Restrictor-plate racing at Indianapolis is up for debate
Jeff Gordon liked what he saw at last weekend’s NASCAR’s Xfinity Series race.
By reducing horsepower and keeping cars closer together with a special restrictor-plate package on each car, passing played a more prominent role and helped set up a rare dramatic finish on the 2.5-mile track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one of the longest in NASCAR. Many, including Gordon, thought the overall show was far more entertaining than the stretched out, single-file racing that had become routine on the big oval.
While it certainly wasn’t perfect, the change produced some intriguing results and series officials are contemplating using the package for next year’s Brickyard 400 and perhaps other venues.
A restrictor plate has four holes drilled into it and is placed between the carburetor and the intake manifold to reduce the flow of air and fuel into the engine’s combustion chamber, thus reducing horsepower and speed.
“I think it’s a really nice step forward,” said Gordon, the retired star and the only five-time winner of the Brickyard. “I’m excited about it. I think flat tracks are a big challenge for NASCAR. If you take a big car like we have, you’ll see it’s more suited to a high-bank oval. So I think it’s important to find a solution to where you’re passing and that was a good step.”
Restrictor plates are already used at superspeedways such as Talladega and Daytona, leading to more pack racing — and big crashes. Fans who prefer driver skills and team strategy might not care for the wrecks, but there is no doubt that the restrictor-plate races have an element of uncertainty that makes them stand out from the rest of the schedule. That’s a valuable feature as attendance lags and television ratings sag, and as familiar names like Gordon, Tony Stewart and, soon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. say goodbye to a series that was once described as America’s fastest-growing sports league.
Insiders insist the series remains on solid ground, pointing to an expanding pool of young stars and its passionate fan base.
At the same time, NASCAR must find new ways to get more fans to the tracks even after adding stage racing and the relatively new playoff format. So is plate racing on the table for other venues — and for the top Cup series?
“It’s too early to speculate on other tracks (where) this aero package could be used going forward,” NASCAR senior vice-president for innovation and racing development Gene Stefanyshyn said in a statement to The Associated Press.
“With the tremendous racing and record number of lead changes we saw in Indianapolis, it’s safe to say we feel like we have additional tools in our tool chest that we can use as needed. We look forward to continue the collaboration with our industry to develop the best possible racing product for our fans at every track.”
Ticket sales for NASCAR’s Brickyard weekend have dropped since 2008, and fans have not returned in big numbers. The two most common complaints are the midsummer heat and boring races.
The 400 moves to early September next year, which IMS President Doug Boles believes will solve the heat concerns and cooler temperatures also could change the race.