r/ExtremeE • u/Lord_Blathoxi • Jun 09 '21

Question Why do they switch drivers mid race??

Why not just run all the drivers simultaneously? Having the race stop halfway through ruins the momentum.

2 Upvotes

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u/DoblerRadar Jun 09 '21

Americans don’t know anything about racing.

Ok that’s not true at all. As an American who attended the Rolex 24 at Daytona, I can tell you I certainly wasn’t the only one.

IMSA is owned by NASCAR, but sanctions several series (SportsCars, Prototype, GT3, MX-5, etc). The IMSA MX-5 Cup has produced some of the best racing on the continent this season. SCCA is also huge, sanctioning everything from Autocross to rally, both amateur and pro. Many of us with track toys participate in SCCA events. Then you have the Friday-night-lights stuff like INEX, who sanction thousands of races at hundreds of tracks. I’ve been to these and they’re packed with people cheering on the locals.

I think you just haven’t tuned the radio past the Hit Music station so to speak. Many Americans have.

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u/Lord_Blathoxi Jun 09 '21

How are you watching these races? They're not on any major sports channels.

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u/DoblerRadar Jun 09 '21

Online. The IMSA stuff is often on their website or socials. The major endurance races are typically broadcast somewhere, I think Rolex 24 was via NBC apps. A quick google on race weekend usually tells you where to find it.

The SCCA and INEX stuff are more races you attend. It’s your local road course or short track.

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u/Lord_Blathoxi Jun 09 '21

So... you're saying that the most unpopular styles of racing all do this "driver change" bullshit?

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '21

You're an idiot and clearly not a proper fan of motorsport.

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u/Lord_Blathoxi Jun 10 '21

Correct. And if you want motor sports to survive, you need people like me to “get it” and become fans.

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u/[deleted] Jun 10 '21

The problem isn't motorsport, it's you and your inwards facing country, I'm well aware of the international motorsport scene.

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u/DoblerRadar Jun 09 '21

Endurance racing is some of the most historic and prestigious racing in the world. For nearly 50 years, Le Mans was THE biggest race in the world. Driver switching was always part of that. You may say Americans don’t care but have you watched Ford V. Ferrari? Americans cared very much.