I actually think it would be a good idea to award points for winning a pole, but only if they go back to the old rules of being able to make changes to the cars between qualifying and the race itself. At a lot of tracks, it seems like the best qualifying setup is not very good in the race.

As it is now, the importance of qualifying has been diminshed so much from what it used to be: the top 35 automatically qualifying, all the tracks now having single pit roads (except for Bristol, but even then not so much anymore), and it seems like for whatever reason cars can get through the field a lot easier than they used to even 10-15 years ago.

Interesting point evadsti on taking 5 points away from leading a lap during yellow flag, but what about a team that beats everyone out of pit road and takes the lead because of a fast pit stop? Shouldn't there be some credit there?

As for doling out points, why not some points for winning a pole? What do you think?

I think both sides of this discussion have some valid points. There are a lot of drivers now that will settle for a top ten rather than chance wrecking to improve one position. The current system awards consistancy, but does take some excitement away. I think the best compromise is to add a 25 point bonus for winning, and maybe a 10 point bonus for second.

While we're talking about bonus points, take the 5 points away for leading a yellow flag lap. That's basically a free 5 points for a drivers, not 5 points that were earned.

I agree with the first comment. With the current system racing hard for each position is encouraged. Every point counts in the end, that's why drivers may stay out to lead a lap under caution, or take two tires for track position.

F1 is great if you like watching hi-tech machines NOT race one another.

Will Ferrell's character Ricky Bobby lives by the mantra (from his dead-beat daddy), "If you're not first, you're last."

An ironic statement considering in NASCAR, when you're fifth, you can be first.

More lunacy from the left-turn sport, which leads me to the following quote:

"The Cup Title is won through “CONSISTANCY " throughout the entire season."

Why drive at speeds exceeding 180 MPH? If I consistently (note proper spelling) finish last place in races with a top speed of 60 MPH, does that mean I finish in first place?

WOW!

If you're last, you're first!

There is only one winner on sunday... the rest are losers.
I am sick and tired of watching drivers run for the top ten or points B/S. Anyone that can say they are happy losing should just stay home.

The Cup Title is won through " CONSISTANCY " throughout the entire season. Leave it just the way it is!

But isn't one of the fun things about NASCAR that there is usually good racing for positions all through the field, not just at the front (even though they don't always show it on tv)? The racing in F1 isn't like that at all. If the only thing that mattered for the championship was the winner of each race, the quality of the racing overall would definitely suffer. For example, if the 2nd and 3rd place cars are close together but 5 seconds behind the leader, why would they even bother to race hard and maybe take a chance of crashing if points didn't matter anymore? I doubt that pride or a few thousand dollars would make a difference, and it would make even less of a difference if you're several laps down. But then again, you could say the same thing about the current chase format if those same two drivers were safely in the top 12 in points before the chase started.