Season stats for various series

[KC]

We all know how statistical data can be skewed to represent most anything, but here is some interesting data about the top 5 motor racing disciplines in North America. Some of the following data can be skewed by the very nature of a racing series. I have abbreviated the names of the individual series, they are WC for Winston Cup, BGN for Busch Grand National, CTS for Craftsman Truck Series, CART for Championship Auto Racing Teams, and IRL for the Indy Racing League.

Percentage of starters that finish: WC: 81%, BGN: 82%, CTS: 73%, CART: 55%, and IRL: 60%.
The NASCAR based series show that a very high number of cars finish each race, but this is caused by points being paid for every position, even last place. So it is in the best interest of a team to be running at the end, even if 100 laps down to the leader to earn some points. CART and IRL does not reward a team to send a limping and damaged car back not the race and therefore the teams do not.

Caution flags per race: WC: 7.2, BGN: 5.8, CTS: 6.3, CART: 3.9, and IRL: 6.3.
CART leads by a fairly wide margin over all other series in the amount of full course cautions. However, by their very nature, oval tracks are far too hazardous to continue racing on if there is a danger of debris. But also, NASCAR employs yellow flags more liberally and strategically to encourage close racing.

Accidents per race: WC: 5.4, BGN: 5.2, CTS: 4.8, CART: 2.8, and IRL: 3.1
CART and the IRL also lead NASCAR in the number of accidents per race by 2 to 1. This stems from the very serious nature of crashing an open wheel racer and the bulk of a Winston Cup car. The size of the fields also affects the amount of crashes as NASCAR usually fields more cars per race than either CART or the IRL.

Percentage of yellow flags caused by accidents: WC: 76%, BGN: 89%, CTS: 70%, CART: 54%, and IRL: 77%.
Yellow flags can be issued for a myriad of reasons including accidents, on course debris, stalled or spun cars, etc. Strangely enough CART issues more yellow flags for non-crash related reasons that any other series by about 20%. The data is not clear if a spun or stalled car that can continue constitutes an accident. We have all seen how street courses are easy to spin off of and become stalled on.

Cars finishing on lead lap: WC: 16.3, BGN: 14.1, CTS: 11.5, CART: 8.5, IRL: 5.3.
Due to the nature and design of NASCAR series, much of the field will be on the lead lap. The cars are designed for close competition and the series is regulated to enforce this. CART and IRL races and regulations encourage fast drivers to dominate races.

Percentage of starters on lead lap: WC: 38%, BGN: 34%, CTS: 33%, CART 34%, and IRL: 20%.
Each of these series maintains round 1/3rd of the racing field remaining on the lead lap with the IRL falling to 1/5th. Each is a testament to the closeness and parity of the fields of cars.

Laps lost per race due to accidents: WC: 31.5%, BGN: 30%, CTS: 25.6%, CART: 16.3%, and IRL: 24%.
CART leads all series with the lowest number of laps lost due to accidents. The IRL has lowered their laps lost to crashes from 54% in 1999 to a second best 24%. This shows the speed and skill of the cleanup crews and track marshals in securing debris and making the tracks ready to resume racing. One of the facts that skews this data is the longer races usually run by the NASCAR based series. The next statistic shows the closeness of the laps lost when compared.
Percentage of laps lost due to accidents: WC: 11%, BGN: 15%, CTS: 15%, CART: 11%, and IRL: 12%.

Cars in accidents per race: WC: 9.4, BGN: 14.1, CTS: 8.3, CART: 4.6, and IRL: 4.0.
CART and the IRL have half as many cars involved in crashes than in the NASCAR series, but they also field 1/2 the number of cars as NASCAR. Also, the closeness of the NASCAR series usually involves more vehicles in accidents than in the open wheel series.

Multi-car accidents per race: WC: 1.8, BGN: 2.9, CTS: 1.5, CART: 1.1, and IRL: 0.6.
This statistic shows how the various series avoid multi-car accidents and illustrates the likelihood of single car wrecks.

Leaders per race: WC: 10.3, BGN: 5.3, CTS: 5.8, CART: 4.8, and IRL: 7.2.
Many factors affect this statistic. To lead a lap means to complete it in the lead. Many passes occur within laps but fail to lead when crossing the timing line.

Margin of victory in seconds: WC: 1.66, BGN: 1.11, CTS: 1.66, CART: 4.03, and IRL: 1.66.
The NASCAR and IRL series each reflect the narrow differences between cars and drivers by the closeness of the margins of victory. This can however be affected by the closeness of a caution flag to the end of the race.

Just some interesting stats to mull over in the off-season.