Silly Rules Thread

[Eh Team]

We've been seeing a trend lately of motorsport heads of office trying to make their series more appealing to the general public. This, very unfortunately, means that they mess with the rules to make it more exciting for anyone who wouldn't normally watch.

So the aim of this thread is to show off the sheer lunacy that execs are willing to go to just for TV ratings or fans in the stands.

I shall kickoff the thread with very possibly the silliest of them all: The Nascar Truck series Caution Clock. This terrible rule literally takes away the whole point of racing any longer than 20 minutes, as that is the length of the clock. So what happens is from the time the green flag drops on the race this clock starts running, and if it runs all the way down Nascar will throw the caution flag to bunch the field up again for hopefully more exciting racing. The clock resets any time a caution is thrown and starts again when the green flag drops again. This new and terrible rule has already cost Matt Crafton a win, as he was leading the Atlanta race, but after the clock triggered restart he was crashed by another driver who obviously wouldn't have done so had the caution not flown.

 

[AudiMan2011]

F1 Drag Reduction System

The current implementation is stupid where the driver behind can use it whereas the driver in front can't use it to defend. It just makes overtakes boring as the driver in front is left a sitting duck.

 

[Eh Team]

F1 Drag Reduction System

The current implementation is stupid where the driver behind can use it whereas the driver in front can't use it to defend. It just makes overtakes boring as the driver in front is left a sitting duck.

I could be wrong, but hasn't that always been the rule since F1 started policing it?

 

[AudiMan2011]

I could be wrong, but hasn't that always been the rule since F1 started policing it?

It has been, and I've never liked it that way. They should have made it so drivers can use the DRS to defend their position as well instead of letting the guy behind him cruise past.

 

[Legro]

It has been, and I've never liked it that way. They should have made it so drivers can use the DRS to defend their position as well instead of letting the guy behind him cruise past.

That would kind of defeat the idea behind having a DRS, which was made entirely so that it was easier to overtaking. Then again the DRS itself was a pretty cheap attempt to fix the fact not much happens in F1 races.

As for silly rules. The recently added rule which requires traffic insurance for karting in the Finnish Karting Championship and other Finnish "major" level karting series.

 

[UnkaD]

The entire NASCAR chase system.

 

[Northstar]

I always thought DRS would be way better if they had it setup similar to IndyCar's "push to pass". In the case of DRS they should have it so you can use it whenever you want, but you only have 90 seconds with the DRS active to last the whole race. This way they have the "benefits" of the system, but some strategy is still needed.

 

[RazorSharkz]

The entire NASCAR chase system.

Beat me to it

 

[ukfan758]

NASCAR overtime (yes, that's what it's called), where there can be an unlimited amount of retries of the restart if they do not make it halfway through the restart lap.

 

[UnkaD]

NASCAR overtime (yes, that's what it's called), where there can be an unlimited amount of retries of the restart if they do not make it halfway through the restart lap.

I can't help but feel that this is a direct response to the Talladega race. I think it was Talladega. The one where Harvick clipped the car at the flag wave causing a pile-up before Jr. could secure the lead, thus enraging all of the fans. Right? I don't follow too closely so correct me if I'm off.

 

[Eh Team]

I can't help but feel that this is a direct response to the Talladega race. I think it was Talladega. The one where Harvick clipped the car at the flag wave causing a pile-up before Jr. could secure the lead, thus enraging all of the fans. Right? I don't follow too closely so correct me if I'm off.

That is exactly the reason it was implemented. I had the misfortune of being there on that occasion, and it was the only race I attended last year.

I don't think so much that the rule is silly, but the fact that the drivers can't hold it together for a whole lap after a restart is rather pathetic. Harvick stayed out on that particular caution knowing his engine was beginning to go sour (was down to 7 cylinders I believe) but he needed to be on track to have enough positions to make it through to the next round of the chase. So he pulled out of line ahead of both restarts to prevent himself getting crashed, but the drivers behind got so excited or were just too nervous that when they went to pull up into his empty space they all piled into each other.

The whole thing was utter stupidity, and then Nascar threw the yellow flag so much later than the first one, as if to give Dale Jr a chance to get ahead, but he didn't. The booing that went on was pretty thunderous, I don't think I've ever experienced a more unhappy crowd in my whole life. So yes, the new rule about finishing races under the green flag was directly or indirectly a result of approximately 100,000 people essentially booing Nascar's race officiating team offstage.

 

[GTracer38]

I always thought DRS would be way better if they had it setup similar to IndyCar's "push to pass". In the case of DRS they should have it so you can use it whenever you want, but you only have 90 seconds with the DRS active to last the whole race. This way they have the "benefits" of the system, but some strategy is still needed.

So, like a modified version of the old KERS system they had.

 

[Com Fox]

I always found WEC LMP1 Fuel Flow rule to be rather ridiculous. Most of the regulations that came 2014 felt like they were made to purposely screw over Audi.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Yes terrible rule that. Bloody dangerous as well. You lose power towards the end of the lap and the guy tight behind you doesn't.

