rec.autos.simulators

by **Bryon Lap** » Thu, 30 May 2002 11:12:33

Not to mention that IRL cars are driven by wound ***bands.

> But OTOH they have power steering and high ratio (i.e. slow) steering
> gear. I don't think it has as much to with steering effort as it does
> with control sensitivity. A large wheel is preferable on an oval
> because you want to make small course corrections with high precision.
> That's also one of the reasons they put the wheel so much closer to the
> driver. Also a large wheel is possible in a stock car because of the
> car's higher natural stability. IRL can't use large wheels because of
> the size of the***pit, but even if they could they probably wouldn't
> because a small lightweight car can get out of shape much easier than a
> big car (due to lower rotational inertia) and therefore in IRL you would
> want the extra responsiveness that a small wheel gives. Just my
> opinion. ;o)

> > Because stock cars weigh twice what an Indy car does :)

> > -John

by **John Pancoas** » Thu, 30 May 2002 11:26:25

Or yellow lights, which ever come first <G>

-John

> Not to mention that IRL cars are driven by wound ***bands.

> > But OTOH they have power steering and high ratio (i.e. slow) steering
> > gear. I don't think it has as much to with steering effort as it does
> > with control sensitivity. A large wheel is preferable on an oval
> > because you want to make small course corrections with high precision.
> > That's also one of the reasons they put the wheel so much closer to the
> > driver. Also a large wheel is possible in a stock car because of the
> > car's higher natural stability. IRL can't use large wheels because of
> > the size of the***pit, but even if they could they probably wouldn't
> > because a small lightweight car can get out of shape much easier than a
> > big car (due to lower rotational inertia) and therefore in IRL you would
> > want the extra responsiveness that a small wheel gives. Just my
> > opinion. ;o)

> > > Because stock cars weigh twice what an Indy car does :)

> > > -John

by **Larr** » Thu, 30 May 2002 12:32:39

I always wondered this myself. Especially since the max ratio for the
SuperSpeedways isn't as good as it used to be.

-Larry

by **Joachim Trens** » Thu, 30 May 2002 16:50:36

On the ovals they might use them because bigger wheels allow more precise
steering input when it comes to minimal corrections.

If they use them on the road circuit's as well, I'd guess that's either
based on rules, or because it isn't easy to get used to a greatly different
wheel size quickly enough.

Achim

by **Stefano Casil** » Thu, 30 May 2002 21:18:17

My guess would be:

1) NASCAR stock cars have an "almost" 50% weigth balance... so front
tires _need_ to be bigger to sustain the weight when turning.
2) Aereodynamic effect... NASCAR cars have the chassis "around" the
tires.. so, no matter what you put in, it'll still have 0 effect on
car CX. I think a smaller tire on an open wheel car means a smaller
CX..so more speed.
3) Rolling resistence on smaller tires is lower.

Not sure about anyone of those...

Stefano Casillo
www.drivingitalia.com/netkar

by **Phanto** » Thu, 30 May 2002 15:57:25

What about the fact that this is STOCK car racing? The wheel should closely
resemble the size of the model you can buy off the floor.

Brian

> Because they can ?
> If i remember right CART wheels of the past used to be a bit bigger. So,
> im gonna guess that the tiny tubs they race in these days may restrict the
> size of the wheel now.
> As usual, somebody punt me if im wrong on this :)

> > just wondering what the benefit of having a wheel as big as a house in
> front
> > of me would be, after all, i see Cart and IRL drivers with tiny wheels,
so
> > why do nascar drivers insist on wagon wheels?

> > pez

by **Haqsa** » Fri, 31 May 2002 00:44:20

Stock car is a legacy term. Nothing in those cars is stock.

by **Ian** » Fri, 31 May 2002 01:03:58

He was referring to the "steering" wheel.

--

Ian P
<email invalid due to spam>

> My guess would be:

> 1) NASCAR stock cars have an "almost" 50% weigth balance... so front
> tires _need_ to be bigger to sustain the weight when turning.
> 2) Aereodynamic effect... NASCAR cars have the chassis "around" the
> tires.. so, no matter what you put in, it'll still have 0 effect on
> car CX. I think a smaller tire on an open wheel car means a smaller
> CX..so more speed.
> 3) Rolling resistence on smaller tires is lower.

> Not sure about anyone of those...

> Stefano Casillo
> www.drivingitalia.com/netkar

- Show quoted text -

by **Kerry Gran** » Fri, 31 May 2002 01:25:56

Quote from Harry Hyde:

"Ain't nothing stock about a stock car!"

Kerry

> Stock car is a legacy term. Nothing in those cars is stock.

> > What about the fact that this is STOCK car racing? The wheel should
> closely
> > resemble the size of the model you can buy off the floor.

