NASCAR Pace Car at Sonoma

"sounbwoy" (sounbwoy) 06/28/2015 at 17:25 • Filed to: None

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A Toyota Mirai as the pace car? sigh...

tromoly > sounbwoy 06/28/2015 at 17:30

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...And? Pace cars don’t need to be sports cars, just need to hold an average pace over the course of a lap.

Indy used a Dodge pickup a number of years ago, and used an Oldsmobile vehicle that was released two days before Oldsmobile was killed. Worse pace cars have happened.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > sounbwoy 06/28/2015 at 17:54

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they used it at richmond too. ive got pictures somewhere

sounbwoy > tromoly 06/28/2015 at 19:04

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True. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing or even a SAFE thing. But I remember Senna and the piss poor pace car they had there when he died. Seems to me that pace cars would be ones that can get out of their own way, which this one obviously could barely do.

tromoly > sounbwoy 06/28/2015 at 20:07

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Pace cars are not fire safety vehicles, they don’t need to be “quick” responders, their purpose is to lead the field at a predetermined pace. I’ve seen Mini Coopers used as pace cars before, and they are by no means speed demons.

sounbwoy > tromoly 06/28/2015 at 21:23

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Did I say anywhere that pace cars were fire safety vehicles? I don’t think I did and neither did I imply that.

tromoly > sounbwoy 06/28/2015 at 21:53

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Then explain what a pace car has to do with Senna’s death.

sounbwoy > tromoly 06/28/2015 at 22:31

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If you remember, Senna complained that the pace car was too slow and the race cars were unable to maintain a pace that would enable them to effectively keep heat in the tires. It might not be part of the official version of his death, but since Senna is Senna, I’m going to believe that contributed in some way. It’s not different for any other high performance race car but the organizers and promoters determine what’s used. I am fully aware of the use of several types of vehicles for pace car use, but that doesn’t mean that they were/are GOOD choices. IF it were me, I personally would not use a Mirai as a pace car. I would want to make sure that the vehicle I use for a pace car can handle, accelerate and brake effectively at a level above regular street vehicles and would outfit it as such. I’m sure you don’t have an issue with F1 using an AMG MB as the pace car do you? Regardless, I’m done with this conversation now. Thanks and take care.

tromoly > sounbwoy 06/28/2015 at 23:02

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My views are based on working at a NASCAR-level facility for 8 years. But you are entitled to your opinion.