 

[tankuroded]

Nobody mentioned the oft-complained NASCAR Trucks' caution clock yet? 💡

I was blind.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

f1 Halo. I really dont see how it's meant to prevent anything.

Massa accident : Nothing would have change, small pieces can still found the way to hit the helmet
Bianchi's accident : Same thing, wouldnt change a thing.

The only time it could be usefull (depends what is the weight supported by this too and the G's it can whitstand) is when a car goes over you or when a tyre try to fly away form the car (which shouldnt happen now anyway).

I understand that they dont want close cockpit but they could still make car that looks like f1 with close cockpit the ferrari design or the car in gt by newey could be future f1. I wouldnt mind that actually, I think they both look pretty badass. But this halo thing, meh.

 

[Jimlaad43]

f1 Halo. I really dont see how it's meant to prevent anything.

Massa accident : Nothing would have change, small pieces can still found the way to hit the helmet
Bianchi's accident : Same thing, wouldnt change a thing.

The only time it could be usefull (depends what is the weight supported by this too and the G's it can whitstand) is when a car goes over you or when a tyre try to fly away form the car (which shouldnt happen now anyway).

I understand that they dont want close cockpit but they could still make car that looks like f1 with close cockpit the ferrari design or the car in gt by newey could be future f1. I wouldnt mind that actually, I think they both look pretty badass. But this halo thing, meh.

It's a stop-gap while we wait for anything better. It may have not done much in a Massa or Bianchi incident, but incidents like Henry Surtees or Justin Wilson would have been a lot different with a Halo.

 

[Dennisch]

Nobody mentioned the oft-complained NASCAR Trucks' caution clock yet? 💡

Uhm. First post?

 

[Cowboy]

This new and terrible rule has already cost Matt Crafton a win, as he was leading the Atlanta race, but after the clock triggered restart he was crashed by another driver who obviously wouldn't have done so had the caution not flown.

I thought one of his tires blew out, but anyways this is a pretty wierd and boring rule in my opinion. I'd rather see how long they can go without a caution, like regular NASCAR.

 

[wingman1659]

Nobody mentioned the oft-complained NASCAR Trucks' caution clock yet? 💡

Did you truly not even read the original post of the thread?

 

[Eh Team]

I thought one of his tires blew out, but anyways this is a pretty wierd and boring rule in my opinion. I'd rather see how long they can go without a caution, like regular NASCAR.

I think that was Christopher Bell actually, who was the one that essentially took out Crafton. Coming off turn 2 Bell got loose and turned into Daniel Suarez who then turned directly into Crafton. I really hope Nascar sees that the rule only causes havoc and does nothing to improve the racing.

 

[Bo]

f1 Halo. I really dont see how it's meant to prevent anything.

Massa accident : Nothing would have change, small pieces can still found the way to hit the helmet
Bianchi's accident : Same thing, wouldnt change a thing.

It's not designed to prevent either types of incident. Bianchi would've still been killed no matter how much frontal protection he got, because nothing survives a hit like that. Small pieces can only be fully prevented by a canopy, and that isn't feasible at this point.

 

[TheElbows]

I dislike any gimmicks that are introduced, indicating that the people creating the cars/series got it wrong. Push to pass, DRS, etc. When you need a forced mechanical device to "create" good racing you need to stop, go back to the drawing board and rethink your overall technical limits on the cars.

Now don't get me wrong, if you want active-aero...bring active aero. Let someone use DRS anywhere on the track if they have the balls to do so. You want to pop open your wing while going through a corner? Go for it...may be suicidal, but leave it up to the driver.

The worst offense I've seen was in, I believe PWS a couple of seasons back where they would qualify...and then the lead driver would flip a coin to see if the they inverted the top 10 cars or some such nonsense. Talk about circus crap you don't need at a race.

To "create" better racing, the reality is you can take away stuff far cheaper than you can add stuff. However that means lap times being extended, and a sign of failing to advance etc.

 

[Bo]

I don't think additional extras necessarily means the regs are broken. Take SF for example, although they have access to the OTS, the races wouldn't be completely stale without it. It's just a little extra strategy to factor in.

You have to remember that it's a spectator sport, and there's nothing fans like more than unpredictability - BTCC reverse grids are great fun to watch, but they don't indicate that NGTC is a broken formula.

 

[TheElbows]

A reverse grid as a permanent part of a multi-race fixture is fine. But flipping a coin to randomly decide to completely undo the entire qualifying session you just undertook? Stupid.

 

[Blood Eagle]

NASCAR overtime (yes, that's what it's called), where there can be an unlimited amount of retries of the restart if they do not make it halfway through the restart lap.

They also need to clarify that rule. My understanding was that if the lead lar makes it to the line, the next flag ends the race be it a Caution, white flag etc. At Atlanta the 18 was in 2nd when the caution came out the 48 had already made it to the scoring loop line. To me that means the race was official as soon as the caution came out. That would make the 18 2nd and not the 88. I'd like NASCAR to clarify it.

