[quote=“Lateapex911” post=72976][quote=“catsailor” post=72973][quote=“Ranger” post=72967]Re. opposite conclusion. Point well made.
The problem with the rules and these examples is that they are oriented towards the braking zone of a turn. The actions of the passee are predictable in the braking zone and the rules dictate things that the passer has to take into account as he is planning and then executing his pass.
This incident was not in a braking zone. We all try to read each other’s minds, but I certainly would not have expected Rob to come across the track so I’d have been caught be surprise too. One of the purposes of rules is that they help us predict each other’s actions. They are not intended, to reference a hypothetical I created earlier, to allow me to ram a passer because he looked at my sister wrong.[/quote]
Scott, the rules are not oriented towards the braking zone, they are for everywhere on the track. And it is a really bad idea to consider any other drivers future actions to be “predictable” no matter where you are on track. And trying to “read the mind” of another driver or assume that he / she sees you is another very bad idea. The overtaking driver should deal with only what they see and not what they assume the other driver sees.
It is really pretty simple, if you are the overtaking driver you need to be paying enough attention to the car you are overlapped on that if it moves towards you you can give room. I’m surprised that some of you have so much trouble with that notion.
In this incident the lead car needed to get to track left before entering the fast right hander that was in front of him, he did not make a sudden move to the left he simply started to fade over like you would do if no other car was there. The overtaking car had put himself very close to the lead car, had he been a foot or two to the left and / or moved left with the lead car this crash would not have happened.
One other note: when we are reviewing incidents it takes extraordinary circumstances for us to start thinking that there was malice or intent by either party. We simply look at what happened and then use the rules to determine if and where fault should be placed and then apply the appropriate penalties as stated in the CCR’s.[/quote]
Well, the lead car didn’t NEED to move left. He COULD have negotiated the right hander just fine if he had lifted a bit. Heck, his line through the previous corner was quite compromised, (As he had the overtaking car on his inside) so he might not have been carrying the speed and might not have needed the entire track anyway.
I’d also debate whether it was reasonable to assume the lead car was aware of the overtaking cars presence, as he certainly knew the overtaking car was well overlapped just seconds before, proven by the fact that they went through the left hander two wide. If he didn’t know, he has serious issues with situational awareness. (Beyond that, his video comments make it very clear he knew exactly where teh overtaking car was, and in his mind thought he knew the precise overlap)
And yes the overtaking car COULD have gone two wheels off. Ugg.
But yes, all that is really irrelevant isn’t it? The rules gave the lead car the right to drive pretty much where he wanted.
I’d suggest that the increase in incidents might be due to more people from other sanctioning bodies coming into play, and bringing with them the majority mindset, which is vastly different than this particular ruling. NASCAR, Indycar, ALMS, SCCA, Conti Challenge, Rolex…in any of those this would result in a penalty for the lead driver.
I’d suggest racing would be better if the overtaking driver, who had such a significant overlap, was given more rights down a straight, and if responsibility of a clean pass was borne by the lead driver as well in such a situation. As it stands now, the lead driver has a “push you off the track free” card.
Still not understanding the 'black and white" aspect that needed a 180 degree reversal in the post penalty stage.[/quote]
The lead car had room to move left without going off track. Also, he was not along side but rather just overlapped and in the perfect spot to punt the lead car if contact happened. If the lead car “lifted” as you suggest then he would not be racing very hard now would he? The lead car had given the overtaking car more room than he had to at the previous turn and was now trying to get back on his line for the upcoming turn(s). Common courtesy on the part of the overtaking car would have avoided the whole mess.
Again, just my opinion.