pit boxes

[JC Ohope]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

However, to alleviate this, there also should be a rule on the team's car#2 is not allowed to slow on track to minimise the "stacking" time, ala HRT and 888 and Bathurst. If they do, automatic drive through. Although if cars weren't allowed to race back to the pits when the SC car is deployed, this wouldn't be needed.

It was mentioned in the GC600 Telecast that the teams had been told in the drivers briefing that they could not use that method to reduce the stacking time, so it sounds to me like they not only have the rule in place but that they're taking action already (I guess Bathurst is the first time recently that it's been an issue? I can't recall any other similar incidents this year)

Rather than closing the pit while under saftey car (as alot of people seem to support) why not insist that Teams can only have one car within the pits at any time, so if their #1 car has already pitted then the other car either has to wait until the next lap or pit at a later opportunity in the race?

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by JC Ohope

It was mentioned in the GC600 Telecast that the teams had been told in the drivers briefing that they could not use that method to reduce the stacking time, so it sounds to me like they not only have the rule in place but that they're taking action already (I guess Bathurst is the first time recently that it's been an issue? I can't recall any other similar incidents this year)

Bathurst last year was the last time i can recall, but i may be wrong.

Originally Posted by JC Ohope

Rather than closing the pit while under saftey car (as alot of people seem to support) why not insist that Teams can only have one car within the pits at any time, so if their #1 car has already pitted then the other car either has to wait until the next lap or pit at a later opportunity in the race?

that would be another good option, if the team already has a car anywhere in the lane (not including the garage) then the 2nd car continues to circulate.

but then Roland would whinge even more than he usually does...

[pascofi m-sport]

Originally Posted by dsg

Great idea. Anyone in the pits or coming into the pits during a safety car period stays there until they can join the end of the safety car cue.

Agreed, especially with 888 all but steaming away with the title, and it would spice up the racing, seeing the best drivers come through the field.

For me, ATM the racing is very predictable. the same 3 or 4 drivers are near the front.

Look at NASCAR this year, they've had 18 different winners through 32 races this year. EIGHTEEN (including our man Ambrose).

Note to V8SC, when the safety car is deployed SHUT THE PIT LANE! make the drivers earn their victory.

[pascofi m-sport]

i stand corrected, it's actually 17. BUT STILL...

[peckstar]

Hey its off topic, but the v8s have had 8 different winners (out of 28 drivers) or 28% after 22 races (note i did not include enduro drivers which would actually make it 12 winners)

NASCAR have had 17 different winners (out of the 43 drivers who have made more than ten starts) or 38% after 32 races

Im not sure you can really compare it to NASCAR where on some tracks it really is a lottery who wins though

[pascofi m-sport]

yeah, but we haven't had any fresh winners, or different winners, just the same 4 or 5 drivers like Whincup, Lowndes, the Giz (he is a fresh winner), and R. Kelly. We need more varied winners to really keep people interested.

[St00ge]

Originally Posted by pascofi m-sport

yeah, but we haven't had any fresh winners, or different winners, just the same 4 or 5 drivers like Whincup, Lowndes, the Giz (he is a fresh winner), and R. Kelly. We need more varied winners to really keep people interested.

so you want V8SC to mess with the rules just so you can have some more winners...


Those guys are winning because they are the best at the track on the day, the way it should be...

[Court_Jester]

Originally Posted by GregM

How about this: If and when the safety car is deployed, the field is frozen, everyone pits, and then line up behind the safety car in the same order as when the safety car was deployed. The problem here is that teams that have a poor pit stop or take a little longer to fix something are not penalised, but I think that is better than having cars lose miles of track position through no fault of their own or their pit crew.

What do people think?

That will push people the other way (compared to shutting the pitlane) and turn the race into a fuel economy race.
Everyone would run as long as possible since if you pit and fall back and a Safety Car comes out, the car that stayed out gets a free stop. Ultimately no less contrived than shutting the pitlane.

And even if you had enough room to put a pit boom up for each car (which you dont) the cost will be huge. You would need more staff (it's 8 per car at an endurance round), more pit equipment (air guns, boom) and safety equipment (fireproof suits etc).

It's an unfortunate consequence of how tight the series has become. The penalty for missing a pitstop is huge. It will always be better to stack and lose 10 spots (but only 5s once the field has compressed) than staying out and having to stop under green later and losing 35 seconds at least.

What is the issue with double stacking? For me it's a massive safety issue. Putting quick cars back in the pack isnt that bad is it?!

If they really want to stop double stacking (for safety reasons) they could rule that a team can only have one car in pitlane at any time under safety car conditions and mandate that any safety car do a minimum of 3 laps to allow those that cant pit immediately to pit the following lap (losing track position) but also be able to catch the pack; thus losing positions to the lead pack but minimising time loss.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Agree.

Those wanting a pit box for each car have forgotten what it was like when there were too many pit booms in the lane - the risk factor was way, way higher than now.

Don't use the booms then. Allow the cars to take an air line on either side, and just run the line from the garage to the crew member.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Matt

Don't use the booms then. Allow the cars to take an air line on either side, and just run the line from the garage to the crew member.

Was actually trialled here at one stage and was judged to be higher risk. I know that it works for NASCAR (but then look at how often crew members get hurt there) but there are two main differences - no wall for V8s and NASCAR pit lanes are way longer, way wider with bigger pit bays.

Most Oz pit lanes are built around the FIA minimum length for a pit bay which is 4 metres - a V8 is over 5 metres - this is one of the main reasons that space is at such a premium.