> > Brian

by **MadDAW** » Fri, 31 May 2002 02:40:07

I saw on Speedvision awhile back a show about IROC. In one of the early
IROC races at Riveside one of the open wheel guys asked if he could get the
wheel changed to a smaller one. The mechanic told him to just try it. He
made a lap and came back in and asked if he could get a bigger one. :) While
it doesn't answer your question it does show there is something to it. I
don't remember who it was for sure but I'm thinking it was Clark

MadDAWG.

by **Bill Anderso** » Fri, 31 May 2002 03:24:27

I was watching a stock car race recently on speed vision. I'm not sure if
was Trans-Am, ASA or ARCA or what cause I was flipping but they pointed out
during an in-car shot that the guy was using a smaller wheel. It was about
3/4 of the size of a normal wheel. They said he only used it on road
courses. I wish I had more info on this, but I'm sure I saw it.

> good points, but then why on road courses do the nascar drivers still use
> these 'in your lap' massive wheels? the touring cars ive been in has quite
> regular-small racing wheels in them.

> is it all just down to 'its the way its always been done' kinda tradition
> thingy?

> I dont think i could drive with a wagon wheel :) (and the way my n2002
cars
> drive i need all the responsiveness i can get!)

> pez

> > But OTOH they have power steering and high ratio (i.e. slow) steering
> > gear. I don't think it has as much to with steering effort as it does
> > with control sensitivity. A large wheel is preferable on an oval
> > because you want to make small course corrections with high precision.
> > That's also one of the reasons they put the wheel so much closer to the
> > driver. Also a large wheel is possible in a stock car because of the
> > car's higher natural stability. IRL can't use large wheels because of
> > the size of the***pit, but even if they could they probably wouldn't
> > because a small lightweight car can get out of shape much easier than a
> > big car (due to lower rotational inertia) and therefore in IRL you would
> > want the extra responsiveness that a small wheel gives. Just my
> > opinion. ;o)

> > > Because stock cars weigh twice what an Indy car does :)

> > > -John

by **Eldre** » Fri, 31 May 2002 04:04:54

>What about the fact that this is STOCK car racing? The wheel should closely
>resemble the size of the model you can buy off the floor.

>Brian

Come on - *nothing* about stock car racing is "stock" anymore...<g>

Eldred
--
Homepage - http://www.racesimcentral.net/~epickett
A friend of mine is involved in a fund-raiser walk-a-thon for research to cure
*** cancer. If you can, please go to my homepage and see how to make a
donation. Thank you.

Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **SimRace** » Fri, 31 May 2002 04:51:50

> Stock car is a legacy term. Nothing in those cars is stock.

> > What about the fact that this is STOCK car racing? The wheel should
> closely
> > resemble the size of the model you can buy off the floor.

> > Brian

LOL! Technically not true. As memory serves me, several things HAVE to be
stock items. The decklid for one. While a decklid does not a street car
make, they are trying to hold on to the idea of stock.

by **Stefano Casill** » Fri, 31 May 2002 05:14:03

Yes.. and I was drunk of course.. ;-)

Stefano Casillo
www.drivingitalia.com/netkar

> He was referring to the "steering" wheel.

> --

> Ian P
> <email invalid due to spam>

> > My guess would be:

> > 1) NASCAR stock cars have an "almost" 50% weigth balance... so front
> > tires _need_ to be bigger to sustain the weight when turning.
> > 2) Aereodynamic effect... NASCAR cars have the chassis "around" the
> > tires.. so, no matter what you put in, it'll still have 0 effect on
> > car CX. I think a smaller tire on an open wheel car means a smaller
> > CX..so more speed.
> > 3) Rolling resistence on smaller tires is lower.

> > Not sure about anyone of those...

> > Stefano Casillo
> > www.drivingitalia.com/netkar

> > > just wondering what the benefit of having a wheel as big as a house in
> front
> > > of me would be, after all, i see Cart and IRL drivers with tiny
wheels,
> so
> > > why do nascar drivers insist on wagon wheels?

> > > pez

by **John Pancoas** » Fri, 31 May 2002 05:45:53

> > Stock car is a legacy term. Nothing in those cars is stock.

> > > What about the fact that this is STOCK car racing? The wheel should
> > closely
> > > resemble the size of the model you can buy off the floor.

> > > Brian

> LOL! Technically not true. As memory serves me, several things HAVE to be
> stock items. The decklid for one. While a decklid does not a street car
> make, they are trying to hold on to the idea of stock.

The decklid, the hood, and the roof have to be stock(latest version of the
rules IIRC, could be mistaken). Otherwise, nothing has to be, nor is.

-John

rec.autos.simulators

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?

Do bigger wheels make NASCAR sims easier?