Originally Posted By: expat
Originally Posted By: Pesca
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
EDIT: It's not just NASCAR drivers, by the way. Most race cars put the wheel that close.
You can definitively see that for rally drivers.
By having the fore arms at 90 degrees, it gives you more control on the steering wheel (faster reactions).
I can't say I have seen that in Rally cars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyWEOEA1NMs&feature=related
Interesting video by the way
I should have precised my references: I was talking about Sebastien Loeb in WRC.
From what I remember, like dailydriver said, all modern rally drivers drive this way.
But like dOOfOOd said, this is not the most relaxing position.
I tend to sit closer than regular people (my wife is 3-4 inches smaller than me and I usually sit closer to the steering wheel than her), as I feel more in control, in case of an emergency situation occurs. It is not that comfortable (needs to have the seat quite up right as I have long legs), but I can drive a long time like that.
It may be not a good thing in case of a front impact (too close to the wheel), but for now and as long as I can endure the slight back pain I get from the position, I prefer to drive that way. I feel way more in control that having the arms extended all the time.