"Index of Performance Race"
 

Here is a great idea that HSR just did at their July 8-11, 2004 VIR race:

1. 6 lap shootout. (could be a few more)
2. Time delay start of cars based on their "index of performance". I.e. an IROC 3.0L would have to start X seconds after the little 356 1600cc did.
3. Theoretically ... all cars should finish at the same time (doesn't happen in reality).
4. indexed on the grid according to qualifying time (no sandbagging) and known history of the car and where it "should" be running (competition director's discretion).

Results in PDF format are here.

Heck! a 2.0L 914 won turning 2.28s when other cars were turning 2.17s, 18s, etc...

What a great equalizer and would make for one hell of a competitive event and spectator viewing! Can you imagine the final lap as you see the "big guns" coming in for the kill :shock:

(I love the idea ... maybe next year....)

Jase

"no sandbagging" yeah, sure, right, OK.
What do you do about local yellows?
It would be a spectator event for sure. Why not have a field of 40 cars and run 20 cw and the other 20 ccw? After all, VIR is 3.2 miles in each direction. :D
To make it really fair why not allow any of the drivers to buy the winning car for 5 bucks if he exceeded his qualifying time? :D :D
Instead of a mad dash to the first turn it would be a mad dash for the last one. :D :D :D

What the hell are those :shock: In any event ... not allowed.

B/c that would be danagerous and the new drivers wouldn't know what to do with the passing flag. :wink:

Better yet ... that driver buys the first round for all the contenders.

Or.... allow a 10% max "better time" over a qualifying time before incurring time penalties. We live in the age of "komputters" ... we can do anything in timing & scoring :lol:

Still ... if they do it again ... I think I'll be there. I wonder if that disposable, extremely portable, well-concealed nitrous kit I was looking at will adapt to my tub. :wink: :lol: :lol:

Jase

Re: "Index of Performance Race"
 

This type of format is used from time to time in handicap yacht racing. In a mixed fleet of boats ranging from 22 ft to 40+ ft, it makes for some interesting traffic around the last few bouys and at the finish line. Let's just say that the law of gross tonnage prevailed. :shock:

I shudder to think about the final lap in an HSR race. :shock:

Jim:

Must have made for some interesting racing and a whole lot of protests being filed. :D

Well ... typically ...

Bigger car (more tonnage) = more $
Smaller car (less tonnage) = less $

I think the smaller car might eek out the victory unless the bigger car (deeper pockets) doesn't care about their body work :shock: Then again ... smaller cars are cheaper to fix ... right :o

Can you imagine having a protest flag to wave as you get punted off into an agricultural excursion? :lol:

Still think it would be cool. 8)

Jase

Local yellows would only affect on corner. Extreme example for SP: because of format slower cars are gridded at the front, toward end of race slower cars are still in front but faster cars are catching up. At the end of the front straight going into braking zone there is carnage involving leader 4,5,6, while leaders 1,2,3, continue. Yellow flag is waving at turn 10, first flag station before incident. From position 7 back there is no passing until after the incident or the next clear flag station. These are still slower cars compared to the fire breathing dragons behind them. ;)
Easily give cars 1,2,3, an additional 10-15 second lead and cars 7 on could never make up. (I told you it was an extreme example. :D)
It would be almost impossible that you could overcome anything close to this scenario.
20 each way dangerous as new drivers wouldn't know what to do about a passing flag? No problem, drivers don't pay any attention to that flag. Problem would be what do the c/w do about that flag? :D
Allowing sandbagging winner to buy a round for contenders is only encouraging bad behavior, he'd probably buy a round because he knew he put one over on you. Sell his car and he can't do it again. :(