Daytona Beach, Fla. — After more than a week of worrying about restrictor plates, cooling systems, unusual two-car drafting and other topics at Daytona International Speedway, teams might discover that competition in the Daytona 500 will be impacted more significantly by another element.
Among the changes NASCAR implemented during the off season is the elimination of the catch-can man, the pit crew member who was responsible for placing a can on the rear of the vehicle during a pit stop to catch the overflow of fuel.
NASCAR switched to a self-venting fueling system for all three national series for 2011, eliminating the need for the catch-can position and trimming the over-the-wall crew from seven to six.
The bigger impact, however, will be in the speed of pit stops. Virtually everyone in the garage area assumes that pit stops will be up to a second longer, in part because fuel flows a little more slowly through the new fuel cans and in part because the choreography of the stops will change.
In past seasons, most teams used the catch-can position to make chassis adjustments during stops. Those duties now will be handed to the rear tire carrier, rear tire changer and-or jackman.
The changes have kept teams busy with pit-stop practices since the end of last season.
“It’s still a little new to us, so we’re still orchestrating our stops accordingly,” said Billy Manchester, fueler for Greg Biffle and the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. “The other way was just so normal for us for so long. The adjustments are totally different now. And speed-wise, it’s a little slower. We’re working on trying to get our speed back up.”
Most teams got an introduction to the new setup in real time Saturday night during the Budweiser Shootout, although that opportunity was skewed somewhat because pit-stop times were not as important as they will be in points races.
And it was a bit strange for Manchester, who, same as every other fueler, has worked with a catch-can man alongside as he puts gas in the car.
“It felt weird in the Shootout when we did gas only,” the six season vet said. “I was out there totally by myself instead of there being a catch-can man. That felt odd.”
The fact that pit stops are likely to be longer might have major effects on the Daytona 500. Teams might choose, for example, to leave the pits after tire changes and not wait to take on a full fuel load. And they’re likely to plan ahead for such strategies so that they can pit for the same service with drafting partners.
“I don’t know how that will play out here at this track, but there’s definitely the potential for that sort of thing throughout the year,” said Bob Osborne, crew chief for Carl Edwards and the No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.
He said his team has put many hours into preparing for the new approach.
“I think we’ve put a monumental effort into it,” he said. “It looks pretty good right now. Time will tell how it will work when we get some actual live pit stops during the race.”
when they burn through how much gas/oil and tires and we pay how much at the pump and to heat our homes.....WHAT A JOKE....AND...the pentagon gives the pumpkin heads $$$$$........
strange very very strange.....
dont get me wrong I like a good car race as much as the next guy....but priorities folks
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Logged
