12 replies to this topic

[wawawa]

In the pit lane the top teams get garages closer to the pit entry (I think last year's USGP was an exception to this). Why is this an advantage? As we saw today, there are rare occasions when it is a disadvantage. Ross Brawn:

The pitstop was chaotic and we held him [Rubens] up quite rightly because there were do many cars in the pitlane. That didn't seem to be the case with the other teams who just let their cars go regardless.

Ferrari were forced to keep Rubens back as all the other cars filed past him. So why do top teams choose the garages closer to the pit entry?

[pRy]

Usually it means the car has more room to just drive straight into the pit box rather than having to swing into it. Ie..

====> [	]



==

   => [	]

[wawawa]

Now that you mention it, wouldn't it actually be an advantage to be last then? That way, the lollipop man can release you even if the other car is coming alongside, since there is often a fair amount of room near the exit as well. That seems to me to be a bigger potential advantage than the bit of extra space while getting in.

[fissijo]

I see what you mean, but surely Rubens would have just got held up on the way in instead of the way out then

[FlatFoot]

I believe at some of the circuits, those first few boxes are bigger than the rest (?) Anyone confirm?

[Nomad]

Flatfoot this is certainly true, at some circuits the Ferrari team has twice the space of Minardi.

[wawawa]

Originally posted by fissijo
I see what you mean, but surely Rubens would have just got held up on the way in instead of the way out then

No, on the way out - they didn't want a repeat of the MS-Webber incident in France, so they were probably extra cautious.

FlatFoot - that sounds like a very plausible theory.

Does anyone know why they switched the order at Indy (I forget if it was in '02 or '01). Are the garage sizes ordered differently there? (They usually run anti-clockwise, so that could be a reason.)

[klipywitz]

Maybe the garages at the beginning are bigger AND closer to where the ceremony is held. Prestige might be an advantage, to be closer to the podium and to the entry to other facilities as well.

Or maybe it has to do with the loading and unloading of cars after the race. Being first, closer to the exit/entry means you dont have to wait for other people and their huge trucks before closing shop and leaving.... Or the opposite: you dont ahve to wait for people to unload their stuff before you can go past them to unload yours.

Just a guess, though.

[JustVisitingthePit]

As always it appears size does matter

[JtP]

Originally posted by wawawa
No, on the way out - they didn't want a repeat of the MS-Webber incident in France, so they were probably extra cautious.

FlatFoot - that sounds like a very plausible theory.

Does anyone know why they switched the order at Indy (I forget if it was in '02 or '01). Are the garage sizes ordered differently there? (They usually run anti-clockwise, so that could be a reason.)

In Nascar the last pit box is considered an advantage. This is because of the different pitlane shape, where you can drive straight out into the pit exit lane. There most cars pit together and trying to get out into the lane can be a problem. I have seen one pole sitter hold a place while accelerating out of his pit. A car overtook him exiting the pit, it had a longer run down the pit, but the pole sitter beat him to the exit line. As it was under yellow the pole sitter regained the position. The pole sitter gets the choice of pit box in Nascar.

I suspect without looking that the Indy pit lane, that it being extremely wide presents an advantage for the last pitbox not available at other tracks. Most F1 pit exits are one car wide.

Advantages of the first box are you normally brake over the pit entrance to enter your pit box, this holds up any following car. You get precedence down the pit lane as you are already in the exit lane on the way out.

[Mr_Scooby]

Something ells is that in case of an accident or puncture, the first garages are closer to the pit entrance. Which means less pushing with the car for the driver.

[PLAYLIFE]

Originally posted by Mr_Scooby
Something ells is that in case of an accident or puncture, the first garages are closer to the pit entrance. Which means less pushing with the car for the driver.

That's what I first thought also.


In Adelaide for the Australian GP the better teams were located at the beginning of the pitlane.

However in Albert Park, all the major teams are located at the far end of the pit lane since 1996 and currently still use this positioning. All the garages are the same size along the entire pitlane. The number of pit garages allocated to each team is the only difference but it has nothing to do with the positioning of the teams along the pit lane.

[Mat]

Originally posted by PLAYLIFE


That's what I first thought also.


In Adelaide for the Australian GP the better teams were located at the beginning of the pitlane.

However in Albert Park, all the major teams are located at the far end of the pit lane since 1996 and currently still use this positioning. All the garages are the same size along the entire pitlane. The number of pit garages allocated to each team is the only difference but it has nothing to do with the positioning of the teams along the pit lane.

Just to clarify, here in Melbourne, the order is reversed comapared to the traditional layout. That is, the Minardi team would be closest to pit entrance, and Ferrari closest to pit exit.