gran racing
Super Moderator
Before I get to the scenario, here’s the related rules quoted from the GCR:
The scenario:
This past weekend at the NARRC, several of us were watching one of the IT races at Lime Rock. During the pace lap, one of the cars backed off quite a bit. This wasn’t simply one of those “back off to get a bit of space to warm the tires / brakes up”, although the driver may have felt this was all that he was doing. (It really created a significant gap between him and the next car in front of his.) While watching this happen, all I could think was how this would mess up the start.
The cars came down towards the flag, and the green was given much to my surprise. After the race, I spoke with a couple of drivers who were running in that group. One driver was in front of the gap, one behind. The driver in front became worried because the cars behind were already at a higher closing speed, and it was about to get interesting in turn one especially because of this. The other driver who was behind the “slacker” car, became frustrated as he saw the cars in front pull away during the pace lap. Where he was positioned, when it went green he was playing catch-up and was further back than should have been.
This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve seen and/or been behind someone falling off the pace lap pace. On a long track where this happens very early on the pace lap, it may not impact the start. I’m not talking about this type of situation, but one where it very well might impact the start of the race. I realize that according to the GCR it is up to the starter and other corner workers to prevent it from happening, but can see how it happens under some circumstances and of course there’s the human error factor. Yeah, there could be protests filed but after the end of the race, many drivers don’t feel it’s worth it. I’d like to skip the “it’s the starter’s responsibilities” and “protest after the race” discussion. My question is what do you do if you’re behind the slacker driver while still on that pace lap. Or possibly in a tougher position, supposed to be on the side of that person but they out qualified you and thus have a better starting position.
Beyond watching this happen this past weekend, I’ve been both behind a “slacker” and on the side of them when they’ve out qualified me. When behind, I’ve become quite tempted to give the car in front a “get your butt moving bump” but never did. When on the side, I’ve been very obvious that we need to get moving and eventually decided to go catch-up with the group after becoming very annoyed.
I’m sure many others have been in this situation before and am curious what you’ve done while this is happening, would do, or should do besides mentally think “I’m so protesting that driver” after the race? While a polite conversation after the race may help in the future, is there anything that can be done to preserve the race while this is occurring?
The scenario:
This past weekend at the NARRC, several of us were watching one of the IT races at Lime Rock. During the pace lap, one of the cars backed off quite a bit. This wasn’t simply one of those “back off to get a bit of space to warm the tires / brakes up”, although the driver may have felt this was all that he was doing. (It really created a significant gap between him and the next car in front of his.) While watching this happen, all I could think was how this would mess up the start.
The cars came down towards the flag, and the green was given much to my surprise. After the race, I spoke with a couple of drivers who were running in that group. One driver was in front of the gap, one behind. The driver in front became worried because the cars behind were already at a higher closing speed, and it was about to get interesting in turn one especially because of this. The other driver who was behind the “slacker” car, became frustrated as he saw the cars in front pull away during the pace lap. Where he was positioned, when it went green he was playing catch-up and was further back than should have been.
This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve seen and/or been behind someone falling off the pace lap pace. On a long track where this happens very early on the pace lap, it may not impact the start. I’m not talking about this type of situation, but one where it very well might impact the start of the race. I realize that according to the GCR it is up to the starter and other corner workers to prevent it from happening, but can see how it happens under some circumstances and of course there’s the human error factor. Yeah, there could be protests filed but after the end of the race, many drivers don’t feel it’s worth it. I’d like to skip the “it’s the starter’s responsibilities” and “protest after the race” discussion. My question is what do you do if you’re behind the slacker driver while still on that pace lap. Or possibly in a tougher position, supposed to be on the side of that person but they out qualified you and thus have a better starting position.
Beyond watching this happen this past weekend, I’ve been both behind a “slacker” and on the side of them when they’ve out qualified me. When behind, I’ve become quite tempted to give the car in front a “get your butt moving bump” but never did. When on the side, I’ve been very obvious that we need to get moving and eventually decided to go catch-up with the group after becoming very annoyed.
I’m sure many others have been in this situation before and am curious what you’ve done while this is happening, would do, or should do besides mentally think “I’m so protesting that driver” after the race? While a polite conversation after the race may help in the future, is there anything that can be done to preserve the race while this is occurring?
