Numbers Game

[Razor]

After talking to a friend and a house mate about the numbers used in Moto GP and F1, how should the V8's handle numbers?

Current F1 type and Moto GP type? (Drivers are attached to numbers throughout their careers in tier)

What it is now (attached to REC and up to discretion of team)

Old F1 style (where a team finished in championship the season before)

[Umai Naa]

While the RECs do have a number attached to them, it can be easily changed to a number preferred by a driver, sponsor, or manufacturer.

I think Mr Schwerkolt insisting on usuing #18 is probably more so a case of vengeance, than anything else.

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Razor

After talking to a friend and a house mate about the numbers used in Moto GP and F1, how should the V8's handle numbers?

Current F1 type and Moto GP type? (Drivers are attached to numbers throughout their careers in tier)

What it is now (attached to REC and up to discretion of team)

Old F1 style (where a team finished in championship the season before)

The current system has worked well enough for a long time, i don't see the need to change it.

There is little point to drivers having "career numbers" when the numbers are effectively meaningless these days tucked away in the back window in a generic font.

Put them back on the doors and it would be a different story perhaps.

[RedZedMikey]

I don't see the need to change the current. I also don't see the need for hard and fast rules - it would be nice to think that individual circumstances could always be considered. Generally, I would say numbers should not be attached to a driver's career unless by mutual agreement. For example, I would like to think that 17 would stick with DJR/Penske for as long as Dick retains a percentage and title within the team. Equally, 888 should remain where it is. However, circumstances may arise in the future to tie a number to a driver rather than a team; a classic example from the past would be Brock and 05.

Moving out of one series into another, if there was significant attachment to a number, and no pre-existing conflict, the driver should be able to use that number in the new series if he and his new team chose to do so.

[anthony81901]

Agree that while some numbers will always be associated with certain drivers, 05, 17 etc, by and large there there is little sentimentally with any others. Yes 888 is associated with Lowndes, but that is more likely to do with it also being the team's name. Don't think anyone particularly associates Winterbottom with 5, Kelly with 15 even though they have raced with these numbers for a decade. Think the current system works just fine.

Agree that Charlie is probably retaining #18 just so DJR can't use it, although obviously academic this year. But while DJR did use if for 25 years, given that in its later years with Radisich, Wilson, Luff, Seton, Davison, Courtney and Moffat passing through the door (7 changes in 10 years), the value had probably already diminished. I guess in that respect, Charlie has maintained some tradition.

[peckstar]

History of the number 55