[pascofi m-sport]

Originally Posted by St00ge

so you want V8SC to mess with the rules just so you can have some more winners...


Those guys are winning because they are the best at the track on the day, the way it should be...

yeah, and their teams have deep pockets...VERY deep pockets.

give some of the underfunded teams a break, or...cost cutting. They've done it before, why can't they do it again?

[chavez]

Closing the pitlane during a safety car simply doesn't work in road racing. It is too much of a lottery, especially if race control show any hesitation to deploy the safety car.

For example, the race leader goes past pit entry, an accident occurs, but it is unlcear whether the damaged car can continue; race control hesitates calling for the safety car, the fifth place driver's team gambles, dives to pit lane, then race control realising the broken car can't be moved without assistance calls for the safety car and closes the pits.

Once the safety car is brought in, the rest of the field pits and the previously fifth placed car is now some distance in the lead having pitted only seconds before the safety car has been deployed.

Alternatively you could then open pit lane after the field was brought under the control of the safety car, but the aforementioned fifth placed car still received a big advantage.



(The reason it still works in NASCAR is that they throw the caution almost without hesitation, so it is extremely risky to dive to pit lane before the caution is thrown)

[St00ge]

Originally Posted by pascofi m-sport

yeah, and their teams have deep pockets...VERY deep pockets.

give some of the underfunded teams a break, or...cost cutting. They've done it before, why can't they do it again?

the bottom 50% of the championship get 2 extra practice sessions per event (non enduro) already, they are limited by tyres tho... what more do you propose to give them??

[Woolcor]

Originally Posted by sizzle

I love a good conspiracy.

I suppose they faked the electrical problems sat too?

Not suggesting that Triple8 faked anything Sizzle. But then again....shouldn't they have checked and changed all that stuff after the incident at Bathurst????

No, my post was aimed at the uproar that has occurred because, according to some opinions, we were "robbed" of a contest by Lowndes being disadvantaged by the queuing in pit lane. This has been going on for years and happens regularly to any number of the 30+ cars on the grid so why does it only becomesa hot topic of conversation with calls for the rules to be changed because Lowndes was disadvantaged. Why no sympathy for Bargs, or Fiore or Coulthard? (presuming same thing happened to them, but we don't know that because Ch7 don't show them, but that's another topic for another time).

For the record, I do agree with the concept of shutting pit lane under SC to make it fair and equitable for all, not just the front of the grid. Allowing pitstops under yellow just bails out too many who've made mistakes and penalises those on a good strategy too often for me.

[Reload]

Originally Posted by Woolcor

Not suggesting that Triple8 faked anything Sizzle. But then again....shouldn't they have checked and changed all that stuff after the incident at Bathurst????

No, my post was aimed at the uproar that has occurred because, according to some opinions, we were "robbed" of a contest by Lowndes being disadvantaged by the queuing in pit lane. This has been going on for years and happens regularly to any number of the 30+ cars on the grid so why does it only becomesa hot topic of conversation with calls for the rules to be changed because Lowndes was disadvantaged. Why no sympathy for Bargs, or Fiore or Coulthard? (presuming same thing happened to them, but we don't know that because Ch7 don't show them, but that's another topic for another time).

For the record, I do agree with the concept of shutting pit lane under SC to make it fair and equitable for all, not just the front of the grid. Allowing pitstops under yellow just bails out too many who've made mistakes and penalises those on a good strategy too often for me.

It's obviously more of a hot topic and an "issue" because Lowndes is in contention to win the championship which is something that the other drivers you mentioned need not worry about.

[greenracer]

It wasn't a Lowndes thing why should any driver be disadvantaged by someone elses misfortune [in this case a piece of debris on the circuit] but you missing one of the side effects in that the paying public and tv viewers are being denied a fair and hotly contested race and after all isn't the entertainment we are all after.Lowndes showed at Bathurst the disavantage could be overcome by some excellent driving and passing but at the Gold Coast get real single file race track at best. The whole scenairo of pitstops needs to be reviewed to make it better for all concerned for drivers and pit crews and especially for the paying public .

[Langers]

How about we just stop throwing so many silly safety cars?

[sizzle]

Originally Posted by greenracer

It wasn't a Lowndes thing why should any driver be disadvantaged by someone elses misfortune [in this case a piece of debris on the circuit] but you missing one of the side effects in that the paying public and tv viewers are being denied a fair and hotly contested race and after all isn't the entertainment we are all after.Lowndes showed at Bathurst the disavantage could be overcome by some excellent driving and passing but at the Gold Coast get real single file race track at best. The whole scenairo of pitstops needs to be reviewed to make it better for all concerned for drivers and pit crews and especially for the paying public .

Originally Posted by Langers

How about we just stop throwing so many silly safety cars?

Especially for the piece of debris that was in the escape road!

[Langers]

Originally Posted by sizzle

Especially for the piece of debris that was in the escape road!

There have been so many examples lately.

The 3 at Murrays corner at Bathurst - why not extract under double waved yellows or replace the gravel with high traction tarmac do people can drive away?

Injured/ill marshall at Bathurst - why not use a helicopter?

Bollard at Gold Coast - not once, but twice! It's a piece of plastic for crying out loud. What is it going to do to a bunch of guys running tintops with full face helmets?

Car in the wall at turn one at Gold Coast. off the racing line and I could even see a tow truck about 20 meters away in the background. Gah!!!

So infuriating that the racing is artificially manipulated in the name of 'safety'.

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by Langers

Injured/ill marshall at Bathurst - why not use a helicopter?

surely you're taking the p...????