Richard Hammond Racing a NASCAR
The Top Gear presenters have definitely got the best job in the world! They have driven the rarest and fastest cars in the world. This week’s Top Gear saw Richard Hammond driving a race car around a NASCAR track.
NASCAR is the most watched sport in America but is it easier or harder than F1? Richard interviewed Juan Pablo Montoya who has driven both types of cars and asked his opinion. Montoya’s answer was that “nothing drives like a formula one car”. He also said though that NASCAR racing cars “slide around a lot and have no brakes!” The race is around an oval track but the drivers don’t get to take it easy; they are constantly correcting the car due to lack of grip, even though these vehicles are fitted with massive Goodyear tyres. The tyres make up one of the most important factors of NASCAR racing, the tyre pressures for example are kept 15psi higher in the right tyre compared to the left tyre. These Goodyear tyres come in at an estimated $400 dollars per tyre making normal Goodyears look like the cheap tyre choice!
Richard was sent off to pick up the tyres which is an important job. Although a bit of a challenge for Hammond as the tyres on their trolley were the same height as him and I would guess they probably were the same weight as well!