MIKE HELTON ANNOUNCES CHANGES
NASCAR President Mike Helton apologized today for the 24-lap caution period that occurred at Dover, calling it "unacceptable" and announcing that NASCAR was taking steps to help ensure it doesn't happen again. Beginning with this weekend's Cup race at Pocono, NASCAR will now rely solely on its electronic timing and scoring system to determine when the field is frozen and the running order when a caution flag waves. NASCAR officials have been using both electronic scoring and what Helton called "the human element" to make such decisions. NASCAR uses electronic loops around the race track to determine the running order at different points around the race track. Those loops will now be the sole source for determining the running order when the field is frozen. NASCAR will also attempt to shorten its caution periods with two moves: One, it will allow the free pass or "Lucky Dog" driver to move ahead of the pace car and back onto the lead lap quicker, between the first and s! econd laps of pitting, or while the leaders are pitting. It will also shorten the laps it will take before it opens pit road. Pit road will now open the second time the leader -- not the pace car -- reaches the entrance to pit road. That means that the field may not have to complete two full laps now before pit road opens.
NASCAR President Mike Helton apologized today for the 24-lap caution period that occurred at Dover, calling it "unacceptable" and announcing that NASCAR was taking steps to help ensure it doesn't happen again. Beginning with this weekend's Cup race at Pocono, NASCAR will now rely solely on its electronic timing and scoring system to determine when the field is frozen and the running order when a caution flag waves. NASCAR officials have been using both electronic scoring and what Helton called "the human element" to make such decisions. NASCAR uses electronic loops around the race track to determine the running order at different points around the race track. Those loops will now be the sole source for determining the running order when the field is frozen. NASCAR will also attempt to shorten its caution periods with two moves: One, it will allow the free pass or "Lucky Dog" driver to move ahead of the pace car and back onto the lead lap quicker, between the first and s! econd laps of pitting, or while the leaders are pitting. It will also shorten the laps it will take before it opens pit road. Pit road will now open the second time the leader -- not the pace car -- reaches the entrance to pit road. That means that the field may not have to complete two full laps now before pit road opens.
