Method and system for controlling auto races

Abstract

A method of conducting a racing competition among a plurality of race cars including conducting qualifying trials among the plurality race cars, arranging the race cars in qualifying order arrangement for the start of the race, altering at least one of time, distance or speed parameters of one or more of the plurality of race cars during the race, and determining the winner and order of race finish at the completion of the race based on the parameters

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of conducting a racing competition among a plurality of race cars comprising the steps of:
 conducting qualifying trials among the plurality race cars;   arranging the race cars in qualifying order arrangement for the start of the race;   altering at least one of time, distance or speed parameters of one or more of the plurality of race cars during the race;   determining the winner and order of race finish at the completion of the race based on the time, distance or speed parameters; and   wherein the plurality race cars have the speed capabilities modified by changes in at least one of the engine horsepower, the race car weight, the race car tire characteristics and the race car aerodynamic drag characteristics.   
     
     
         6 . The racing method of  claim 5  wherein the plurality race cars have the speed capabilities linked by a mathematical formula:
     HP×K 1+ WT×K 2+ TR×K 3+ DR×K 4= K 5; 
 
       set K5=1 and K1 through K4 are constants related to each speed characteristic; 
       Where: 
       HP=horsepower 
       WT=weight 
       TR=tire characteristics 
       DR=drag characteristics 
     
     
         7 . The racing method of  claim 5  wherein the step of conducting qualifying trials among the plurality of race cars provides different qualifying times including faster qualify times for the faster race cars and slower qualifying times for the slower race cars. 
     
     
         8 . The racing method of  claim 7  wherein speed capabilities are modified by having faster and slower race cars have different width tires mounted so that the faster race car with a greater horsepower and speed would have tires with less cornering capabilities and a slower race car with lesser horsepower would have tires with better cornering capabilities. 
     
     
         9 . The racing method of  claim 8  wherein the slower race cars have wider tires than the faster race cars so as to provide better cornering capabilities for the slower race car. 
     
     
         10 . A method of conducting a racing competition among a plurality of race cars that are driven on a race track, and in which there is a pit area where the cars are served, said method comprising the steps of:
 conducting qualifying trials among the plurality of race cars so as to identify faster and slower race cars;   arranging the race cars in qualifying order arrangement for the start of the race;   the race cars periodically stopping for service at the pit area;   wherein the step of conducting qualifying trials among the plurality of race cars provides different qualifying times including faster qualify times for the faster race cars and slower qualifying times for the slower race cars;   wherein the faster and slower race cars have different width tires mounted so that the faster race car with a greater horsepower and speed would have tires with less cornering capabilities and a slower race car with lesser horsepower would have tires with better cornering capabilities; and   determining the winner and order of race finish at the completion of the race based on the finish position.   
     
     
         11 . The racing method of  claim 10  wherein the slower race cars have wider tires than the faster race cars so as to provide better cornering capabilities for the slower race car. 
     
     
         12 . The racing method of claim  11  wherein, after the qualifying trials, tires on the slower race cars are mounted and that are of a width that is greater than the width of tires on the faster race cars. 
     
     
         13 . The racing method of  claim 12  wherein the plurality race cars have the speed capabilities linked by a mathematical formula:
     HP×K 1+ WT×K 2+ TR×K 3+ DR×K 4= K 5; 
 
       set K5=1 and K1 through K4 are constants related to each speed characteristic; 
       Where: 
       HP=horsepower 
       WT=weight 
       TR=tire characteristics 
       DR=drag characteristics 
     
     
         14 . The racing method of  claim 12  wherein a weight is measured of all race cars and the faster race cars have a predetermined weight added thereto as a function of the difference in qualifying speed. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of conducting a racing competition among a plurality of race cars that are driven on a race track, and in which there is a pit area where the cars are served, said method comprising the steps of:
 conducting qualifying trials among the plurality of race cars so as to identify faster and slower race cars;   the qualifying times being separated into a plurality of qualifying times from a fastest race car qualifying time to a slowest race car qualifying time;   after the qualifying times have been set, then determining the tire characteristics of tires on each race car including tire width of each race car;   based on the qualifying time for each race car, mounting the race car tires at least on the slower race cars so that the faster and slower race cars have different width tires mounted so that the faster race car with a greater horsepower and speed has tires with less cornering capability and a slower race car with lesser horsepower has tires with better cornering capability.   
     
     
         21 . The racing method of  claim 20  wherein, after the qualifying trials, tires on the slower race cars are mounted and that are of a width that is greater than the width of tires on the faster race cars. 
     
     
         22 . The racing method of  claim 20  wherein the plurality race cars have the speed capabilities linked by a mathematical formula:
     HP×K 1+ WT×K 2+ TR×K 3+ DR×K 4= K 5; 
 
       set K5=1 and K1 through K4 are constants related to each speed characteristic; 
       Where: 
       HP=horsepower 
       WT=weight 
       TR=tire characteristics 
       DR=drag characteristics 
     
     
         23 . The racing method of  claim 21  wherein a weight is measured of all race cars and the faster race cars have a predetermined weight added thereto as a function of the difference in qualifying speed. 
     
     
         24 . The racing method of  claim 20  including providing a start/finish line, and the first race car to reach the start/finish line, after a predetermined number of laps, is considered the winner of the race. 
     
     
         25 . The racing method of  claim 23  wherein the predetermined weight that is added is a function of the race car having the closest and lower qualifying time to the subject race car. 
     
     
         26 . The racing method of  claim 20  wherein, for a fastest race car a predetermined width tire is mounted, and for a slowest race car, in comparison to the fastest race car, a predetermined width tire is mounted. 
     
     
         27 . The racing method of  claim 26  including mounting a wider tire on the slowest race car. 
     
     
         28 . The racing method of  claim 20  including adding a predetermined weight to the faster race car, said predetermined weight being as a function of the difference in qualifying speed between the fastest race car and the next fastest race car.