What will happen to NASCAR when the air pollution activists get their way?

Question

It is coming... the environmentalists are going after NASCAR, Formula One, Grand Prix, and drag racing because they use a lot of fossil fuels and pollute the environment... what will happen to the sport if they place restrictions on air flow and fuel use?

I know some of you have answered that it doesn't use enough fuel, but some will argue that it does use too much fuel compared to average cars, and the amount of air pollution put out is not restricted in any way at all right now...

Answer 1

First of all, race cars cause little to no pollution, even on petrolium gasoline with alot of lead in it. There is a simple scientific explanation for this. The emissions from vehicles, industrial facilities etc., are infact the chemical components that do not get completely burned off in the prossesses. Because racing engines are more powerful than the rest, (even though the milleage is much worse because of this) they actually have a much more complete burn of the fuel, & the more the horsepower, the more this is true. Infact, some levels of petrolium gasoline burning race engines in Drag Racing (like in Pro Stock & Pro Modified for example) actually achieve complete burn of the gas, thus leaving zero emissions from thier exhaust. The Canadian federal government banned racing gas back in the '90's, but that didn't last long because they were wrong, & now we are allowed to use the high-lead racing gas here again. However, many Drag Racers who race in classes that do not have much restriction on what type of fuel you can use, actually are now using ethanol or methanol (both are types of alcohol) for thier fuel because it is only half the cost of the racing gas, runs cooler (meaning the engine temperatures are lower), & makes more horsepower than the petrolium gasoline does. I have been told that the gas is more consistant for indexed & bracket racing, but many people are opting for the alcohol due to the gas prices. There are a few classes where the petrolium gasoline is still required. These are Stock, Super Stock, Pro Stock, & some (if not all) of the classes in the NSCA-style "Fast Street Car Drag Racing" scene. That's mainly because the cars on the public roads are still mostly using conventional (tho now mostly unleaded) gas & these classes have to maintain a certain amount of similarity to what the public are driving. NASCAR is the same way. As for the Indy Cars, they have never, ever been forced to use alcohol for fuel. They have been running on alcohol for several decades now, by thier own choice, for some of the same reasons that kind of fuel is popular in Drag Racing (except for cost, as alcohol fuel used to be twice the price of racing gas at one time). There are alcohol-only classes in Drag Racing that have been around for several decades too. Top Fuel Dragsters run on rocket propellant-based fuel, believe it or not. As for the enviromentalist going after NASCAR etc., some of thes enviromentalists don't really know that much about the enviroment, & they can't force anyone to do anything anyways. Racing's sanctioning bodies (NASCAR, IRL, F1, NHRA, IHRA, etc.) are the governing bodies in racing, & the politicians can have some effect ofcourse, but they need to please as many of thier people as they can. Ofcourse facts are fact, tho sometimes facts can be ignored. I worry a little, as you never know what can happen. I worry about the future of antique & classic cars too. Will people still be able to restore cars to original & still be able to enjoy them in the future? Only time will tell. These cars too could also run on ethanol or methanol. All they need to do is use different materials for gaskets & fuel lines than the original materials. This does not visually look too different from the original look. They could change the jetting in the carburetors to run better on the alcohol, which is internal & does not effect the original look. The fuel lines could have a coating on the outside to look original. Sorry to get a little off topic there. Also of note, I have a buddy up here in Canada that races in NEDRA (National Electric Drag Racing Association) down in the states. This is not a scale model racing group. These folks actually drive full-sized electric cars, electric bikes, & electric-powered dragsters, competing in electric-powered Drag Racing events! Some people would like to have an excuse to put a stop to motorsports, especially Drag Racing, any excuse, just because they happen to be predjudice, or don't understand. I consider these people to have a serious lack of morals & I consider it as serious as racism. That is how I honestly feel. There are some people who believe that Drag Racing is sort of like "the sleeping giant of the sports, entertainment, & hobby industries", & it would not surprse me if someday in the future Drag Racing becomes bigger than soccer throughout the world. Supercharged Steve Currie, IHRA T/D # 3108

Answer 2

I watch Nascar. I may get sick in my brain as you call it but I still have the ability to spell and sound intelligent. Ok lets go over this again since you dont get the hint. Recycling centers across country put out more pollution in 1 yr then Nascar will in the next 10 years. Suburbian women drivng SUV's and minivans put out more pollution each week then a Cup car. the NFL uses more jet fuel/gasoline per week then all 43 cars' teams do (including Nascar teams' travel to the race). Your causing air pollution by running your computer to type this. Electricity is 30-45% coal or other fossiles fuels. Do you have no regard for the enviroment or do you just enjoy annoying us so much that the irrevocable harm your doing by running your computer doesn't matter? When you have decided to stop buying food (air pollution from transport), stop recycling (lots of pollution in the process), walk everywhere barefoot (air pollution from the making of shoes), and sleep in a hut you built yourself (no nails because the pollution used in making them is bad and no contractor cause they have to DRIVE), and no more electricity ( as stated above it pollutes also) then come back and speak to us. Next time you go to flush the toilet ... STOP thats water pollution, air pollution and a waste of our natural resources.

Answer 3

well the environmentalists would like to see that, but it is at the consent of NASCAR wether to do so or not. they cant just walk in and make them put different fuel in there or change the cars. NASCAR will do what is best for the sport and the fans. and changing the cars or the fuel to some bio fuel deal, will probably never happen.

Answer 4

Well they just made the jump to unleaded (NASCAR is always behind the other forms of racing on this kind of stuff) and it is only a matter of time before they will be forced to go with ethanol the way the Indy series did. It will be like the COT, the fans won't like it but it could be better for the drivers (they suck a ton of fumes, especially at Bristol).

Answer 5

Air monitors are set up at most tracks.The smaller tracks like Bristol,are monitored for the well being of drivers ,crews and fans.
As for fuel something will have be done.this year going to the unleaded fuels are the first steps.There are studies con cerning the bio-degradable fuels.
That's all I have to say about that.

Answer 6

Steve said it all.Race engines are not like street engines.Our engines are made to make maxium combustion this leaving almost zero emissions.If worse comes to worse NASCAR could always go to some form of alky like the indy cars run and most of your upper class short track cars (Late models,sprints,mods,etc).The only draw back to alky is the fumes,there's times I'm sitting in line to go out on the track and being behind the car in front of me is tough,eyes water,throat drys out...nasty.But another good thing with alky is it has a higher flash point making it alittle safer during a crash.And it also makes more power.Last of all it would make for more pit stops in NASCAR which might be a good thing on the cookie cutter style tracks,it would keep them tighter together.

Answer 7

That's easy. Not a big deal at all.

The Big 3 teams in NASCAR are already working on a motor in their R & D Department that runs on 100% ethanol just like the IRL uses.

Answer 8

don't let any politicians know about this, they're always looking for issues to fix that were never broken to start with.
Personally I think nascar could benefit from the Brits touring car races, a 15 lap qualifying race determines the starting grid for a 15 lap race. the fans get to watch 2 races in one day. of course nascar events would need to be longer than 30 laps, but much less than 600 miles also.

Answer 9

Good Question.... And I really have no idea. I think about this every week probably. NASCAR is a huge part of my life, and I don't think it would end the series... but dramatic changes would happen. Enough to destroy the sport we love so much. Chaos.. It would be CHAOS

Answer 10

Hybrid cars!!! Or Bio Fuel.

How exciting, races at 100 mph, tops.

i really don't think they'll ever get to them, there is too much money going into these races, Money is more powerful than activists.