Blocking Vs. Defending

[gttouring]

Really i should post this in every forum. What the heck is the matter, let them block and defend, dangerous? bah they are going 190 on roadcourses if not faster, so what's the deal or the difference. i read that any movement off the racingline that is used to stop forward advancement of another car is blocking but sometime you have to hold them off....Is it the same rule in F1, and Indy?Or ALMS, or inthe ACO?

[evo]

I've always been of the opinion that if you don't want them to get by, you should brake later than they do. You're on the line with all the rubber on it, and they are off line. So you should be able to brake later than they do. If you go through the corner two-wide, then you'll get off the corner faster than them if you ake the right line. Same thing goes for if they move off-line to block. You should be able to outbrake them into the turn.

I've done it (mind you in a Skip Barber Formula Ford) so it is possible.

[Lee Janotta]

Defending is doing anything to try and keep the guy behind you. Blocking is still moving over on him when he's at least got his front wheels even with your rears.

Those moves Prost, Schumacher and Haberfeld have pulled... Those would be felonies anywhere but a race track.

[f1manoz]

What is the big difference between defending and blocking?

My interpretation, probably along with many others, is defending is protecting the best line along the straight or into a corner without forcing the competitor off the track. It's kept clean.

Blocking is swerving over the track and forcing your competitor off most of the time.

[evo]

I think defending is more like what I descirbed.

If the guy can get by you, you let him, and then pass him back.

[Jay]

Maybe this is a topic for the racers forum...

[Snrub]

Blocking is dangerous and not sporting. If someone is driving faster than you the fundimental problem is that you are slow. This does not give you the right to do anything possible to stop someone from passing you. Make it difficult for them, make them earn it, but it should always be clean.

Haberfield showed the two extremes between St. Petes and Monterey. At St. Petes he drove to the extreme, endangered 3 drivers and could have been knocked out of the race. In Monterey he learned his leason and when Junky went to pass he drove extremely clean, but didn't give it away. Junky screwed up and had Haberfield had a slightly better car he would have kept ahead. If anything Haberfield could have made it a slightly harder, but he didn't really stand a chance. Out of the two situations Haberfield hurt everyone involved the first time, whereas the second time he let Bruno hurt himself.

Same thing on ovals. You can cut air from the guy behind or you can make it clean. Jimmy's win in Fontana was especially popular because he deserved the win in all respects, he was fast and was extremely considerate of his fellow drivers. (I'd argue he should have been slightly more aggressive at times)

Monterey showed why Junky is no longer the favorite. He has not risen to the occation to drive for a Championship. Tracy has finally matured enough that he can claim what his speed should have achieved years ago.

[flatlander_48]

Defending is the first move. Blocking is the second.

[Dov]

So defending is the first move...even if the other cars wheels is along or slightly ahead of yours (car)?

[flatlander_48]

No, you have to be ahead. Once you move to the line you're going to take, anything after that is blocking.

[JohnSSC]

"Defending" is what you call whatever you do to keep the guy behind you, behind you. "Blocking" is what you call the thing the guy in front of you did to keep you behind him!