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Why do they sit on the pitwall?


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#1 V8 Fireworks

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 02:32

Does anybody else find it strange?

 

It's noisy, it's hot (or cold), it's wet, it's windy, it's rainy.

 

You'd think if they want to manage the race effectively, it'd be better to be inside the garage where they can hear each other talk, sit in air-conditioned comfort and communicate with the pit crew directly instead of via intercoms.

 

:confused:  :confused:



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#2 Lemans

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 02:44

The worst part is they block the view with all those silly televisions showing the weather.



#3 275 GTB-4

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 04:39

One major accident and they will not be allowed there ever again...

#4 Murl

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 04:51

Does anybody else find it strange?

 

It's noisy, it's hot (or cold), it's wet, it's windy, it's rainy.

 

You'd think if they want to manage the race effectively, it'd be better to be inside the garage where they can hear each other talk, sit in air-conditioned comfort and communicate with the pit crew directly instead of via intercoms.

 

:confused:  :confused:

 

 

Regardless of extensive data gathering and analysis humans still operate off intuition, hunches, heuristics in many cases.

 

Data is sometimes used to justify decisions made by the seat of the pants.

By being connected to the sights, smells and sounds of the race in progress they are able to feed the human (non-data) senses and inform their intuitive side.
 

Plus they are racing fans like us, who would be crazy not to take the best seat in the house :smoking:


Edited by Murl, 14 March 2015 - 05:08.


#5 itsnoe30

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 05:10

Because in places like Spa or Interlagos, sticking out your hand it the most accurate weather forecast.

 

Plus, lack of space most likely.


Edited by itsnoe30, 14 March 2015 - 05:11.


#6 micktosin

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 05:15

Plus it adds to the whole atmosphere, imagine a pitlane with no pit wall the whole place will look like a ghost. So it helps for aesthetic reasons as well.

#7 whitewaterMkII

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 06:01

1) They have no view, but a sea of screens.

2) They should be behind the mechanics, or above them.

3) I agree that all it will take is someone plowing into them for their position to change.

4) NASCAR and Indycar have it right, completely out of the path of the cars.



#8 hittheapex

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 07:09

One major accident and they will not be allowed there ever again...

 

Close call, Verstappen crash in qualifying, Magny Cours 1994.



#9 zanquis

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 07:20

Does anybody else find it strange?

It's noisy, it's hot (or cold), it's wet, it's windy, it's rainy.

You'd think if they want to manage the race effectively, it'd be better to be inside the garage where they can hear each other talk, sit in air-conditioned comfort and communicate with the pit crew directly instead of via intercoms.

:confused: :confused:


They sit on the pitwall because sitting on the racetrack is too dangerous.

Mostly it is to be also more tradition and practical as people from the team and FIA know where to find them.

#10 Peat

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 08:08

It's a legacy from a time before live data. Technically, there is no need. It's just the way it's done.

For those in the grandstands, it would be better if they were in the back of the garages as the modern prat-perches completely obscure the view of the pitlane.



#11 275 GTB-4

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 08:10

Close call, Verstappen crash in qualifying, Magny Cours 1994.


Sorry...I need a more dramatic example...that would barely raise an eyebrow...

#12 hittheapex

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 08:16

Sorry...I need a more dramatic example...that would barely raise an eyebrow...

I'm sure it raised more than that for the guys sitting there. With catch fencing along those areas now though I think the main danger is from the pitlane, such as an unsafe release and the car behind riding over the rear wheels of another.



#13 275 GTB-4

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 10:18

I'm sure it raised more than that for the guys sitting there. With catch fencing along those areas now though I think the main danger is from the pitlane, such as an unsafe release and the car behind riding over the rear wheels of another.


I'm not so sure, but you are right about threats coming from behind as well...an accident waiting to happen, but then again...

Motor Racing is Dangerous!

#14 Collombin

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 15:51

Sorry...I need a more dramatic example...that would barely raise an eyebrow...


I think the Scheckter brothers have dramatic pitwall accidents covered pretty well.

#15 ferrarifanf1

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 16:01

 

 

Close call, Verstappen crash in qualifying, Magny Cours 1994.

 

 

 

hope his son does not do that



#16 ninetyzero

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 16:16

I imagine it's because that's what they've always done and nobody ever thought to change it. No actual reason for them to be sitting on the pit wall these days.



#17 Razoola

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 16:32

Its to advertise the headphones, logos on cloths, screens and other stuff.

#18 Tsarwash

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 16:39

They're not willingly going to give up that bit of space, it's quite handy for them. They can hear all of the cars rush past at 100% throttle, which can be useful, they are close to the front of the garage, I would say it's still the natural place to be.

#19 whitewaterMkII

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 17:02

They can hear all of the cars rush past at 100% throttle

Then why are they all wearing headphones and staring at screens that tell them whether the car is at 100% throttle?



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#20 BRG

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 18:50

I imagine it's because that's what they've always done 

No. It used to be just a bloke with a pitboard.  The management stayed in the pits area.  Which is where they should be.



