paul
Team Owner
Has the overall average pit time increased since they began wearing helmets?
Question for HS
- Thread starter paul
- Start date
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Strange that you would ask that. Early this season I sent out some emails and looked closely around for stories relating to this. The reason for my curiosity was one of vision and space. Those of us who have donned helmets can attest that they tend to restrict perepheral vision (especially full face helmets) and also find that they tend to bump into everything around you. It is amazing how much bigger they seem to make your head!
What I gathered is that prior to the season as the pit crews practiced wearing the helmets times suffered, but as the crewmen became accustomed to them, no real effect was realized.
Some crewmembers still complain of restricted vision, though just as many report the lack of perepheral vision actually increases their focus by removing external distractions.
All the teams track their pit times very closely, but to my knowledge the info is not made public. As a general observation the answere would remain no. We see pit times in the 14 second range frequently with some dipping into the 13's. I would contend that in some cases a pit stop delayed by some other factor such as malfuntioning wrench, a hung air line, a failed jack, or even a runaway tire are delayed further because of the "isolation" a helmet creates. This is strictly an opinion thing on my part.
In a few weeks when the pit crew championships are held at Rockingham we might hear more about this subject.
What I gathered is that prior to the season as the pit crews practiced wearing the helmets times suffered, but as the crewmen became accustomed to them, no real effect was realized.
Some crewmembers still complain of restricted vision, though just as many report the lack of perepheral vision actually increases their focus by removing external distractions.
All the teams track their pit times very closely, but to my knowledge the info is not made public. As a general observation the answere would remain no. We see pit times in the 14 second range frequently with some dipping into the 13's. I would contend that in some cases a pit stop delayed by some other factor such as malfuntioning wrench, a hung air line, a failed jack, or even a runaway tire are delayed further because of the "isolation" a helmet creates. This is strictly an opinion thing on my part.
In a few weeks when the pit crew championships are held at Rockingham we might hear more about this subject.
T
TN-Ward-Fan
Guest
Interesting theory on the runaway tire aspect. But I thought the pit crews had radios where they could at least hear the crew chief. With the chief on the pit box overseeing everything, seems to me that he could quickly and efficiently alert the most accessible crew member to retrieve the runaway tire. Plus, with helmets, the background noise should surely be reduced, thus making it even easier for said crewman to hear these instructions. Same with warnings when pit road is crowded..."Hey Johnny, watch for the car behind us, he'll be coming out about the time you start around the back of our car" type thing. Maybe I'm off base, after all I have never been a member of a pit crew at any level.
H
HardScrabble
Guest
Yes they have radios, have for quite a while. However you have one or two people who are overseeing the pit stop and could alert the most logical member to go after stray. But that requires time and a concious decision of who and where.
Add that if you are the guy chosen and someone yells in your headphone "TWF!!Grab that tire!" your first reaction is "What?? What tire, Where???"
We're measuring time in tenths of a second here and tenths are very very short periods of time.
This may not be fact, but when I see problems it seems that many times the crews reactions are not as immediate as they used to be.
Let me put it this, if for some reason I am in gunfight and quickness counts, I'd rather use my own eyes than wait for someone to yell "There he is!"
Add that if you are the guy chosen and someone yells in your headphone "TWF!!Grab that tire!" your first reaction is "What?? What tire, Where???"
We're measuring time in tenths of a second here and tenths are very very short periods of time.
This may not be fact, but when I see problems it seems that many times the crews reactions are not as immediate as they used to be.
Let me put it this, if for some reason I am in gunfight and quickness counts, I'd rather use my own eyes than wait for someone to yell "There he is!"
T
TN-Ward-Fan
Guest
Good point.