thumbsdown:

I don't think the relationship is as proportional as you might think. If it were, then the weight factor would have been thrown out a long time ago, even in Formula 1 :wonder:

[saltysurprise]

I don't think the relationship is as proportional as you might think. If it were, then the weight factor would have been thrown out a long time ago, even in Formula 1 :wonder:

I don't think I quite follow what you mean:wonder: If it were that big of a difference, then (example) Danica, being one of the smallest drivers (if not THE smallest) in last years IRL season, should have cleaned house. But other than a couple of podiums... Well you get the picture.

I also don't get the F1 relate.. They didn't make Lewis drive around with a few extra sticks of butter because Alonso couldn't stop eating deep fried twinkies:lol:

I could see something like this being implemented on A1GP but that's about it.

[JoStream]

Actually, they do add weight because some drivers are quite a bit lighter than others.

The minimum weight permissible is 605 kg (1334 lb) including the driver, fluids and on-board cameras. However, all F1 cars weigh significantly less than this (some as little as 440 kg) so teams add ballast to the cars to bring them up to the minimum legal weight. The advantage of using ballast is that it can be placed anywhere in the car to provide ideal weight distribution.

What I was trying to say is that being heavier 1 kg does not mean you have additional endurance or strength. And when it is the case, the extent varies for every individual kilogram. Assuming they would be directly related and proportional, as in five minutes more endurance under high pressure per additional kilogram (for example), then it would be fair.

Other than that I see the introduction of this system as inevitable and long overdue.

[saltysurprise]

Actually, they do add weight because some drivers are quite a bit lighter than others.


Well don't I have pie on my face now:o:lol: Or however that saying goes:rolleyes::lol:

I didn't realize it was quite to that extent.

[DanicaRules]

Just to let you know, according to the indycar stats, the heaviest driver is Ryan Hunter-Reay weighing in at 175 lbs. Danica Patrick is the lightest at 100 lbs.

[JoStream]

Just to let you know, according to the indycar stats, the heaviest driver is Ryan Hunger-Reay weighing in at 175 lbs. Danica Patrick is the lightest at 100 lbs.

Thanks Chad, that's almost 34 kg :eek:. Will be interesting to see how it affects heavier and lighter drivers :wonder: