rec.autos.simulators

(This usually happens when the cars are bunched ... such as after a
restart.)

Often I feel like parking it for half a lap to give the cars time to
separate and then trying to catch up and pass them.  

Does anyone else have this problem or do I basically just suck as a
driver? <GRIN>

Its not just damaged, the tires have been "flat spotted" if you spun at all.
Flat spotting the tires can literally use up 15-20 laps of tread off the
tire as a result of a couple 360's.

IF you are running in "Realistic" damage mode (as you always should <G>),
then certainly bending up the front valence and/or the rear deck lid (which
will foul the rear spoiler angle) will result in a loss of aero downforce
and compund flat spotted tires. This is pretty much how real stock cars
react to similar problems and has been fairly modeled within the game
physics.

The AI, however, is a problem and has been since NR ver 1.

SR

Eldred
--
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59...

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Yes. :-)

Eldred
--
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59...

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

Eldred
--
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
F1 hcp. +16.36...Monster +366.59...

Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

I have had similar problems.  Last night I was running Darlington at 30%
length and could not run more than 5-10 laps before there was a huge track
blocking wreck.  I hung back a half a lap several times and waited for the
wrecks to happen.  Another strange aspect of these huge wrecks, which often
included roll-overs, is that everyone involved in the wreck was able to
continue.  I drove poorly but ended up in 9th because everyone else was laps
down.  There was also three separate incidents where I was rammed from
behind during yellow flag laps.  Not on the slow down but after running for
several laps.  Very strange AI activity.

Bob

Oh .... nevermind.  :-)

Yes it is then easier to both spin and lock your brakes up after a spin
(length of applied locked down brakes is generally proportional with the
amount of traction loss and shortened time before you will need tires).

I was simply trying to tell the fella that spinning and wrecking does more
than just damage the car body, it damages the tires too which in turn will
affect traction and handling.