"right to use the pitlane every lap"

[GolddustMini]

if this has been covered before then please merge with the neccesary thread.

now its a well known right that the teams can use the pitlane every lap if they so wish and this was something pointed to in the fia statement.

now what im thinking is that, yes the pitlane is dangerous, people work mear inches away from cars passing at 50mph. people also cross the pitlane to get to the pitwall to pass messages etc. so is it really safe to have 14 cars going through the pits every lap nose to tail through the pits and then dragging out of the pits again, only to return to the pits, slam on the brakes for the limiter line and bounce of the limitter for a while and then out again. its bound to lead to an accident, especially as the driver behind would not know if the car infront was simply passing through or "in for business". too cars contact, debris everywhere, pit crew get squashed, i think you'll find that that isnt a safe situation.

anyone who has ever worked in a pitlane can justify that they are dangerous places to be in. and the less cars that pass through the better.

cars are dangerous things at any speed, thats why there are barriers on the curcuit and marshals are not allowed on the track when cars are passing...

just my 2 cents

[Don K]

Originally Posted by GolddustMini

if this has been covered before then please merge with the neccesary thread.

now its a well known right that the teams can use the pitlane every lap if they so wish and this was something pointed to in the fia statement.

now what im thinking is that, yes the pitlane is dangerous, people work mear inches away from cars passing at 50mph.

As far as I know, the pit lane at Indianapolis is *a lot* wider than that.

[Don K]

Originally Posted by GolddustMini

so is it really safe to have 14 cars going through the pits every lap nose to tail through the pits ...

Why on earth would they go nose-to-tail?

They are in a race.
They would only have a chance to go nose to tail, if each of those cars would make equal lap times.

[mac]

My only concern with that would be drivers possibly using the pit speed limit line as a braking point to try and pass at - the pit entry road is not really wide enough for that.

Other than that I don't have too many dramas with the notion.

[Marbot]

Using the pitlane as part of the racetrack is a really dangerous idea.The chance of a collision during refuelling would be greatly increased.

[BootsOntheSide]

Theoretically everyone would be at the same speed down the pitlane, but it's bad enough when a car tries to pull out of the pitlane just as another is passing through having already stopped. The situation of drivers leaving their braking as late as possible, and perhaps attempting to enter the main pitlane 2-abreast, would not be safe for the pitcrews (if Indy's pitlane is theoretically wide enough for this, the situation is paradoxically even worse). Not only that, but the situation of cars exiting the pitlane across another's path (as Michael did to Rubens in the race) would happen dozens of times. In my mind Michaelin were quite right to reject this impractical and dangerous solution.

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

In my mind Michelin were quite right to reject this impractical and dangerous solution.

Quite right Boots! What's more, what sort of race or racing spectacle would that have provided. I can't believe anyone seriously considered this a sensible option.

[Gt_R]

The pitlane idea is as wise as a chicane. Which is, not at all.

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by Gt_R

The pitlane idea is as wise as a chicane. Which is, not at all.

No, it's much worse than the chicane option!

[steve_r]

Yes - IMO using the pit lane would have been a dangerous and ridiculous "solution". I still can't quite believe that the FIA suggested this as a serious answer.

[Sodemo]

Particuarly as the Indy pitlane has a very fast and dangerous entry, similar to Barcelona.

[Knowlesy]

The pitlane idea was a ludicrous suggestion. You can't have loads of cars continuosly streaming down the pitlane. yes, there is a limit, but in real terms that is still some speed to be mowing into mechanics. Also, what happens when the Bridgestone cars come in? There could be an accident there as well.

The other idea was to run on the banking at the speed limit. Oh yeah, that's real safe!

Anyone with half a brain cell could see the chicane was the best option. It wasn't necessarily ideal, or fantastic. But it would have been a good compromise.

[GolddustMini]

Originally Posted by Don K

Why on earth would they go nose-to-tail?

They are in a race.
They would only have a chance to go nose to tail, if each of those cars would make equal lap times.

because at slow speed cars close up, (just watch at a corner) add this to the fact that people would be using the pitlane speed limit line as a break test to gain valuable tenths. and as mentioned 2 abreast in the pitlane entry would be disasterous. its just a rediculous idea, similar to the entire USGP weekend really.

imagine the disaster if a car skidded into a refueling car, you've got fuel everywhere, you've got injured marshals, the pitlane (and refueling) is dangerous anyway, let alone with 14 cars using it as a start finish line every lap.

people seem to forget that whilst comparitavely to 230mph the pitlane speedlimit is low, however its still quicker than most roads....

