Why can't NASCAR run in the rain?

[woody2goody]

Following this weekend's delayed race in Califonia, a thought came to me:

Why can't NASCAR develop specialist wet tyres for racing on ovals? I understand that it could be problematic, but if there is a specific reason why they can't, will someone tell me please.

It frustrates me because they could have got both the Cup race and the N/wide race done on Sunday if they could run wet tyres. And I was going to watch the N/wide race until I found that it had been postponed

[JovialJooles]

The main problem on Sunday was with the weepers. You couldn't run on a dry track (with a few small wet patches) in wet tyres, they would get eaten up pretty quickly.

As far as running in the wet is concerned, I'm not sure I would want to run in a pack of cars nose to tail at 200mph with my vision obscured by the spray from the wet tyres and the rain. The track would be greasy from the rain, so the cars would be sliding all over the place too...

Plus there is a very hard concrete wall to run into, not a nice gravel trap or a paved run off area!

[Lee Roy]

What Jooles said.

[colinspooky]

and talk about boring to watch - peering through clouds of spray.

Cars would need 200mph wipers, lights, plus of course a selection of wet tyres to cope with changing conditions, and what if some of the track is wet and some dry.

No, this is a fine weather sport - let's stick with that

[RaceFanStan]

[Racin' Rob]

With the weight of the cars and with the speeds these cars travel and the G and centrifugal forces they have in the turns required them to have an extremely large amount of grip. When any type of dampness is added it will cause the tires to lose grip and therefore cause the car to crash.

This dampness doesn't even need to be water. Many times when the temperature is high and the track temperature is at extreme levels it becomes slick by melting asphalt. This has cause many a car to spin. I don't believe there is a tire in the world that could keep the grip required of these cars in the turns even at half the speed they travel, let alone the 200 mph they are going at the superspeedways. If a tire could be manufactured it would probably have a tread width of at least 2 or 3 feet and that would be pretty much useless in a stock car.

Regards,

[Tomski]

Didn't NASCAR try wet running in Japan a number of years ago. I remember seeing cars fitted with wipers.

[muggle not]

It was explained on the TV telecast Monday why they don't run on rain tires. One reason was that with the car weight they would be changing tires ever 6 laps due to the wear.

[JasonD]

What about the road courses? Have they ever run them in the wet?

[Tomski]

Who says NASCAR doesn't run in the rain!!