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Really? I'd expect that robotic cars will dominate closed-course races sooner rather than later simply due to the fact that the course is known, can be mapped down to the millimeter, and can be simulated offline. AI cars don't get bored, distracted, suffer fatigue, or need the physical stamina to drive an optimal line rain or shine hundreds of times in a row.

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Mapping down to the millimeter is great, but the conditions on track are continually changing. Weather (rain, sun, track surface temperature, air temperature), debris (dirt, grass, marbles, spectator thrown shoes), rubber being laid down on the track, changing condition of the driver's vehicle and other vehicles are all things that need to be contended with. Simulation helps, assuredly, and is used in human based efforts extensively, but you can't exactly just play back your simulation on a real track and expect the car to stay on course at race speed.

That's a good point, for instance, Google's car has both on-board sensors and annotated route information. I wasn't suggesting that offline simulations be replayed, but simply that the problem space is to some extent a more perfect knowledge environment than the open road will ever be. Cheers.

Probably easier than open road, but the surface is a constant problem. NASCAR for example runs multiple races at some venues where the spring and summer races act totally different. Some of the differences are heat, rain between practice and race (rubber on track difference), different tire formula, possible resurfacing, and changes to rules (aero or engine).

Restrictor plate racing with a computer car mixed in would be extremely interesting. NASCAR does not allow telemetry, speedometers, or fuel gauges. This would make for an interesting computer car in these parameters.

There is a lot to racing, particularly interaction with other, drafting, rubber on road, etc. I don't think it is going to be that easy.

Not a racing fan at all, but from friends I know there are certain strategies involved if each team consist of two or more members. One member can stall other racers, helping his team-mate advance. Again, this is just from talking to them.

Yep, happens in open wheel and drafting with teammates in stock car (although that isn't even totally true). It seems like it is much more prevalent where one sponsor sponsors multiple cars.

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