Tires for rainy days...?

Question

Considering that the Indy cars go just as fast if not faster than the Nextel Cup cars, why is it that they have "Rain Tires" for the F1 cars and not the Nextel Cup cars? Goodyear has the technology, why not use it?

Answer 1

Several years ago, when NASCAR ran exhibition races at Suzuka in Japan, NASCAR had plans for, and actually used rain tires, and a rain setup on the cars in race conditions.

After that, NASCAR had it set that if a road course race in the US had rain, they would run the race with the rain setup, but all the races never had a threat of rain, or the threat of rain never materalized, and NASCAR eventually scrapped the idea of running a race in the rain.

Im sure though if the issue came up again, like a race getting rained out at Watkins Glen or Sonoma (though thats doubtful since the race is ran during the dry season in Northern California), NASCAR would reconsider rain racing again.

Answer 2

Along with what everyone else has already stated, it also has to do that a F1 car has a ton of more down force than a cup car. But with that said, back in the late 90's Goodyear actually made a tire for the cup cars to race in the rain with, but they were ment for roadcourses not anything oval. That lasted about 2 to 3 years, it never rained, so they dropped the idea.

Answer 3

Nextel Cup cars weigh too much for the rain tires to work effectively at high speeds.

Answer 4

Since nascar racing involves left hand turns only, there isn't a tread design, for that purpose. The two road courses however can be run in the rain. You would think Goodyear would develop
a tire that could be run in the rain

Answer 5

Part of the issue is vehicle weight and tire width. Propotionately the nextel cars weigh twice as much and use more narrow tires.

Answer 6

There are rain tires for the road course but not for the ovals.Indy does not run in the rain at Indianapolis.The speed and configuration of the ovals are not in the best intrest of fans or drivers to attempt to run in the rain.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, since NASCAR approved the "rain tires" for the road courses, we've not yet had a rainy race day at one... I keep hoping...

Maybe at Infineon in a couple of weeks...

Answer 8

There are the road races where NASCAR will race in the rain. They even put wipers on the cars for those races. They have not used them yet but they are there.

Answer 9

Probably because not many people would buy tickets to watch a race in the rain

Answer 10

The gloomy climate makes it darker i assume makes u experience like the lighting fixtures are out then u experience drained??????? Or is there something in the rain,in line with danger a similar stuff thats in turkey that makes u drained:)??