Ask The Insiders Wednesday #32

We are half way through another week in the 2009 season.  The Cup cars are off this weekend, but the Nationwide Series and Trucks will be on track, as is this 32nd edition of ATIW.  If you don’t know what this post is, until further notice, we will be answering any and all reader questions every Wednesday, right here.  So if you’ve got one, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send one to us.  On to the questions…

1. From Woogeroo:

Howdy Insiders, with all of the fancy data recorders on the Cup cars now, I was wondering if NASCAR had released how many G’s and other technical minutiae involved with Kyle Busch smackin’ the wall at the end of the Daytona race?

I haven’t heard anything in the garage, and I don’t believe NASCAR has released this information.  Sorry I couldn’t be of more help! – T.C.

2. From Bryan:

From a fan’s perspective, Michael Waltrip comes across as a clown and not very serious.  It’s hard to see him in the roll as a team owner where hard and serious decisions have to be made that affect his employees.  My question is: How hands on is Michael at MWR and is his TV personality an act?  I am a MWR fan, but I’m just curious.

I think to some extent the TV side of Michael you see isn’t real.  He’s not quite as funny and goofy as he’d like you to think he is.  In terms of being an owner, I believe he is involved in running his team.  I think it would be hard to not be involved. – T.C.

3. From Gerry from Chelmsford:

Do you think side by side restarts cause more accidents? Fires?

I don’t think its caused any more wrecks, but it certainly has the potential to. With the new rule it is different when everyone is racing for position. – Journo

4. From BJ:

During the Nationwide race this past weekend, there was a piece done about pit crew members dribbling sugary drinks on the white lines delineating their pit box to provide extra sticky grip for their shoes when they run around servicing the car.   It made me wonder about the shoes crew members wear. I know in a previous post you mentioned that all shoes have to have the approved seal.  Besides that seal are there any restrictions as to the composition of the sole of the shoes worn?  I know that rock climbers wear special shoes with an extra gummy compound on the soles for added adhesion to the rock surface. Do pit crew shoes have something similar?  What about some kind of stickum spray? This would naturally wear away through use and need to be reapplied, but might help grip too.  Just exactly what kind of prohibitions are there regarding pit crew accoutrements?

Besides the need for them to be fire retardent (SFI approved), I don’t believe there are any rules.  Simpson, New Balance, Addidas, and Oakley all make pit crew shoes but none have extra sticky soles.  Slipping on pit road isn’t usually too big of a problem, unless you step on a lugnut or slip in spilled fuel. – T.C.

UPDATE: I got an email this morning from Craig at New Balance:

Just a quick note in regards to your answer. The rubber soles on the New Balance crew shoe that the Gibb’s teams wear was specially formulated for them to be extra sticky. We worked with the teams on several different compounds actually. The one that was finally chosen is stickier than anything else out there on the market for crew shoes.

Thanks for the response Craig! – T.C.

5. From Jana & Jan:

What is the wave around and how does it apply to drivers that are waved around?  What is the ‘wave around’ car?

The wave around rule with the new double file restarts affects cars that are a lap down.  Normally, when a caution comes out, lead laps cars pit first.  This puts all the cars that are a lap down behind the pace car.  If they want to pit, they come down pit road the second time by.  But, if a team now wants to get a lap back they can stay out behind the pace car (and in front of the leader) and not pit.  As the field is coming to take the green, NASCAR will wave these teams around (so they don’t restart in front of the leader) and they can get a lap back.  But, the kicker is that they cannot pit until after the green flag is out.  So they benefit by being able to get the lap back, but they may be taking a big risk by not pitting. - T.C.

6. From Jeff:

Do crew chiefs and pit crew members have contracts?

Just like drivers it depends on what team you are with. Across the board crew chiefs are almost always going to have contracts. The exception with that being at some of the smaller and start and park teams. For pit crews, if you’re at Gibbs or Hendrick you’ll probably have a contract. If you’re with Tommy Baldwin or Front Row, you probably won’t. – Journo 

7. From Kimberly:

Hello!  I am pretty new to watching NASCAR (only about 4 years) and had a questions that might seem silly.  When they show pictures on TV of the cars sitting on pit road before the race, they all seem to have some kind of metal box hanging from the window nets.  What is it and what is it for?  Thanks!

From your description, I’m not really sure what you are referring to.  I’m thinking you may be referring to the thermostat boxes for the oil heaters, but I can’t be completely sure.  Do you maybe have a picture you could send? – T.C.

8. From Steve:

Re: MWR and, more relevantly, NAPA deciding to pick up Truex instead of going with a hot shot prospect.  I gather Truex may be the best of the available established drivers (is he?), but is he considered to have talent that has been stifled at EGR? (if not, what does MWR hope he’ll do there?)  He’s coming without a sponsor, he’s had middling results. Or does he have such a fan base that NAPA thought it a no-brainer to pick him up?  Why not go with a hot prospect that you can generate some hype with?

Other than maybe taking a chance with Brad Keselowski, Truex is the best you’re going to do this season. I don’t think you can say Martin doesn’t have talent (the guy has two Nationwide Championships), but he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. It is hard to make a case that his equipment this season has been sub-par, but if a driver is unhappy things probably aren’t going to go well. – Journo

9. From Amy:

This is in regards to the announcement this afternoon about the 1 team being penalized for a right rear quarter panel infraction. My friend asked me this and I didn’t know how to answer her: If you are involved in an on track incident, couldn’t this alter the height of your fender? How can the inspections be sure that it was purposeful and not due to a little racing incident?

If a car is damaged in a wreck, NASCAR isn’t going to hold the team responsible for the quarter panel height.  But if the car isn’t damaged, NASCAR will penalize the team if it is too high or too low.  During pre-race inspection, the cars are allowed a certain tolerance.  In post-race inspection, NASCAR again allows a tolerance, and I believe it is actually relaxed some.  Either way, damage would be apparent. – T.C.

10. From Ric:

When Tony won the Daytona Coke Zero 400, his pit crew jumped off the wall in celebration, then an official pushed them back against the wall. I have seen crews jump off the wall in celebration many of times, have not seen an official push them back before. I’m assuming this was because of the wreck that was going on, not a normal thing that the camera normally misses. Is there a rule about no celebration over the wall during a caution, or just the individual official worried about safety?

There isn’t a specific rule about it, but guys were celebrating on pit road and cars were spinning and wrecking through the infield at 150MPH-plus.  The official appeared to be the only one paying attention to the track, so kudos to him for grabbing the SHR crew and pulling them out of harm’s way. – T.C.

And that brings yet another “Ask The Insiders Wednesday” to a close.  Thanks to everyone who sent in questions.  And remember, if you’d like to be a part of next week, click on the ”Ask the Insiders” tab at the top of the page and send your question in!

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