With all of the modern safety enhancements...?

Question

Wouldn't it be cool if they started racing back to the yellow and bring back the "gentlemen's agreement"? If not, tell me why you think they shouldn't.

Answer 1

I'd like to see more of the old school stuff also but I am in favor of ANYTHING that improves the safety of the drivers, including the lucky dog rule.  The top 35 lock should be tweaked or eliminated, that has to do with money and politics and has no bearing on safety.

3 STR8 N 08!!!

Answer 2

ditto what superdave said.  one other main reason for the change was also safety related - the need for emergency vehicles to get out on the track as soon as possible.  think back to california earlier this year with the casey mears, junior, and sam hornish entanglement just out of turn two.  i was there and to see those flames erupt after hornish plowed into mears and put him on his side was a scary moment.  

if drivers were allowed to race back to the yellow, it would have taken at least two laps before the emergency crews could move - one while the drivers raced around the two mile track back to the start-finish line, and another as they slowed down coming back around, because it's not that far from the S/F line to turn two.

Answer 3

Tom, I agree with alot of things you ask but this one I gotta disagree with ya. Its been a few years back and Dale Jarrett was still in the #88 UPS car(and I think this may have been why they made the rule about not racing back to the yellow) it was towards the end of the race and Dale Jarrett spun his car in turn four and it stalled with the drivers side facing the oncoming cars in the middle of the track and several cars barely missed Tboning him in the drivers side door. And this was in the old car that wasn't nearly as safe as it is now. He could have been seriously injured if not killed by the impact. I agree the cars are a heck of alot safer now but racing back to the yellow is just bad news if you ask me. This is just my opinion and my opinion only and hope this doesn't offend anyone.

I couldnt get the youtube video to load but it was the 2003 New Hampshire race.

Answer 4

it shouldn't, if a driver gets seriously hurt or even dies because cars were racing back the the yellow and strike a damaged car, nascar would be liable and go against everything they are working for with its safety program.  as a fan it would make the race more exciting but i completely agree with the rule.