Bash and barge plans to sex-up SupercarsArticle from: Font size: Decrease
August 19, 2007 12:00am
V8 SUPERCARS is considering a Champ Car-style push-to-pass button designed to sex-up the action.
That is just one of the changes a committee is thrashing out to spruce up the Holden versus Ford category, which has been pedestrian for most of the season.
Plans also include a move to smaller fuel tanks and bonus points for leading laps in races.
Committee members include drivers Jason Bright, Paul Morris and Brad Jones and team owner Paul Cruickshank. They are pushing for changes for next season.
Most agree with the moves, which also include provisional qualifying on Fridays, with the fastest driver guaranteed a front-row start for the opening race on Saturday.
Along with points for any driver who leads a full lap, there would be bonus points for the driver who has led the most number of laps in races.
The committee is also reviewing the code of conduct with a view to bringing in more biff 'n' barge.
It follows a decision by V8 Supercars chief executive Wayne Cattach made in June to encourage drivers to speak out against each other in the media to spice up races.
One radical suggestion is that V8 Supercar drivers in the main game secure drives in the Fujitsu Development Series, much as NASCAR drivers in the US shuffle between the Nextel Cup and the Busch Series.
There is a stipulation that a V8 racer must seek a drive outside his own team if that team also fields a car in the development class. Defending series champion Rick Kelly does not see the benefit of the provisional pole-sitter being guaranteed a front-row start for the opening Saturday race "because it throws a lot of variables up like tyres and things".
Stewards yesterday issued Aussie Racing Cars competitor Phil Ward a $30,000 fine after he was allegedly involved in a violent incident with chief scrutineer Lance Smith at Oran Park on Friday. Ward was also excluded as a competitor at the meeting.
Meanwhile V8 Supercars has announced a fresh television package in New Zealand, with TV3 winning the contract for the next five years.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22267717-10389,00.html
Loved todays two races
Fantastic!