I know the answer is not if they turn right, they will hit the wall. This is a serious question.
2007-02-15 14:36:37 · 22 answers · asked by rlmooch 1 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
Not all race tracks turn left (every turn) take for instance old riverside, watkins glen, and sear point.
The basic reason for the left as opposed to right turn on oval tracks is simply a weight ratio issue and tradition. The driver sits on the laft side of the car and that is where his weight is. Traditionally (at least in america on oval tracks) left is the standard direction of the turn.
2007-02-15 14:41:57 · answer #1 · answered by tlrlml 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
On the nascar circuit there is 22 race tracks that Nextel Cup drivers race on. 2 of those 22 are road courses (Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen) which has left and right turns; the other 20 are circle tracks (all turning left).
To answer your question i guess it just makes it more interesting to keep the high speeds up at 185 mph.
2007-02-15 22:46:57 · answer #2 · answered by 90☮48 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
well, with the exception of road courses, like watkins glen and sears point, they all turn the same way so the crews can formulate the cars to that. the announcers make comments that they use different cars for the road courses, because they turn to both sides easier, however give up speed for the ability to do that. if some tracks went left and some went right, then they would have to have cars for tracks that go each way because of how theyre built. why left instead of right? thats just the way they were originally designed.
2007-02-15 22:47:59 · answer #3 · answered by andrew b 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They dont!
You really should try to view some racing besides NASCAR. Auto races all over the world are run on a fantstic variety of courses and distances with all kinds of various equipment.There are road courses where there are more right turns than left no matter which side of the car the steeing wheel is on. I don't care for the fenders myself but to each his own I say.
Expand your horizons and watch some other types of auto racing, you can't realize what you are missing until you do.
2007-02-16 00:49:58 · answer #4 · answered by Murph 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Is there a reason? Circle n oval tracks have just always been that way, not sure there is a specific reason why. Not all race tracks are though, obviously a road course has rights and lefts.
2007-02-16 19:12:43 · answer #5 · answered by £i£-ßrAt 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's simpler than you might suspect.
NASCAR tracks are raced counter-clockwise because the driver's side of the car is on the left. Also, as you're hugging the center line--because it's the shortest track--you have a much broader view of the track around your car.
In contrast, Australian and Japanese tracks run clockwise because the driver's side is on the right.
2007-02-15 22:46:32 · answer #6 · answered by 3dot3dash3dot 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Road courses do not always turn left. There are many right turns in many different road course race tracks; including NASCAR sactioned racetracks.
2007-02-15 22:46:49 · answer #7 · answered by acesfourpal 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the reason they make left turns is because of where the driver is. seeing that nascar cars are left side drive, they try to keep the drivers furthest from the wall.
that was the old theory from when stock car racing started and has stayed since
2007-02-15 22:45:46 · answer #8 · answered by vnm0s1 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
vnm0s1 is right.
It is that way to keep drivers as far away from the wall as possible. In the event of a wreck, it has less of an effect on the driver when the impact is further away from the driver.
2007-02-15 23:11:56 · answer #9 · answered by Bo Darville 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are road courses that are both left and right handed turns.
2007-02-18 01:27:51 · answer #10 · answered by Racin Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