Please provide your support

[Mr. Indy]

I, no, pit crew personnel need your support. Yesterday at Gateway on the initial round of pit stops, in the last Brickyard 400 and in many races today, we see injuries in the pits to crew members due to accidents.

Nearly all of these injuries can be avoided by a simple rule change. Previous to IRL rules or under USAC rules employed at the Indianapolis 500, no pit crewman was allowed over the pit wall until the race car had entered the pit box. Today, we see crewmen over the wall, tires laid out, crewmen on their knees waiting for the race car before the car has even entered the pits. In situations such as yellow flag pit stops where nearly all the cars enter the pit area for pit stops, crewman are at an extreme risk when on their knees with equipment on each side of them or against the pit wall with no place to go in the event a race car goes out of control.

The ideal situation would be a rule that says no crewmember or equipment man go over the wall until the race car STOPS in the pit area assigned.

We have asked for this change before and it has not happened however, if perhaps each and everyone here at TF were to through their support behind this rule change, it might cause it to happen. With the accidents fresh in officials minds and the support of the fans here and the participants of race teams here asking and support this change, it might happen. This is not a time penalty to specific teams but will obviously have the same effect to all times. So what if it adds another five or ten seconds to a pit stop if it saves someones live or saves someone from serious injury.

Please go to the Fan Advisory Board and support this rule change request! THANKS!

[Defender]

Good suggestion.

[cdkief]

Anything to make the stops safer, and I think it would make them more exciting.

[IndyIRLman]

This is a very good suggestion.

[carl s]

I did

[slinger]

Me too.

[crispy]

Re: Please provide your support

Originally posted by MrIndy
Nearly all of these injuries can be avoided by a simple rule change.

Not that I disagree with the motivation behind the rule change idea, but I was under the impression that Al's crew was working on his car when they and the car were hit?

Your rule might reduce the number of incidents where a driver would whack his own crew, but guys servicing one car are always going to be subjected to the dangers of other passing race cars.

[Littleman]

Maybe, just maybe, the IDEAL thing is NO PIT STOPS UNDER YELLOW. That thought ever cross your mind? Imagine, no mad dash into the pits by ALL the cars, at once!!!!! The only car/cars allowed on to pit road would be those that had a problem that brought out the yellow. All competitors would be under the same pit scheme - having to pit under green flag conditions only. I think that would eliminate all cars pitting at once. And yes, i agree 100%, the pit crew should be BEHIND THE WALL until the car comes to a complete stop. The Open Wheel gusy, as noted, are really more succeptable to getting hit/injured by being out on pit road before their car gets to it's pit box.

[jetdoc]

Originally posted by Littleman
Maybe, just maybe, the IDEAL thing is NO PIT STOPS UNDER YELLOW... All competitors would be under the same pit scheme - having to pit under green flag conditions only.

Hmmmm....C^RT 2002 re-visited?

[AdamM]

Maybe, just maybe, the IDEAL thing is NO PIT STOPS UNDER YELLOW. That thought ever cross your mind? Imagine, no mad dash into the pits by ALL the cars, at once!!!!! The only car/cars allowed on to pit road would be those that had a problem that brought out the yellow. All competitors would be under the same pit scheme - having to pit under green flag conditions only. I think that would eliminate all cars pitting at once. And yes, i agree 100%, the pit crew should be BEHIND THE WALL until the car comes to a complete stop. The Open Wheel gusy, as noted, are really more succeptable to getting hit/injured by being out on pit road before their car gets to it's pit box.

AMEN!!

Banning yellow flag pit stops would be by far the best thing the IRL could do to help keep pit crews safe. The most dangerous situation in the whole race is having 20+ cars all coming onto pit lane at once. Eliminating yellow flag pit stops also has the added advantage of speeding up races. For debris or tow in cautions there would be no extra 2 or 3 laps run under caution just to allow all the cars to make pit stops. It would further eliminate the chance of driver going a lap down because of lousy timing on a yellow.

The rule could be simple, if you are forced to pit under yellow for fuel or mechanical trouble and you lose a lap (maybe two on a 1 mile track) and you start in the rear. That way no advantage is gained and on the flip side since on most track it takes a lap to make a stop the penalty fits the crime.
The benefits are so great I can’t believe the IRL hasn’t done it yesterday.

[BigWheelHawaii]

Originally posted by AdamM
AMEN!!