#21 superden

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 18:52

Does anybody else find it strange?


Not really, no.

#22 ExFlagMan

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 18:56

Radio systems tend go down at the most inappropriate moment, so it helps to have someone out there to make decisions and display a pitboard if it happens.

#23 kamikaze1

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 19:00

Why do people sit at a bar in a pub?  It's noisy, wet counters etc.     But...  it's where you get all the information.   Action in front of you, behind you, to the sides of you.  You can see everything and everything that others are doing, at pit stops, on the wall, fake pit-stops etc.    In a pit garage... all you get is walls and monitors.   Plus it makes it easier for TPs to approach other TPs, i.e.  "please don't hold us up when lapping" etc, like what happened in the past for championship deciders.  


Edited by kamikaze1, 14 March 2015 - 19:05.


#24 whitewaterMkII

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 20:14

   Plus it makes it easier for TPs to approach other TPs, i.e.  "please don't hold us up when lapping" etc, like what happened in the past for championship deciders.  

yep, that's it. It's astounding that NASCAR is able to accomplish the same thing with more twice as many cars on track, and racing much closer...

:eek:



#25 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 21:08

One major accident and they will not be allowed there ever again...

Watch out for Holden utes!!



#26 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 21:12

Plus it adds to the whole atmosphere, imagine a pitlane with no pit wall the whole place will look like a ghost. So it helps for aesthetic reasons as well.

The V8s have all their electronics in the garage. as should F1. 

A man [or even two] with a pitboard is still ok to watch and listen what the cars are doing.



#27 kamikaze1

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 21:20

yep, that's it. It's astounding that NASCAR is able to accomplish the same thing with more twice as many cars on track, and racing much closer...

:eek:

 

Too tired to type

 

http://www.f1technic...hp?p=509321&f=1



#28 metz

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 21:33

During the BAR days, I have seen the Honda engineers, 6 or 8 of them, monitoring the race, and each piston stroke , and temperatures, etc.,  in real time, in a completely anonymous white trailer parked some distance away from the pit lane.

I imagine the other engine manufacturers do the same, almost off site.



#29 cool inferno

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 22:04

1) They have no view, but a sea of screens.

2) They should be behind the mechanics, or above them.

3) I agree that all it will take is someone plowing into them for their position to change.

4) NASCAR and Indycar have it right, completely out of the path of the cars.

I think that the setup should be above the mechanics. The way its setup now, it blocks the pitstop view from the grandstands. Im sure those that pay good money for those grandstand seats in front of the pits, would lover to see some of that pit action live. Thats one of the good things at the NASCAR events, you can see the pit action and hear those airguns at work. 



#30 275 GTB-4

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 22:19

Why do people sit at a bar in a pub?  It's noisy, wet counters etc.


To pick up people of the opposite sex of course! You need to get out more :wave:



#31 Sheepmachine

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Posted 14 March 2015 - 22:21

Why do they sit on the pitwall? Well the prats need a perch don't they :drunk:

#32 alfa1

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 00:20

I always wondered why Adrian Newey sits up there.



#33 Atreiu

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 00:23

 

Close call, Verstappen crash in qualifying, Magny Cours 1994.

 

**** that was close.



#34 kamikaze1

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 01:50

To pick up people of the opposite sex of course! You need to get out more :wave:

 

 

:D Damn getting old!.  Usual tradition for Australia since 2000 was stroll out of the nightclub half-cut  at 2am, take-away, get home for the start of ITV coverage with Rosenthal and Jardine, watch the first half of the race and fall asleep!.  Damn the start time change and the mounting years.  



#35 Peter0Scandlyn

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 01:51

It's more comfortable then standing?



#36 Tsarwash

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 03:42

Then why are they all wearing headphones and staring at screens that tell them whether the car is at 100% throttle?

Because human senses can be much more accurate at receiving and processing information and knowing when a car or engine might possibly be in some kind of trouble, than computers and sensors.

#37 RacingDuck

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 04:01

Because human senses can be much more accurate at receiving and processing information and knowing when a car or engine might possibly be in some kind of trouble, than computers and sensors.

 

Then why are they all wearing headphones and staring at screens that tell them whether the car is at 100% throttle?



#38 BRK

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 04:07

So they can all head out and cheer when Vettel and Raikkonen Hamilton and Rosberg romp home in first and second (not necessarily in that order).



#39 275 GTB-4

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 09:58

:D Damn getting old!.  Usual tradition for Australia since 2000 was stroll out of the nightclub half-cut  at 2am, take-away, get home for the start of ITV coverage with Rosenthal and Jardine, watch the first half of the race and fall asleep!.  Damn the start time change and the mounting years.


0200 and you can only manage 1/2 cut...you really need to try harder mate...

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#40 ExFlagMan

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Posted 15 March 2015 - 10:11

I always wondered why Adrian Newey sits up there.

So he could use his legendary super-power and watch the airflow over the opposition's cars.