why don't racecars have brake lights (NASCAR)?

Answer 1

It's really interesting howmany people will answer a semi-technical question when they have absolutely NO knowledge of how to race.

NASCAR drivers most definately DO use the brakes, and use them pretty harshly at almost every track, except for Daytona and Talladega, where the throttle is held wide open all of the way around the track.

Racefanvote is right on the reason they don't have them in NASCAR, but on a side note, my race car does have them. in fact, it is written in the rule book, in the sanctioning body I ran under, that our cars MUST have working taillights, as well as a working horn. No, I don't run mini-stocks, or hornets, or Pro-4, I run off road.

Answer 2

They brake in every corner, and sometimes in the tri oval on a few tracks. Brakes are absolutely critical at short tracks such as Martinsville or Bristol. Most of the time the brake is applied just prior to entering the corner, and held with various pressure throughout 3/4 of the turn. The hotter the brakes get, the less they work, that's why they try to take it as easy as possible on them. Sometimes at the end of a race you will see the 2nd place car back way off with only 10 or so laps to go. This is the let the tires and brakes cool so that in the last few laps, they can dive hard into the corners, as their brakes now work better. They lose distance on the track, but they gain a ton of distance in the corners, where most passes happen.

Answer 3

People are right that driver could abuse the brakes and create other problems. Brake checking is already common on restarts.

Nascar has used brake light in the modern era. Brake lights have been used on the road course, along with a windshield wiper. This would help due to visibility issues. Because the rain tires were rarely used, I believe Nascar chose to stop using them.

Answer 4

it's an added electrical component that doesn't need to be used on a racecar. the drivers strict attention is to the speed of the other cars and the surroundings on the track which are in a controlled environment, The drivers know any change in speed of the other race cars without needing to see a "light" that the driver ahead of him is applying his brake. If you ever followed a car on the public streets/highways, (especially if they had no brake lights) and noticed when they slow down. Their car gets perceptually larger and closer. On a racetrack in competition, your attention, concentration, reaction time and reflexes are multiplied (because that's part of how you win races) and there's no need for tail lights, and besides the broken plastic lenses would cause debris on the track, and a red light flashing on the car in front of you would be more of a distraction than help, since you know the cars are going to put their brakes on in a specific turn anyway.

Answer 5

A couple of reasons:
#1~ Safety Hazard. When they get bumped from behind they would smash and could puncture a tire. Putting one in the back window has been an idea, though, too.
#2~ The drivers would play games with each other, tapping their breaks and whatnot trying to trick one another. Then, there would be a HUGE mess because everyone would be hitting everyone else! They (Michael Waltrip and Kenny Schrader) have discussed it several times on INC.

Pretty much, no one thinks it's a good idea (except the fans).

Answer 6

Racefanvote is correct. It would also cause more accidents. What happens when a brake light doesn't work? Same thing that would happen on the highway if the car in front of you hits the brakes and don't have brake lights. So if they did have them (never will happen) and drivers were used to looking for them and one didn't work, we'll have a pile up.

Answer 7

It's been discussed, but NASCAR feels like the drivers might mis-use the brake light and ride the brake pedal to get the driver behind them to "check-up", plus a lot of the drivers use two feet and tend to ride the brake as it is.
One thing that has been considered is a light they can turn on (by a switch) when a driver wants to pit under green, has a tire going down or is blowing up to let the drivers behind them know they will be slowing down.
Nothing definate on it so far though. "racefanvote.com"

Answer 8

The brake lights could be used to slow cars down behind you. Say you are in a pack on the last lap you flash your lights and everyone checks up, that is hardly fair.

Another reason is race drivers use their brakes and throttle simultaneously at times to change the handling of the car without slowing the car.

Answer 9

They do use their brakes big time, there's just no use for them, It would drive me nuts seeing red brake lights on and off on and off, just like people on the freeways who ride their brakes all the time. It would be just another electrical issue that could cause problems during a race..

Answer 10

You got some good answers here that I can't add anything to. I agree that, with the rear wing blocking vision, it would be a good idea to put some kind of signal on the car that would indicate intention to pit, since it is harder to see the driver's hand out the window.