I never watch auto racing but as I was flipping through the channels there was a race and the yellow flag was up, which I'm pretty sure means the drivers can't change position since they were all following one car. However almost all of the cars were swerving back and forth, which makes no apparent sense because it is an unefficient use of energy and fuel and wears the tires, and second of all because they weren't supposed to gain ground or switch positions while their was an accident on the track. What is the benefit to this sideways swerving?
2006-08-12 11:31:38 · 14 answers · asked by The Ghetto David Hume 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing
Depends on how their doing it, actually.
Most of the time, they're cleaning the tires. During green flag runs (race conditions), tires can get hot enough that they get a bit soft, but they spin fast enough to keep anything on the from sticking to the surface of the tire. During cautions (yellow flags), the tires aren't spinning as fast, so they can start pick up little pieces of rubber (left during the race) off of track. Weaving back and forth helps to keep from getting too much buildup on any one portion of the wheel. At least, that's what the track announcers told me.
Another possible, though less common reason for the swerving is to use the air currents to remove debris (plastic wrappers, napkins) from the grill of the car. More often, though, this (along with warming the brakes up) is the reason for the cars to creep up close behind the next in line, and then backing off quickly.
One other thing, you can gain track position under yellow; but it has to be done in the pits.
2006-08-12 11:50:00 · answer #1 · answered by hogan.enterprises 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that yellow flag means there is a caution out. did yo happen to notice a fancier car/truck in front? thats whats called a pace-car. the driver in the first position can not pass them or will be penalized, the pace car is there to ensure everyone is going a certain speed, untill they get everyone in the wreck cleened up. some times there isn't a wreck, if there is debree, that can also trigger a caution. the cars can not pass each other during a caution, your right there. they swerve to clean the tires. some go straight for a while then start to weave, then go straight. some just weave. the tires get so hot that some of the rubber clumps, during cautions they take the time to clean the tires. it is also a good way to stay at the right speed, you don't go as fast when you are weaving in and out of the track. hope this answers your question have a nice day.
2006-08-12 20:10:02 · answer #2 · answered by MJA--aka wiccan pride 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The swerving is actually to keep the tires warmed up and 'supple' even though it wears them. It's normal for a car to go through 2 or 3 sets of tires per race depending on the track and the distance.
2006-08-12 20:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by ginarene71 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first few words in your statement "I never watch auto racing" explain why you don't understand it. They weren't swerving to try and pass each other, they were going back and forth to warm up and clean their tires. As you stated....you don't watch auto racing which tells me you don't know really anything about it....that's why it didn't make sense.....to us in the racing community....it makes all the sense :) .......i think everyone has pretty well explained it so i won't write it all out.....but i hope everyone helped you understand the reasoning for that now :)
2006-08-12 20:37:33 · answer #4 · answered by £i£-ßrAt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are keeping the tires heated on the track. when the drivers are driving on a track that is already hot from the sun, the friction of the tires on the track superheat the track. making the tires softer and my porus....holding a grip and making them tighter and more stable for turning.
So when they reduce speed down to the regulation 65mph or so, depending on the track, the tires will cool. if they swerve and skid the tires from side to side, it will keep them heated for when they restrat and they won't spin in a turn.
2006-08-12 18:43:34 · answer #5 · answered by Skipper1974 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Race tires get better traction the warmer they are. At high speeds the tires stay warm and give optimum traction. At low speeds, during flags, the tires cool reducing traction. Drivers swerve to increase tire temperature and maintain traction.
2006-08-12 18:38:18 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it serves 2 purposes. when a car has new tires, they start off underinflated because the friction will build more air pressure as they race. so 'heating up' the tires helps excellerate this process. when a car is on older tires, they swerve to clean the debris off of the tires.
2006-08-12 19:03:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do this to clean off the tires to remove excess rubber debris from their tires.If they didn't do this the excess rubber makes tires lose grip and traction.if they don't clean them in this way going through the turns the tires lose grip as well causing a spin out.So it's strictly a tire cleaning thing.
2006-08-12 18:41:38 · answer #8 · answered by bigkyle28 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
drivers do this to clean excess rubber from the track off their tires, and it does wear the tires a bit, but this makes it so they have more grip when the green flag waves again. newer tires, or sticker tires, don't have much grip so it helps to wear them a bit. and also, dirty tires don't have much grip, either.
2006-08-12 22:40:22 · answer #9 · answered by Jaclyn B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does two things. It helps the tires from cooling down too much, which would lower their traction. It also helps scrape off rubber picked up from the track, which also lowers traction.
2006-08-12 18:39:00 · answer #10 · answered by yearrgh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