Just got an e-mail from the Run-Offs Chief Steward, and have modified rules for us in the turn 5 paddock. This is GREAT news, for a pretty messed up situation for the last 2 days. October 5, 2014 From: Dennis Dean, Chief Steward To: 2014 Runoffs Competitors, Entrants, and Officials Subj: Turn 5 Paddock Access to On Track Sessions As many of you have already experienced, the entry numbers success of this year’s Runoffs has brought with it some challenges that are unique to this track. The biggest of these has been a change to the original parking plan, due to the constrained paddock size, which has resulted in more cars of greater variety parked in the Turn 5 paddock area than any of us had originally contemplated. As a result we have been forced to make a number of changes to our operational scheme to efficiently integrate all cars from the Turn 5 paddock into our session schedule, particularly those with low ground clearance, without disrupting our severely constrained timeline. These changes are highlighted below. Modified Turn 5 Paddock Grid Procedures Procedures in Supplemental Regulations 7.1 for cars other than SRF are being modified. Procedures for SRFs remain in effect, except for cars late to grid, which will be modified per the below. The Supps will be officially modified to reflect the below changes as soon as a court of the Stewards of the Meeting can be convened to consider my request for these changes. Test Day and Qualifying Sessions Turn 5 paddocked cars will use the Turn 5 Grid and be assigned positions in qualifying order. Cars will be released from the Turn 5 Grid under direction of Race Control to proceed behind a pace car to pit lane, where they will be held in the hot pits at driver’s left prior to the Stewards of the Course (SOC) tent station. These cars will then be directed by the SOC to pick up their assigned grid position as the field from the main paddock grid proceeds through the pit lane from the grid to the track. Race Days The same procedures will be used as on qualifying days, except the pace car will stop adjacent to the exit ramp at Turn 10 driver’s left and point cars down that ramp, where they will proceed to their normally assigned grid position on the main paddock grid. Cars Late to Grid Any cars late to Grid will check in with the Grid Chief of the Turn 5 Grid and then be directed to the track entrance at Turn 5 where race officials will direct them to safely enter the track. Note: This procedure should only be used under the most exceptional circumstances and all competitors are most strongly urged to be on the Grid on time; no absolute guarantee of being able to enter the session late is being made. Track Exit Other than SRFs, no cars will be allowed to exit the track at Turn 5 during a session. Modified End of Session Procedures for Cars in the Turn 5 Paddock All cars in the session will take the checkered flag, do a normal cool-off lap and enter the pit lane. Main paddocked cars not required for impound will exit the pit lane at the SOC tent station gate. All cars required for impound will exit the pit lane at the pit center gate. Turn 5 paddocked cars not required for impound will re-enter the track at pit-out and proceed to Turn 5, where they will exit the track and return to their paddock location. Impound Procedures Turn 5 paddocked cars who have been impounded, when they are released from impound and are ready to return to their paddock area, may either: Proceed to the paddock entrance for escort to the T5 paddock; or, Proceed to Grid for staging and release at the end of the next session, to return via the track to the Turn 5 paddock. Main Paddock Access for Support Activities Passes are being provided to competitors in the Turn 5 paddock to access main paddock tire and fuel facilities with street vehicles. Pit support vehicles credentialed by MRLS can access the main paddock under escort. Hardship Laps Because of the additional track traffic required to support the above paddock movements, the Chief Steward reserves the right to stop all hardship laps on qualifying days, in order to maintain the operational schedule. As of the time of the writing of this letter, my expectation is that we will NOT have hardship laps prior to Race Days, however, should our experience with the new procedure allow us to return to the original hardship lap concept, we will do so and notify you. Dennis Dean Chief Steward
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:17:07 +0000
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