pit stop at indy

[hansdampf]

hi,
i can´t fin something on the internet. So here is my question: if a drive makes a green flag pit stop, does the driver lose a lap ?

[Ren Butler]

Not by rule.

But the circumstances often result in a lost lap.

[Mearsfan53081]

It depends how far back he was in the pack....but I believe a front runner SHOULD be able to make a pit stop without losing a lap.

[since 1981]

It depends how far back he was in the pack....but I believe a front runner SHOULD be able to make a pit stop without losing a lap.

Yes: they are usually able to stay on the lead lap - sometimes just barely.

[sean26]

better question, do the pits stay open during yellows, if the pits are not obstructed? or is that rule only for road and street?

[Doctorindy]

better question, do the pits stay open during yellows, if the pits are not obstructed? or is that rule only for road and street?

Since 1992, by rule, the entrance to the pits "closes" at the onset of yellow. The pace car picks up the field, and the field "packs up." Typically the next time around, the pits are open. Since IMS is a long track, it usually doesn't take them more than one lap to pack up the field.

If you pit while it's "closed" you incur penalty. I think you have to drop the back of the field on the restart. If you have a problem (flat tire, out of fuel, damage), you are allowed an exception. You can make a pit stop while it's closed and correct the problem only...i.e, change the one tire that's flat, or add a couple gallons of fuel to make it around, or change the front wing it's it's falling off, etc. However, you can ONLY do the work on the problem you have, it can't be used as a routine stop. You have to go back out, then come back in the next time around to receive "normal" service.

That exception rule is fairly recent...USAC didn't allow for it at first, which caused problems in the mid 90s.

[cornutt]

better question, do the pits stay open during yellows, if the pits are not obstructed? or is that rule only for road and street?

Right now that new rule is for road/street only. My guess is it's unlikely to change for ovals. Too many memories of the bad incidents that caused the rule to be enacted in the first place.