Banning yellow flag pit stops would be by far the best thing the IRL could do to help keep pit crews safe. The most dangerous situation in the whole race is having 20+ cars all coming onto pit lane at once. Eliminating yellow flag pit stops also has the added advantage of speeding up races. For debris or tow in cautions there would be no extra 2 or 3 laps run under caution just to allow all the cars to make pit stops. It would further eliminate the chance of driver going a lap down because of lousy timing on a yellow.

The rule could be simple, if you are forced to pit under yellow for fuel or mechanical trouble and you lose a lap (maybe two on a 1 mile track) and you start in the rear. That way no advantage is gained and on the flip side since on most track it takes a lap to make a stop the penalty fits the crime.
The benefits are so great I can’t believe the IRL hasn’t done it yesterday.

Done,,, Mr Indy,,,


As for banning Pit Stops Under the Yellow,,, Not Sure,,,

What happens when the yellow comes out, as the whole firld needs fuel or tires,,, or comes when the cars are in the "window", and need fuel... ????

Then when the green comes out, you got the same thing,,,, only worse,,,,NO ???? Nerves all shot, from running under the yellow,,, worried about running out of fuel,,, then to speed,,, then all dive for the pits... ????

Just an idea,,, how about under the yellow,,, the way you come in or leave the track,,, is the way you line up.... Then lower the pit speeds even more... no contest under the yellow,,, no movement by pit men until the car is stopped... No competition,,, for improvement of position in the pits..

This should work well in NASCAR,,,, oh yes,,,,

You can't even get them to stop, or even look at,,, "Racing Back to the Line"..... And we all KNOW,,,

All the years, I've been on these boards, making a fool of myself,,, but even I know,,, it's a matter of time,,,, before some "Big Star",,, "Gets It", by racing back to the line...

And by "Big Star", if the "Star" isno more, then some mothers, little boy or girl. that "Get's It",,, and all,,, Just to Improve the Show...

Yellow Stops,,,, No Movement or Improvement in Track Position, is what I mean... " Remember that Monarch Blonde on TV,,, "Just Stop the Insanity",,,,

Just Shooting from the "Hip",,, and "Hooting" my big mouth off...

[Jimbo7]

Re: Please provide your support

Originally posted by MrIndy
I
Nearly all of these injuries can be avoided by a simple rule change. Previous to IRL rules or under USAC rules employed at the Indianapolis 500, no pit crewman was allowed over the pit wall until the race car had entered the pit box. Today, we see crewmen over the wall, tires laid out, crewmen on their knees waiting for the race car before the car has even entered the pits. In situations such as yellow flag pit stops where nearly all the cars enter the pit area for pit stops, crewman are at an extreme risk when on their knees with equipment on each side of them or against the pit wall with no place to go in the event a race car goes out of control.

The ideal situation would be a rule that says no crewmember or equipment man go over the wall until the race car STOPS in the pit area assigned.

We have asked for this change before and it has not happened however, if perhaps each and everyone here at TF were to through their support behind this rule change, it might cause it to happen. With the accidents fresh in officials minds and the support of the fans here and the participants of race teams here asking and support this change, it might happen. This is not a time penalty to specific teams but will obviously have the same effect to all times. So what if it adds another five or ten seconds to a pit stop if it saves someones live or saves someone from serious injury.

Please go to the Fan Advisory Board and support this rule change request! THANKS!

In complete agreement with your post. Helmets are required by pit crews and were not in the not too distant past. IRL operations must lay down the law whether teams accept this rule or not. Right now pit crews get their cars out int 8 to 9 seconds. Enforce this ideal rule, and you'd have cars out in 11 to 12 seconds tops. Rule must be pressed onto officials. Safety should always be a top priority for al involved.

[hdolan]

"Just Shooting from the "Hip",,, and "Hooting" my big mouth off..."

Is that you Hoot...

[trow]

safety is good, I like the idea MrIndy!

it's getting old seeing guys in the pits getting hurt, when it may have been prevented with tighter restrictions. AS LONG as it doesn't take away the competitive side and the necessary risks that cannot be avoided, for the sake of safety.

[STAND E]

FAB done. I like the idea.

I think also the pit crewperson who stands at the right front tire and gives the GO signal needs training in common IRL rules for when to let the car free if traffic is approaching. For instance if the car from the pit ahead of them is within 50 feet or some certain distance, the crewperson should have to wait until that car comes in before letting their car go out. Or if any car is within 25 feet or some distance, they should not let their car out at all until it is past.