Tech Line at Indy

[flyingpylon]

Can anyone tell me how often a car must go through Tech during the month of May? Do they have to get teched each day they go out on the track or anything like that?

Also, is there any particular time of day or anything that teams try to get this done? For example, do they try to get it out of the way early, or do they wait until 30 minutes before going out, etc.? Obviously some will do it differently than others, I'm just looking for a general sense.

Thanks.

[IRLCREW]

Everytime you attempt a qualification you must go through tech. Even if you go out for one lap and call it off. If you go back into the pits you have to go back through tech before you try again. If you dont go out right after your tech inspection and you loose your place in line you have to get back in line and start over.

[Mack Too]

The team also has an option of going through the line whenever they wish, and often after a good practice run will run it over the sled to be sure it was a legal run.

[IRLCREW]

Obviously some will do it differently than others, I'm just looking for a general sense.

Thanks.

The only thing teams can do different is deciding WHEN to get in line for TECH. Like I said once you go through tech you have to go out and qualify. You CANT wait 30 minutes after TECH.

On the first day of Quals it is a blind draw and you must go out depending on what number you draw. After that you wait until the last team drawn qualifies. Once the last team drawn qualifies then you can decide on when you want to get back in line. Teams that dont go early will wait until the sun goes down behind the front stretch stands before they make the rush for the tech line around happy hour 5-6 pm.

[roach]

...Teams that dont go early will wait until the sun goes down behind the front stretch stands before they make the rush for the tech line around happy hour 5-6 pm.

Don't forget - DST. The sun isn't down behind the stands as much as it used to be, so it's acually like going out at 4-5 pm under "standard" time.

roach

[drdisque]

Every car has to pass an extensive tech in the IRL garage where they check it for safety and various other things. This is done before the car can go on track.

[flyingpylon]

Thanks for all of the replies. I should have worded my question a little better.

I know that cars must go through tech each time they qualify. What I meant to ask was, for practice sessions, etc. when (and how often) are they required to go through the IRL garage for tech inspection? Sometimes I see one car go through there, and other times there is a line of cars waiting. I was just trying to get a sense of when the most activity occurs at the IRL garage, or if it can even be predicted.

[muttbone]

Thanks for all of the replies. I should have worded my question a little better.

I know that cars must go through tech each time they qualify. What I meant to ask was, for practice sessions, etc. when (and how often) are they required to go through the IRL garage for tech inspection? Sometimes I see one car go through there, and other times there is a line of cars waiting. I was just trying to get a sense of when the most activity occurs at the IRL garage, or if it can even be predicted.

They are only required to go thru prior to first time on track (safety) and before qualify attempts. So basically they only have to go thru twice until qualified. They will also have to go after quailifying and before race grid.

[Mindervillain]

Thanks for all of the replies. I should have worded my question a little better.

I know that cars must go through tech each time they qualify. What I meant to ask was, for practice sessions, etc. when (and how often) are they required to go through the IRL garage for tech inspection? Sometimes I see one car go through there, and other times there is a line of cars waiting. I was just trying to get a sense of when the most activity occurs at the IRL garage, or if it can even be predicted.

Okay, part of this I know and part of this I think I know (helpfully). But no chassis can go on the track until it's been inspected, mostly for safety, but for basic legality as well. Major repairs will likely force the team to roll the car through again.

But once a car is approved, presumably early in the month, it doesn't have to go through tech until the competition starts: qualifying. But the teams constantly bring their cars back through tech, often several times a day, to get the "official" read on their setups and changes. Keep in mind that the only "accurate" measurements are the ones done by the tech officials, so the teams always confirm what they've done to the cars by rolling through tech.

[Field of 33]

Wasn't there a new rule last year with cars being impounded after a qualification run during the last hour of the day so that they do not have to go trhough tech again if they withdraw or are bumped?

[Mindervillain]

Wasn't there a new rule last year with cars being impounded after a qualification run during the last hour of the day so that they do not have to go trhough tech again if they withdraw or are bumped?

Right. It started with the new qualifying rules; I think it was portrayed by some on TF as some sort of conspiracy (surprise), but by impounding them on pit lane instead of sending them through tech in Gasoline Alley, they had the opportunity to withdraw their times and do another qualifying run. When the track closed, all of the impounded cars still in the race were escorted to tech as if they'd just completed qualifying.

One comical occurence during the final hour impound was when Dario was being interviewed by the press and Ashley, apparently to get away from the crowd, walked over and sat on the side pod of his car - while in tech impound. Very unintentional, but got everyone excited momentarily.

[slompappy]

Don't forget - DST. The sun isn't down behind the stands as much as it used to be, so it's acually like going out at 4-5 pm under "standard" time.

roach

they need to keep the track open till 7 so that we will have a real happy hour again

[Field of 33]

Couldn't agree more!!

[PHJIndy]

they need to keep the track open till 7 so that we will have a real happy hour again

Or go on CDT.