Indy Supercar PitLane Unsafe?? (Merged)

[retro]

The pit lane in the new pit area is too narrow?????

[brendan24688]

Watching the news tonight, Tega are in talks with Indy officials about pit lane. The pit lane is digusting and the V8's may now not have to complete a compulsory pit stop.

[retro]

The wheel man will be in the fast lane during pitstops?

[twig]

Judging by what i saw on the news - that is way too small, thinner then the first Canberra pit lane. I doubt there would be compulsory stops in the weekend - it's just too small.

[D.R.T.]

In the sense of safety that should come about, because you cant have people being injured.

Does it seem odd, that this was only discovered today? where were the inspections. Where was the common sense when it was built.

However maybe this is a bit of karma, as Avesco made them knock down a whole lot of trees and destroy a park for these pits.

[Spunky]

It was decided yesterday that there would be no pitstops and the race cut back to 30 laps on Sunday.

[GTRMagic]

So they all could have squished in the small area they used in previous years....

They should have made both races 30 laps, no stops..... or would that be too sensible...

Although, if you thought about it, if there is any sign of rain on the horizon, where will the stops to change to wets take place???

Or does it get red flagged, let the changes happen, then re-form the grid like in the bikes

[stmookeyj033]

And to think none of this would have happened if Cochrane didn't open up his big mouth by saying we want our own pit lane.

[retro]

announcement to be made today - click here

[BJAY]

Where is the new pitlane?? Is it anywhere near the normal one??

[retro]

According to the track map its still down near the ANA hotel.

[lowndes6]

Well its been announced No Compulsory Pitstops

[Crash Test]

The new pit lane is to the northern end of the old (current champ car exclusive) pit lane.

[Matt H]

r they goin to reduce the race distancecs ?

[racer69]

Why? The cars can go the distance, the pitstops were only there to 'enhance ' the show.

It will be good to see the racing on the track, where it should be, not in the pitlane.

[tiko]

Theyve reduced sundays race to 30 laps from 33 or 34 becausethe teams believe they wont make it on fuel.

[brendan24688]

There will be no Compulsory pit stops at Indy this year :

www.crash.net

The Australian V8 Supercars Series settled in to new pit lane facilities for this weekend's Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge on the Gold Coast with series organisers claiming a global seal of approval from drivers and team members, even though they won't be spending as much time in the pits than otherwise after pitstops have been canned for this weekend's two races.

A completely new pit lane specifically for the V8 Supercar teams has been put in place this year with improvements including spacious garage and work areas for every team, eliminating the problem of being based off-track and having to transport cars and equipment to a makeshift pit lane.

It also ensures that Australia's premier Motorsport category is on an equal footing with the Champ Car Series that will also do battle on the Gold Coast streets in the Lexmark Indy 300 this weekend.

"It is a tremendous improvement in conditions for all of our teams," says AVESCO's CEO, Wayne Cattach. "The Gold Coast Motor Events Corporation and the Queensland Government have done a magnificent job in making this happen given the sensitivities surrounding the development.

"We have now been given equal billing with the Champ Cars which is what we deserve. We have always been a major part of the show and our fans, who make up a significant slice of the audience, can clearly see that."

Five-time V8 Supercar Championship Series winner and Holden Racing Team team owner Mark Skaife was delighted with the new facilities when he saw them for the first time on Wednesday.

"It has certainly come along way from us being shunted down a back street," Skaife said. "From our perspective this is a massive step in the right direction of giving all the teams improved facilities and generally making it a lot safer than having to ship equipment around the track every time we race."

While teams settled in to their new surrounds it was decided that the format for the two races would be altered slightly to ensure the safety of team members during pit stops.

Each V8 Supercar race, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, will now be held without the original compulsory pit stop.

Team representatives agreed unanimously not to have pit stops during this event.

"There are some minor issues with the amount of room in pit lane that has meant it is difficult for multiple teams to pit at the same time, which they have a tendency to do under the current rules," Cattach said.

"The new dimensions are approved by the FIA but the problem is the sheer size and nature of our cars. These issues can be addressed, we just didn't want to disrupt our teams so close to a race weekend.

"So it was decided that for this year we would eliminate the pit stops in both races while our teams become more familiar with the new pit lane facilities they have this year, knowing they will be better again next year.

"What we offer in turn is a longer race format – 50 per cent more distance than we have ever raced here – on a single set of tyres with the braking systems at the extremes of their durability. What this will mean is that we will be guaranteed a spectacular end to each race with drivers and cars literally on the edge."

[retro]

Quote from TC "AVESCO & the FIA's fault entirely"
Apparently if they had known about this a couple of days ago it could have been fixed.

[the man]

I would have thought that the pits would have been built to a specific measurements so someone would of had to make a mistake then, but i don't see why they need there own pitlane anyway. This wasn't an issue years ago.

[pete55]

They were built to satisfy TC's ego. Nothing more, nothing less.
Considering the ****up, i reckon somebody from AVESCO should be sacrificed, and AVESCO should be made to pay back the Government.

[F|sh]

shouldnt the fastlane be called the school zone?

[BJAY]

The new pitlane is an extension of the old one. As the cars exit the Honda Hairpin, the new pitlane starts just after the bridge The exit of the V8 pitlane merges with the start of the CART pitalne. So if you get a drive through, you have to drive through both pitlanes. An estimation of about 55secs.

BJ

[D.R.T.]

Originally posted by retro
Quote from TC "AVESCO & the FIA's fault entirely"
Apparently if they had known about this a couple of days ago it could have been fixed.

Here I was thinking Avesco ran a professional sport and it was others not up to their standards.

Ha, I love your work Avesco

[peckstar]

are you still allowed to amke pit stops