NASCAR Afraid of the Truth

[cosworth151]

The new, Gen 6 NASCAR Cup car must be a real disaster. The sanctioning body it taking draconian measures to stifle drivers' comments about it.

Driver Denny Hamlin was fined $25,000 for negative statements about the new car. In response to a firestorm of fan protest, Brian France said, "There is one line that we are not going to tolerate and that's going to be criticizing the quality of the racing product in any way, form or fashion."

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130327/nascar01/130329818#ixzz2OwCdS0Vz

I was an avid NASCAR fan for most of my life. This is a fine example of why I have no interest in the sport feudal holding any more.

[Ian]

I thought the USA was the land of the free, which includes free speech, seems like we're going down that road as well Cos.

[lkjohnson1950]

France doesn't seem to understand that an opinion can't be wrong. it's an opinion! If Hamlin really thinks the new car is not as good as the old one, that's his opinion and he's entitled to it. NASCAR has made a series of poor rules changes to the point that you can't tell the cars apart. I rarely watch anymore, but one thing hasn't changed: The France family is in charge and love 'em or hate 'em you will do it their way.

[Scott]

France doesn't seem to understand that an opinion can't be wrong. it's an opinion!

Hmmm, there's a couple around here like that 

[Ian]

     Good one Scott.

[Alianora La Canta]

Perhaps someone should tell France that the internet considers censorship a form of network error and routes around it. Or that heavy-handed rejection of a possibly-valid complaint (I don't know if it is valid, as I don't do NASCAR) tends to validate the complaint rather than the rebuttal.

[lkjohnson1950]

I think it's fascinating that he says you can question rulings, penalties, pretty much anything that's a judgement call, but you can't knock the rules or the car. 

[John S]

I kinda see where NASCAR is coming from, the series is their product, no company allows it's staff to criticise their product publicly. All teams and drivers signed up to the new spec so effectively they are partners in the new product.
 
We may not like them stifling this sort of comment but they probably feel that unless they jump on such talk all the drivers will start blaming the new Gen 6 spec, instead of their own, or team, skills in running the new car. After all it's the same for everyone, as commentators are quick to point out when the tyres or rain causes upsets in F1. 

I wonder how F1 will handle comments when the new era starts next year? 

[cosworth151]

All teams and drivers signed up to the new spec so effectively they are partners in the new product.

That makes it sound like they had some kind of choice. They didn't. It was, "Race this or go home."

[Dare]

All teams and drivers signed up to the new spec so effectively they are partners in the new product.

That makes it sound like they had some kind of choice. They didn't. It was, "Race this or go home."

They had a choice,it was "Race this or go home."

[F1fanaticBD]

All teams and drivers signed up to the new spec so effectively they are partners in the new product.

That makes it sound like they had some kind of choice. They didn't. It was, "Race this or go home."

They had a choice,it was "Race this or go home."

 

Witty Scotty 

[Scott]

That was Dare, but I'll take the credit   

[cosworth151]

Perhaps I should have phrased it, "Race what we say or fold up your team and go bankrupt."

[Dare]

Perhaps I should have phrased it, "Race what we say or fold up your team and go bankrupt."

It's funny,of the American's active on here none watch NASCAR,tell's you something doesn't it?

[lkjohnson1950]

They race a bit the first 10 or 20 laps to see what the cars are doing, then they just hang out until the last 4 or 5 laps. Then they race hard and usually wreck each other trying to win. if you can catch the last 10 laps, you've usually seen the race.