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Regarding pole position...does the driver who gets the pole position always line up on the inside line for whichever track they are racing at ? Meaning if first turn is a right hander then does he line up on the right side of track so if he gets a good start then(theoretically) he should have the inside racing line at first turn ??
Last edited by mx_tifoso on 29 May 2012, 00:50, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:moved to general chat
Different tracks have different layouts. Some pole positions are on the left, and some on the right. It doesn't always happen to be one side or the other for which way the first corner is either, I don't think.
They are generally on the racing line (the clean side of the grid) and have the best line through the first corner. Pole position will also be moved to the dirty side of the track if Alain Prost is second on the grid and has a championship to win.
Generally speaking, pole will be on the racing line - ie see which grid slot they go through when they pass through the pit straight. On a diagonal pit straight pole will be put on the outside line of T1 generally, so that the poleman can carry more speed through Turn 1. That's generally the racing line anyways.
An interesting example is Sepang Turn 1. Sepang's last corner exits on the right hand side of the track, and the entry to Turn 1 is on the far left of the track width. Generally speaking the pole position should be on the left, and it was until 2010. But in 2011 they moved it to the right hand side of the track, because the pole slot is actually closer to the exit of the last corner than the entry of Turn 1 - making the racing line actually still on the right hand side there.
Rule of thumb is, "On the racing line." That just about covers most scenarios. If the racing line crosses between P1 and P2 grid slots (like in Buddh) then P1 will be on the OUTSIDE of T1. Spa is an exception. Because La Source is so slow and it's a viable overtaking spot, poleman starts from the inside line and not on the racing line (outside) to help facilitate his defense of P1.
Even the origin of the word 'pole position' is pretty interesting. It came from horse racing! The fastest horse used to start from the innermost circle next to the pole. However, I wonder why they call them pole sitters! Horses never sit, even while sleeping!
“Speed has never killed anyone. Suddenly becoming stationary...that’s what gets you.” - JC
Websta wrote:They are generally on the racing line (the clean side of the grid) and have the best line through the first corner. Pole position will also be moved to the dirty side of the track if Alain Prost is second on the grid and has a championship to win.