Big changes in technology always have impact. Could NASCAR be facing one of those changes in just a few years? When NASCAR converts to all electric cars, we can expect racing to change. Here are the FAQ projections.
Will electric race cars be safer? Yes! Top speeds will drop from over 200 miles per hour to almost 80 miles per hour.
Will drivers, crews and fans need hearing protection? No! The roar of engines will become a quiet 40 dB whine.
Will pit stops take longer? Certainly! Pit stops now take about 20 seconds for refueling and a tire change. Recharging massive batteries will take about an hour and in a 500-mile race there will need to be two recharges.
Will elapsed times to complete a race become longer? Yes! There will be few crashes due to slow racing speeds. That means the elimination of caution flag delays. However, the reduced speeds and the increase in battery recharging time will mean that races will take about twice as long to complete. Four-hour races of today will become eight-hour races.
Will attendance at races decline? Heck NO! NASCAR fans are dedicated and hard core. The longer duration of races will afford fans more time to enjoy the parties in the stands and on top of the campers in the infield. Eight hours of drinking beer is twice the fun of four hours.
Whimsy, which is embodied in this blog, can result in contemplation while bringing a smile.
What an absolutely frightening prospect. Great job, however, pointing out the absurdity of such a proposal. Ugh! And to think I’ve just become a recent fan of both Indie car and Formula One racing.
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