Corvette racing pit stop crash!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,663
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Corvette racing pit stop crash!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Actually how it should work is that the car in the pit in that situation should be held until the 2nd car is in his pitbox. Whose ever job it was to tell the first car in to go was at fault. Fault in that incident was NOT with either driver.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
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From: Rushsylvania Ohio
I was watching the race when that happened. Said they were having "radio issues". Truth or not, who knows.
That is a big risk you run when trying to pit team cars on the same lap - or within a lap or two of each other. It is great when it works as it keeps the team cars close together on the track, but this kind of accident is the risk you take.
That is a big risk you run when trying to pit team cars on the same lap - or within a lap or two of each other. It is great when it works as it keeps the team cars close together on the track, but this kind of accident is the risk you take.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
I was watching the race when that happened. Said they were having "radio issues". Truth or not, who knows.
That is a big risk you run when trying to pit team cars on the same lap - or within a lap or two of each other. It is great when it works as it keeps the team cars close together on the track, but this kind of accident is the risk you take.
That is a big risk you run when trying to pit team cars on the same lap - or within a lap or two of each other. It is great when it works as it keeps the team cars close together on the track, but this kind of accident is the risk you take.
They really should not bring both cars in together, especially in a 12 hour race but if they MUST the car pitting furthest down pit road should be the first in.
THEN if you're having radio problems, there should be an immediate Plan "B" to that. Back up would be the man typically that changes the drivers side front tire (at Sebring anyway) will hold the driver and then be the one to tell him to go. Driver does NOT leave until he is told....
What we saw should never happen and is not the fault of the driver UNLESS of course, the #3 car went without being told to do so.
As much as it appeared to be the #4 cars fault, it was NOT.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
You are correct that neither driver was at fault. I see only one person responsible. It could have been any car driving down pit lane and the result could have been similar. The driver is watching for the go signal and has to assume the guy giving it can see better and has not only checked the tires but also checked for immediate traffic. 1/10 of a second to get his eyes up off the ground and there would have been no accident with or without a radio.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,470
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From: New Jersey - National Corvette Museum Member '08, '09, '10, '11, '12
Whoever is responsible for this tragic mistake, should no longer be part of CORVETTE RACING
If there is any truth to the radio problems, then I may be more forgiving.....but I don't believe that excuse.....somebody screwed up....big time.
If there is any truth to the radio problems, then I may be more forgiving.....but I don't believe that excuse.....somebody screwed up....big time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,277
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From: (d/fw) tx
tragic? should no longer be a part? a bit much. nobody killed and it's probably the same guy that's been there all along and helped collect all the trophies. crap happens sometimes. i'm sure it's already been addressed.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: San Jose California
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
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From: Livonia MI
I didn't see much of the race, but happened to see that one. Couldn't believe it when seeing it, as it looked like in slow motion. It was more than radio problem's, as someone must have had their eye's closed. Very embarassing.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
This needless accident should not have happened but incidents like this happen to the best of them. I recall a Formula 1 car being released from the pit stop into an oncoming car once. I'd wager Corvette Racing doesn't make this mistake again. Let's hope the next race goes better for Corvette.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
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Regardless of what the pit guy tells you, you should still be able to see your teammates car and not ram into it.
Pro
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 650
Likes: 8
From: Gansevoort NY
I was watching the race when that happened. Said they were having "radio issues". Truth or not, who knows.
That is a big risk you run when trying to pit team cars on the same lap - or within a lap or two of each other. It is great when it works as it keeps the team cars close together on the track, but this kind of accident is the risk you take.
That is a big risk you run when trying to pit team cars on the same lap - or within a lap or two of each other. It is great when it works as it keeps the team cars close together on the track, but this kind of accident is the risk you take.
Still, I agree, someone on the pit crew should have been aware the #4 was coming in and held the #3 until the #4 was in the pit box. It's not like a few seconds were going to hurt them much since the #3 was already 8 laps down due to a power steering hose replacement earlier in the race (so at the time, they weren't even running together ).
Full story is up on the corvetteracing.com website. This crash wasn't the only bad luck they had on Saturday. Hopefully they got all the bad luck for the season out of the way in the first race.
-Ray
Race Director
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
I agree and it's all behind them now and they have moved forward... I doubt anyone got fired, but someone sure got embarrassed... :o
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: New Jersey - National Corvette Museum Member '08, '09, '10, '11, '12
