Qualifying - Advantages/Disadvantages?

[Micklegend]

With the new qualifying system being shown on 7 yesterday, I noted that the first 3 cars on the road were Toll/HRT cars for the first session. Coming over the hill into the final corner, there was a decent gap between the first 3 cars, and then the usual train of cars from 4th onward.

Now this was the OUT lap where I guess drivers are looking to warm up etc, but it looked to me as if the 3rd car in the line could have been holding back to give the first 2 cars a comfortable gap to set some good early times.

Conspiracy you say? Well maybe not but it did look suspect to me.

So the question is, What is the rule for the opening lap for qualifying? Is there passing before the stripe or a pseudo "yellow flag" for the Out Lap?

If this is the case, would teams be better served waiting for the bulk of the field to leave pit lane before venturing out, or would they be better served to get out quickly and employ some "team tactics"?

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by Micklegend

With the new qualifying system being shown on 7 yesterday, I noted that the first 3 cars on the road were Toll/HRT cars for the first session. Coming over the hill into the final corner, there was a decent gap between the first 3 cars, and then the usual train of cars from 4th onward.

Now this was the OUT lap where I guess drivers are looking to warm up etc, but it looked to me as if the 3rd car in the line could have been holding back to give the first 2 cars a comfortable gap to set some good early times.

Conspiracy you say? Well maybe not but it did look suspect to me.

So the question is, What is the rule for the opening lap for qualifying? Is there passing before the stripe or a pseudo "yellow flag" for the Out Lap?

If this is the case, would teams be better served waiting for the bulk of the field to leave pit lane before venturing out, or would they be better served to get out quickly and employ some "team tactics"?

Team Managers at HRT/Toll are race-craft smart and savvy.

Rat cunning developed over years and years of motor racing.

Mike

[lookleft]

Well if you had 4 cars would you do it any differently?

Looks like they just need some time to figure it out. Most cars seemed to be back in the pits after the first 8 minutes leaving plenty of open track. Of course the sub 60 second lap and tire sensitivity contributed to that. The decent teams / drivers only need on lap in the first segment.

NZ will be fun.

[peckstar]

while im not into the conspiracy theory. i will say this

HSV are in pit one and as a result have the right to be first one out of the pits, surely over time that gives some advantage.

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by peckstar

while im not into the conspiracy theory. i will say this

HSV are in pit one and as a result have the right to be first one out of the pits, surely over time that gives some advantage.

Itd be stupid to penalise the champions from last year wouldn't it?

Its the same in every form of motorsport, the raining champs get the better positioned pit bays etc.