[cleatziff]

"Lets just line them up 2 wide on the restarts so we can have a bunch of make believe passing"
...Or we could line them up single file and make a rule that requires driver's to move over and let the car behind them pass. That always makes for good racing.

[illiNOISE]

If they don't want the drivers to block, why not just take the mirrors off the cars, and eliminate the radios and spotters?

[767]

Originally Posted by Ovalmeister Actually it's the opposite. Every car on the track can dive low if they have a legitmate shot at passing, EXCEPT the leader. (who is he gonna pass?) Unfortunately for Helio, he was the leader....and decided to go low anyway. An obvious blocking situation. Pretty cut and dry. David.

The leader can run the low side in the corner, but he must take the competitive racing lane to the corner. I do agree with you the rule needs to be changed or adjusted, but atleast they followed the rule they have.

[Ovalmeister]

Originally Posted by 767 The leader can run the low side in the corner, but he must take the competitive racing lane to the corner.

Exactly. The photo below shows your point perfectly.

The field is sweeping up into the racing lane. Will power got a good jump and tried to pass Helio underneath, totally legal. Helio stayed low to block, totally illegal.

Again, I don't really agree with the rule, but it is painfully obvious he broke the rule.

David.

[VaDirt]

How to win an Indycar race. Try to pass on the outside. Simple, because if someone tries to pass on the outside, the guy on the inside is obviously blocking nd should be penalized. Therefore, you get the spot. Easy!

***?!?!? Seriously, if someone tries to pass you on the outside, you're blocking?

[v8j]

after all that has ben said from the IRL it is still B.S.

[throb]

Originally Posted by Ovalmeister Exactly. The photo below shows your point perfectly. The field is sweeping up into the racing lane. Will power got a good jump and tried to pass Helio underneath, totally legal. Helio stayed low to block, totally illegal. Again, I don't really agree with the rule, but it is painfully obvious he broke the rule. David.

this picture actually shows that will power should have been penalized for blocking too.....barnhart said in the meeting that the rule was enforced from the braking zone to corner entry. the cones on both sides of the track mark the braking zone.......so i guess power was blocking too.........where is the penalty for him?

[Ovalmeister]

Originally Posted by throb this picture actually shows that will power should have been penalized for blocking too.....barnhart said in the meeting that the rule was enforced from the braking zone to corner entry. the cones on both sides of the track mark the braking zone.......so i guess power was blocking too.........where is the penalty for him?

Because Dixon isn't under his wing or trying to pass him underneath. Dixon is in the "racing line" not the "passing line". I know, it's stupid, but that's the rule. Even if Dixon was trying to pass Power, Helio would still be the only one penalized because he can't be low since he was the leader and not trying to pass anyone. In that situation, both Dixon and Power would be legal because they had legitimate passing attempts in progress. Bottom line, the leader has to be in the "racing line", otherwise he is blocking. None of us seem to be happy about the rule, but for now, that's the rule.
David.

[openwheelKT]

There is a difference between defending your position as the leader and blocking to keep the lead. That rule (an absolutely ridiculous rule) does not prevent blocking, it prevents defending your position as the leader....which you should ALWAYS be able to do. You should ALWAYS be able to pick your line as the leader.

That’s like telling a driver at a dirt track that they must restart at the cushion each time the green comes out. Everybody else can drive under them down low. The high line might not be the best place to restart all the time.

Barnhart called the rule correctly, but the rule makes no sense. Barnhart needs to go regardless.... Time for a fresh start which is what the IRL is trying to do. He needs to be part of the fresh start.

[duel]

looking at that picture it looks like they could go 10 wide down the staight and 3 wide into the turn. blocking? i agree that the mirrors should go. maybe then more guys could get a wheel along side of each other. then you would either let the guy have that line or the big one.