Qualifying Rules Changed Again

[macdaddy]

http://www.cart.com/News/Article.asp?ID=4383

In an effort to provide fans of the CART FedEx Championship Series with as much on-track action as possible, Championship Auto Racing Teams Inc. announced changes to its road-course qualifying procedures that will go into effect immediately.

Beginning with next weekend's Molson Indy Montreal, the 60-minute sessions on Friday and Saturday have been modified to give drivers 35 minutes of qualifying time. The sessions will still be 60 minutes long, but will start with a short open practice to be followed by a break in which teams can work on their cars. Teams can use tires other than their qualifying tires during the practice session, and will have the opportunity to change tires during the break.

The break will be followed by 35 minutes of qualifying with 30 minutes of guaranteed green flag time. Drivers will still have a maximum of 15 laps per session with the current rules regarding red flags and stoppages remaining in effect.

"We wanted to find a way to give the fans more on-track action during qualifying, and the practice session also allows us to put down some compatible rubber on the track prior to qualifying."

[macdaddy]

It's great to see that Pook is very pro-active. Whenever he sees a problem, he tries to fix it. This idea is another good one. But now with the shorter qualifying time, the teams are going to have to gamble even more concerning traffic.

[wallbanger]

How did they ever come up with this idea??
http://deepthrottle.com/Donath/success.shtml

[Liz]

They all want to race in the last fifteen minutes anyway, so why not make the qualifying time fifteen minutes long? Keep on shortening it until they realise they have to get out there and give the paying customers a show, and then gradually give them back the time until they start stalling again.

This is a good idea though and I'll be interested to see how it plays out.

[Speedworx]

Sounds good. Should be fun.

[Flatspot]

Looks like a good idea to me. The teams ought to like it as it will give them a little extra time to sort things out immediately before qualifying. Do you suppose that by saying "road course" this assumes the same will hold true on a "street circuit"?

Liz, I don't think the teams would go for 15 min. as most of the road courses take more than a minute to complete. What if they have a fixable problem and need a few minutes in the pit. I like the concept your driving at though, which is to make them get out there and run.

[Dave S]

I like the concept. The 'open practise' putting down rubber on track might take away the strategy of waiting til the last, as that seems to be the most given reason for waiting. Hope it works, as like it or not, it is a show, & they need the cars on track.

[theracegypsy]

yes, agree with you there Dave S. At Vancouver and Mid-O we were sat in our chairs for 30mins with coms line open and flags on the floor. The paying fans don't deserve that.
I'm not clear though if they still get 15 laps for the hour, or 15 for the 35 mins. If the former it will be very interesting to see how the teams run their stratergies at the weekend in Montreal. Watch this space, I know Liz will tell us.

[f1manoz]

Sounds like another damn good idea from that ever-working brain of Mr. Pook.

I blame the drivers for making the CART management having to make this decision, though I'm sure no-one can find anything really wrong with it. If anything it will make it even more exciting.

[Dave S]

The way I read it is the 'open session' is just that, an open practise, not tied to the qualifying laps. The 35 min qualifying session is where they will count, unless I'm missing something here.