A possible 'loophole' regarding tyres...

[Yuichi]

According to Australasian Motorsport News, you may change tyres without penalty if the team does not make any adjustments to the car, refuel, etc. That means, if proven, that teams can refuel at one stop and take tyres on another, ala V8 Supercars. I wonder who's going to exploit it.....

 

[Flerbizky]

But it still means you gotta have 2 stops instead of 1......

Stupid...

 

[Yuichi]

But, it could mean that you have fresh tyres for the last stint, while someone else could be on old, crappy tyres. Ever thought of that?

 

[Flerbizky]

But, it could mean that you have fresh tyres for the last stint, while someone else could be on old, crappy tyres. Ever thought of that?

You'd still loose anywhere from 18 to 28 seconds with the stop. No way that's a good idea.... Fresh tires or not...

 

[Yuichi]

Although true, wouldn't make for good racing? A good driver may be able to make up 18 to 28 seconds of time lost in the pits and quite possibly create some passing opportunities, since it's more than likely that a driver on fresh rubber is in a better position than another on older tyres. Look at the 1997 Portland CART race. Gil de Ferran was on pretty much shot wet tires on a drying track and Mark Blundell, on slicks, passes him to win by one of the closest margins in history.

This 'loophole' is like a tactical one, to take the risk and bolt on a new set or to keep driving on an old set of tyres?

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I'm not sure that I agree with the fact that there's a loophole. Here is the relevant section of the 2005 Sporting Regulations:

74) Quantity and type of tyres :
a) During the Event no driver may use more than four sets of dry-weather tyres, four sets of wetweather tyres and three sets of extreme-weather tyres.

If a driver change is made during an Event the tyres allocated to the original driver must be used by the new driver.

From the four sets of dry-weather tyres each driver will be allocated two sets of differing specification for use on the first day of practice.

For the purposes of the above a set of tyres will be deemed to comprise two front and two rear tyres of the same specification.

Before 08.00 (or 07.00 during Events taking place in North America) on the second day of practice each driver must nominate which specification of tyre he will use for the remainder of the Event.

However, if both free practice sessions on the first day of practice are declared wet this decision may be deferred until 12.00 (or 11.00 during Events taking place in North America).

Unless the use of wet or extreme-weather tyres is necessary one of the remaining unused sets of dry-weather tyres must be used for both of the qualifying sessions, all reconnaissance laps and the entire race. Unless a precautionary tyre change is necessary for clear and genuine safety reasons, only a punctured or damaged tyre may be changed during a race. No refuelling will be permitted whilst a car is in the pits for the purposes of changing a tyre.

The only loophole there would be if the team claimed a tyre to be damaged when it was not. I would suggest that if there was a big accident (a Ralfie at Indy type), the whole field may be authorised (even directed) to change tyres under the Safety Car. Otherwise, I don't see any scope to change tyres in a race unless you have a puncture or there is a change in climactic conditions.

 

[Yuichi]

Teams will eventually find a way around it. Besides, I think we all agree, this regulation is a stupid one.

 

[Blake]

I believe the only loophole is if the tire is damaged, but any teams found intentionally flat-spotting the tires before entering pitlane will probably get a good slap on the wrist.

I'm pretty sure you can't change tires while the car is being refueled anyway so it would add a few seconds onto the pit-stop.

I also think teams will probably go for two stoppers this year, I don't think 1 stoppers are viable yet.

Blake

 

[SouL]

A 1 stop strategy would probably be used by the mid fielders... Sauber?
The front runners and front contenders will mostlikely opt for a 2 - 3 stop strategy for the sake of having low fuel for a good qualifying position.

I remember reading somewhere, Mike Gascoyne said something about how the rules don't rule out swapping the tires... as in moving them from the side to side or front to back.

On a completely unrelated note:

I was driving to work this morning and I noticed the car infront of me had a license plate border that read:
I'm not speeding
I'm QUALIFYING!

Hahaha

 

[Stinky Chicken]

I believe the only loophole is if the tire is damaged,

That would get expoited the the max though - one could argue thgat general wear and tear is in fact 'damage'.

 

[Flerbizky]

On a completely unrelated note:

I was driving to work this morning and I noticed the car infront of me had a license plate border that read:
I'm not speeding
I'm QUALIFYING!

Beautiful

 

[Blake]

Unless a precautionary tyre change is necessary for clear and genuine safety reasons, only a punctured or damaged tyre may be changed during a race.

I think the FIA will be pretty harsh with this and will probably hand out fines if they find that the tire is not a safety risk.

Blake

 

[jenson09]

Its unfeasable for teams to run 1 stops coz the tanks arent big enough any more. They may make time up if they run an aggressive shortish 1st stint with light fuel to gain track position. Then they could pit once for fuel, if the lophole exists, they may have enough of a time gap to either maintain position post pitstop or not lose out too much. THEN when everyne elses tyres are screwed they may choose to take on fresh tyres which wouldnt hurt too much if the above works ok. It also would help if they have a car which is good to its tyres....(so not like Toyota at the moment) or drivers who have a smooth style which can preserve tyres well, like Button or Michael.

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

Now that would make it only easier for Ferrari with their strategy's 👎




Cheers,

 

[[FPV]Rusty]

no matter how you try to organise you pit strategy, if there is a loophole & teamsa do do this, its an extra stop, or a sotp that is being wasted almost. I doubt with the harder compounds that last longer you would be able to make up enough time as you'd have to have the tyre pit towards the latter stages of the race to even have an advantage, and by that time, you wouldnt have enough time to make up the deficit, last year ferrari's strategy of taking an extra stop (in most races) had them 1)light on fuel 2)they had better speed from lap 1 becuase of less fuel 3)ferrari had best cars by a lnog shot. You ccant run with the less fuel becuase one stop would be just for tyres, you dont have the advantage early in the race thus making your catchup game later on more difficult, & the competition this year will hopefully (fingers crossed) be closer

 

[Roo]

Now that would make it only easier for Ferrari with their strategy's 👎

But last season Ferrari were doing pretty much what they liked with pit stops - 2 stops, 4 stops, whatever they wanted. The only time they slipped up was not pitting Michael when the safety car came out in Monaco, and then he poked the Armco anyway.

The other thing is Michelin and their continuous punctures all last season. Having to do 200 miles on a set of tires probably won't help.

 

[jenson09]

I think it depends on the strength of the compounds. With the long life ones does that mean theyre more road tyre based than before? No doubt theyl lose time over a race distance but its when the tyres have theyre differing wearing in periods. Michelins seem to do ok from the start then deteriorate before getting better again with B.stone getting better with greater wear. Hate to say it but Michelin REALLY need a good intermediate and a more consistant dry tyre in order to beat B.stone over a season.