For people who watch car races?

Question

Excuse my ignorance, but if the cars are just going in a circle how do you know whos winning? I know you count the laps, but doesn't that get confusing with all of the other drivers?

Answer 1

many of the drivers/fans who watch car racing their entire lives have it all figured out but folks like me who've only attended twice still have a problem figuring it all out, even though there is a large screen that tells what numbers are making what laps.

Answer 2

Its a fine question, and I assume you're pretty new to watching motor racing. In any form of racing, it can be confusing. The TV networks do a good job of relating the running order to the viewers and organizing the video footage to give you a feel for who is in front.

The official scoring is done via electronics. A transponder in the car gives a signal to a wire in the track at the start/finish line. Then, computer software will record who crossed the line and when for each lap. AMB is a company that makes such a system. (see www.amb-it.com)

Before the electronic scoring was developed, a group of 'real people' would write down the numbers of the cars that crossed the start/finish line for every lap of the race. Then, by hand, one would have to count the number of times each car crossed the line, and interpret who assumed positions as cars broke, pitted...etc. As you could imagine, sometimes it would be impossible to write down every single car that came by. So the idea was that if one person missed car #2, someone else in the group probably got him written down.

Obviously, it could take a significant amount of time for the group of scorers to gather everbody's data and sort out the actual running order at the end of the race.

Electronic scoring is much faster and more accurate. It can also provide instant status to the television networks to keep viewers informed.

Answer 3

I'm a formula 1 fan and the same could be said for formula 1 as well. Besides that, the middle third of the race is all mixed up anyway due to pit stops.

Answer 4

it's okay mate...

firstly you have to know the rules of F1 then you can easily understand,
about confusing...if you watch straight at the circuit, maybe you'll get confusing because the car just crossed in front of you for view seconds,
but if you recognize the leader then signed it as your guide.

the most easy thing is just watch the electronic board, it gives you full report who's front and the time...

anyway, if u still confused... just sit and made yourself comfy then enjoy the race... forget who's front =)

Answer 5

Same as in other sports.

Say soccer, guys kick the ball around and who wins? Or in tennis, they hit hard and soft, how do you know who wins? Golf ...

To follow a sport, you need to know its rules first. F1 has a clear system of displaying track position of each driver. So it is fairly easy when watching it on TV.

In sports, ignorance is sacrilege.

Answer 6

they have electric timing built into the cars and start finish line, so when a car crosses the line it marks a lap, they will tell you whos winning and count the time between the next car

Answer 7

My family watches them a lot and my grandpa and uncle raced stockcars. It can get confusing but if you watch the whole race you normally just remember who was in the lead. On tv they will tell you who is in the lead.

Answer 8

hahaha, hmm...well it says on the left side of the screen in formula one and at the top whos winning and if you're a fan you probably know what those cars look like, colorwise, so thats how you tell.

Answer 9

The cars that go in a "circle" are Nascar, or in another term, bumper cars. That is not racing.

Answer 10

no, because you have to count the other cars as well. what's not to understand? and they don't always go in circles. Nascar has road courses as well...