2007-10-19 17:48:43 · 19 answers · asked by Richard A 1 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
It is "stock" car racing. Doesn't mean much now but, in the old days the cars had to be what you could buy off the showroom floor. In the USA that means left side driver seat. With the driver on the left, the safest way to turn the car is to the left so as to see the driving line more clearly. Also, as the cars and tracks got so fast, the safest place for the driver is on the left so as to not have the driver impact the the wall so closely. Leaves more room for the "crush" of a crash.
2007-10-22 07:02:27 · answer #1 · answered by tow_tow_truck 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not only to put the driver on the "inside", away from the wall, so as to be safer, (I'm sure you've heard many times "That was a hard hit on the DRIVERS SIDE"),But also to put slightly more weight (the driver) on the inside to help keep the car DOWN on the track. Of course, if you think about it, for every LEFT turn of the wheel, there HAS to be a RIGHT turn of the wheel to bring the car back down the straight-aways!! I hope this helps you without making you DIZZY (HAHAHA)!! ENJOY THE RACES!!
2007-10-20 02:11:59 · answer #2 · answered by nascar24fan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Two big reasons I can think of. One it is safer for the driver.
It's much better to hit the wall on the passenger side than
the drivers side. And two is the weight distribution. Every
little bit of weight on the inside of a car will help it handle
better. And another, just from my own driving experience is
that it is more comfortable for a driver to turn left that it is to
turn right.
2007-10-20 07:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a 50-50 weight distribution they put the driver on the left side, it now becomes about 52-48. This would allow a car to turn left under more control and thus go faster.
2007-10-19 21:17:49 · answer #4 · answered by sllde 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Before modern limited slip differentials, open differentials sent more torque to the right rear tire than to the left. On the dirt tracks where racing began, this tire would easily spin and not drive the car forward. In a right turn, the car's weight shifts to the left as the car leans to the outside of the turn, making the problem worse. When the car turns left, the weight shifts to the right, providing better traction for the right rear tire. The effect is less on paved tracks, but it is still significant. So, turning left allows faster racing!
2007-10-19 18:01:16 · answer #5 · answered by zealot144 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
It's because of the engineering designs of the actual cars that race. The wheels and even the suspension are offset to suit the banked circuits. The wheels from left to right are actually different sizes, again to suit the track.
2007-10-19 18:02:17 · answer #6 · answered by jenna 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In case of a crash, most of the impact would be on the passenger side, therefore it's safer for the driver, because there is more room for the car to collapse from the passenger compartment.
2007-10-20 07:42:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is safer for the driver. Turning right on a oval would put the drivers side into the wall in most wrecks.
2007-10-20 00:08:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It puts the driver on the inside of the track turning left. Think about it.
2007-10-20 04:26:08 · answer #9 · answered by WooleyBooley again 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cauzz toilets water turns right above the equator.
2007-10-20 05:44:41 · answer #10 · answered by TomB 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