ALT-3 What are Drive through Penalties
The biggest headaches to drivers and pit crews, are the penalties assessed during a routine or scheduled pit stop. Penalties are in place to ensure things are done safely and fairly. There are a lot of penalties that can have the driver coming back down pit road if they are not careful during a stop.
1) If you stop out side your pit box you are served a penalty.
2) Speeding down pit road.
3) Running over the impact air hose.
4) Letting a tire get away from the pit stall.
5) Leaving a gas catch can in the rear run off.
6) leaving tools in the openings of the back glass of the car (Used for adjusting the wedge of the car).
7) Not appropriately removing damaged sheet metal and replacing with tape.
8) To many men over the wall.
9) Not being able to get the car started before it reaches the end line of pit road during a stall of the engine.
10) Not coming in to the pits when a car is blacked flagged.
With all rules and penalties, some are just drive through and others are a stop and go. It can cause a driver to loose many positions on the track and in some circumstances may even cost the team the race.
The teams agree to these penalties and Nascar officials enforce them through out the race. Pit road can be a confusing place during pit stops. Concentration by the crew chief and driver can be successful, if every one does their jobs.
Penalties are enforced for safety of the pit crews and drivers. They may not like to be penalized, but you will often hear the driver say they messed up and that they are sorry. It is a competitive sport, but not with out rules and penalties to keep the sport safe and fair.
Understanding all of these penalties can be frustrating to the viewer at home. Commentators on TV have many knowledgeable people to help them sort out the penalty guidelines during the race. Nascar holds many meetings with car owners and team members during the year to decide on the best course of action to be taken when penalties occur.
It is a fair and just system that keeps the sport competitive and safe. The flurry of activity going on around the car during a pit stop, has seen members of teams knocked off their feet by speeding cars. Injuries and safety are what is looked at most during the stops.
People may get mad and think it is unfair, but rules and penalties keep every one focused about the dangers of being over the pit wall. To the pit crew there are no second chances if you get hurt or killed, so penalties help in that manner.
