Why is the pit closed to cripled cars? I've never seen anyone have to
limp past the pits after an accident on television. I have seen cars in
the pits when they were closed.
Also, I wish it would let you know more in advance that the pit is
open. It seems to wait until the last minute to tell you that the pit is
open. When do real NASCAR drivers know that they can come in?
Thanks in advance.
David G. Martin BBB EEE EEE N N CC OO U U N N TTT RRR Y Y
354 Burnette-Womack B B E E NN N C C O O U U NN N T R R Y Y
CB# 7075 UNC-CH BBB EEE EEE N NN C O O U U N NN T RRR Y
Chapel Hill B B E E N N C C O O U U N N T R R Y
NC 27599-7075 B B E E N N C C O O U U N N T R R Y
919-966-5203 BBB EEE EEE N N CC OO UU N N T R R Y
The pit is not closed to damaged cars. The "pit closed" message (flag in
real life) indicates that if you pit then, you will be forced to rejoin
the field at the end of the longest line of cars. There is no other penalty
for pitting in "closed" pits. However, if you are not damaged, it is to your
benefit to race to the line and enter the pits the next time by (when they
will be open)
In real life, the pits are open (barring an accident which blocks the pit
lane) the first time the pace car passes the pit entrance. Thus, on tracks
like Bristol with two pits, the pits open sequentially; the front pits open
the first time the pace car brings the field by the entrance. The pace car
then accelerates to bring the remainder of the field to the back pits (this
is intended to reduce the effective penalty of pitting on the back
straight) Once the pace car passes the back pit entrance, the back pits are
open. You will be safe if you enter the pits behind the pace car after
the field has caught and is pacing behind the pace car. (You can even enter
the pits while the "pits closed" message is up, provided the pace car
opens pit lane before you park in your pit stall. [Sometimes if you are the
race leader, you will be forced to commit to entering pit road before the
message goes away. You will not be penalized in this case.])
---Jim Sokoloff