[Marbot]

And where would they have taken the flag!

Let's imagine that the race had started with the cars using the pitlane.Let's also imagine that MS took out RB at the fuelstop (both are out),both Jordans retired,both Minardis withdrawn.That leaves 14 Michelin runners queuing up each and every lap for the pitlane.Now imagine the last lap when they have to take the flag in the pitlane.....Like pouring treacle into a funnel.

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

Anyone with half a brain cell could see the chicane was the best option.

No - what actually happened was the best solution, given the circumstances.

[Menelaos]

the pitlane solution was in short NOT A SOLUTION. It was very dangerous, plus it would be ridiculous for the fans. Having paid $400 and seeing no cars running in front of you? That sucks.

[JeremySmith]

This was a very dangerous and stupid idea, too silly for words.

[awegrzyn]

Jezus, I did not know the ticket was $400 dollars. I'm a wealthy man from NYC, but I would never go. F1 is not worth $400 dollars. Just go to ALMS race for $35. You'll enjoy some good racing there.

[Adam43]

They weren't $400 dollars. More like $85. Indy GP prices are very cheap (relatively).

[Menelaos]

Seriously? $85? I'm talking for the expensive tickets on the finish line.

[chillibowl]

from the sounds of many of the posts here, people seem to believe that anytime someone uses the pitlane it is inheirently dangerous and it has been suggested in other threads that use of the pitlane should be reserved for repairs only. but if the rules allow you to go through the pit everytime why not try.
was that not toyota's planned stratagy. quali on light fuel because they knew they had to pit after every few laps.
either way i agree with KB that what transpired was the best solution and race fans should know that if teams dont bring the right equipment they dont race, period.

[Hip Priest]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

race fans should know that if teams dont bring the right equipment they dont race, period.

Well, that is a bit of a sweeping statement.

In Nascar there have been many occasions where one tyre supplier has brought the wrong equipment, so their teams haev switched to a rival supplier in the interests of the sport.

In club racing, and indeed in the older days of F1, teams would often help each other out with parts if they had brought the wrong equipment.

And before you say that you are only referring to modern F1 racing....
Ferrari were allowed to race in Brazil in 2003 on a wet track, despite Bridgestone having failed to bring wet tyres. The grid was led around by a safety for a few laps prior to the race in order for the track to dry sufficiently for Ferrari to race with intermediates.

PS The pit lane idea is bloody ridiculous

[Kicking-back]

Originally Posted by Hip Priest

And before you say that you are only referring to modern F1 racing....
Ferrari were allowed to race in Brazil in 2003 on a wet track, despite Bridgestone having failed to bring wet tyres. The grid was led around by a safety for a few laps prior to the race in order for the track to dry sufficiently for Ferrari to race with intermediates.

Michelin only had intermediates, not wets, at that race too.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Menelaos

Seriously? $85? I'm talking for the expensive tickets on the finish line.

The best tickets were only £128 from a British Company with it's big mark up for just supplying the tickets. The other stands were £64 to £89. If you paid $400, unless you got some monster hospitality, you paid too much.

I've only quickly looked, but that seems to be right. http://justtickets.co.uk/usa.htm

[GolddustMini]

Originally Posted by chillibowl

from the sounds of many of the posts here, people seem to believe that anytime someone uses the pitlane it is inheirently dangerous and it has been suggested in other threads that use of the pitlane should be reserved for repairs only. but if the rules allow you to go through the pit everytime why not try.
was that not toyota's planned stratagy. quali on light fuel because they knew they had to pit after every few laps.
either way i agree with KB that what transpired was the best solution and race fans should know that if teams dont bring the right equipment they dont race, period.

the pit lane is as far as im concerned for breakdown and servicing only, i.e refueling or in the case of a problem with the car. pitlanes are dangerous things. anyone who has ever worked in one will agree. its like walking down a dual carriageway on the curb. in tghe interest of safety pitlanes are now baricaded from the track and have pitlane speeds, remember what we're taught in a adverts and in road safety classes, 30mph is enough to kill, F1 cars go faster than that in the pits.

the pitlane idea was stupid, having 14 cars filtering through the pitlane everylap is a rediculous and dangerous idea,