 

[TRGTspecialist]

It has been, and I've never liked it that way. They should have made it so drivers can use the DRS to defend their position as well instead of letting the guy behind him cruise past.

That would be an even sillier implementation of DRS than we have now, because surely that would be equivalent to them both not having DRS at all!

I always thought DRS would be way better if they had it setup similar to IndyCar's "push to pass". In the case of DRS they should have it so you can use it whenever you want, but you only have 90 seconds with the DRS active to last the whole race. This way they have the "benefits" of the system, but some strategy is still needed.

I'd agree that would be better - but then it wouldn't be DRS anymore.

I think DRS is more a philosophy than a specific system, if that makes any sense - that philosophy being "a car running behind should be given an artificial advantage over the car in front", and the idea of a moving wing simply being the chosen method of achieving that. A push to pass system doesn't do this because there's equality between drivers - they all have the same amount of it, and can all use it wherevever they want. There's a different purpose behind such a system.

So suggesting a push-to-pass style implementation, whilst a great idea, isn't really a "modification" to DRS - it changes it into something else entirely.


I'm not sure if this would be an improvement, but I've always wondered what would happen if DRS worked in a sort-of opposite manner to how it does now - where the driver running behind can use it wherever they want on the track except for the usual DRS zones on the big straights. In my head I'd like to think this would mean they could run closer than usual to the car in front all the way round the lap (possibly allowing overtakes in more adventurous places), thus making an overtake on the long straights easier, but with the overtake itself being all their own work. Would also bring back the challenge of using DRS as early as possible out of corners like we used to see in 2011 qualifying. But with DRS being ineffective at lower speeds I don't know if this actually would work better in reality.

 

[Furinkazen]

Silly rule? The "we cannot fight NFL" calendar rule from Indycar that resulted in March to August seasons. Also honourable mention to anybody in Indycar in a position of power in last years for always finding a way to undoing great steps forward.

 

[twitcher]

That would be an even sillier implementation of DRS than we have now, because surely that would be equivalent to them both not having DRS at all!



I'd agree that would be better - but then it wouldn't be DRS anymore.

I think DRS is more a philosophy than a specific system, if that makes any sense - that philosophy being "a car running behind should be given an artificial advantage over the car in front", and the idea of a moving wing simply being the chosen method of achieving that. A push to pass system doesn't do this because there's equality between drivers - they all have the same amount of it, and can all use it wherevever they want. There's a different purpose behind such a system.

So suggesting a push-to-pass style implementation, whilst a great idea, isn't really a "modification" to DRS - it changes it into something else entirely.


I'm not sure if this would be an improvement, but I've always wondered what would happen if DRS worked in a sort-of opposite manner to how it does now - where the driver running behind can use it wherever they want on the track except for the usual DRS zones on the big straights. In my head I'd like to think this would mean they could run closer than usual to the car in front all the way round the lap (possibly allowing overtakes in more adventurous places), thus making an overtake on the long straights easier, but with the overtake itself being all their own work. Would also bring back the challenge of using DRS as early as possible out of corners like we used to see in 2011 qualifying. But with DRS being ineffective at lower speeds I don't know if this actually would work better in reality.

How are you supposed to keep up to the car in front around corners if you have no rear downforce though?

This might sound silly, but play pCARS and try going around a medium or high speed curve with the DRS flap open.


If anything, I think an "opposite DRS", or a "downforce enhancing system" would work better. The car behind gets an extra amount of downforce to use through the corners to overcome the turbulent air, and to maintain proximity. They would have the ability to carry more exit speed onto a straight, and then complete the pass in the next braking zone.

I think it would be better because the leading dricer still has the ability to defend his position through the corners, whereas they are currently a sitting duck on the straights


Btw this isn't my original idea, I think I read it around here somewhere.

 

[TRGTspecialist]

How are you supposed to keep up to the car in front around corners if you have no rear downforce though?

This might sound silly, but play pCARS and try going around a medium or high speed curve with the DRS flap open.

Ah no I didn't mean the DRS would be stuck on the whole time, I mean't the driver would have the option to activate it where we wanted to (outside of the normal DRS zones), which would be every short/medium straight on the track basically. I don't imagine they'd want to activate it for the corners! But it would be fun to see again how far they would push it coming out of corners:

If anything, I think an "opposite DRS", or a "downforce enhancing system" would work better. The car behind gets an extra amount of downforce to use through the corners to overcome the turbulent air, and to maintain proximity. They would have the ability to carry more exit speed onto a straight, and then complete the pass in the next braking zone.

I think it would be better because the leading dricer still has the ability to defend his position through the corners, whereas they are currently a sitting duck on the straights


Btw this isn't my original idea, I think I read it around here somewhere.

Oooh I do quite like that - you could possibly get more unorthodox overtakes as well because of the extra grip the driver behind would have. I wonder how difficult it would be to implement a system that does that + deploys without potentially destabilising the car. But I think as with my idea it's definitely the better way of looking at the DRS concept - reducing the challenge preparing for an overtake rather than reducing the challenge of the overtake itself.