COMPETITION BULLETIN 96-10 (REVISED) May 25, 1996
TO: ALL PARTICIPANTS
FROM: J. KIRK RUSSELL, VICE PRESIDENT-COMPETITION WALLY DALLENBACH, CHIEF STEWARD
RE: PIT LANE CLOSURE UNDER FULL COURSE YELLOW
Whenever an on track condition occurs which requires a full-course yellow, a flagman positioned at the pit entrance will immediately signal that the pit lane is closed and the field will slow and the pace car will take a position directly in front of the race leader.
The signal for pit closure will be a flag with a black "P" on a red field. When this flag is displayed, any competitor approaching the pit entrance flag station must stay on the race track and follow the pace car.
However, any competitor who is committed to the pit lane may continue into the pit lane and pit. If that competitor has not passed the pit entrance flag station when the pit closed flag is displayed, he will be placed at the end of the line prior to the restart. If he has passed the pit entrance flag station before the pit closed flag is displayed, there is no penalty.
When the officials determine that the field is under control and that a pack-up is formed, the pit closure flag will be withdrawn and any competitor who is on the lead lap may pit. Competitors who are down one or more laps must follow the pace car and may not pit until the next opportunity to enter the pit lane. Any competitor who pits during the yellow after the designated sequence will rejoin the pack at the end of the line.
Under adverse circumstances, such as a blocked race track which requires the pit lane to remain open, the stewards may elect to forego this procedure.
If a full-course yellow occurs during the last 72 miles of the race (after the last scheduled fuel stop), the restart procedure will be the same as it has been for all other restarts during that race.
COMPETITION BULLETIN 96-11 May 25, 1996
TO: ALL PARTICIPANTS
FROM: J. KIRK RUSSELL, VICE PRESIDENT-COMPETITION WALLY DALLENBACH, CHIEF STEWARD
RE: REVISED PENALTIES FOR PIT LANE VIOLATIONS
1. For pit lane violations (exceeding pit lane speed limit or running over equipment) incurred during stops made during a full-course yellow, the standard penalty assessed will require the violator to rejoin the pack at the end of the line. The Stewards may assess additional penalties if they deem this to be necessary.
2. For pit lane violations (exceeding pit lane speed limit or running over equipment) incurred during stops made under green flag conditions, the standard penalty assessed will require the violator to enter and run through the pits at the designated pit lane speed whilst the race is under green condition. The Stewards may assess additional penalties if they deem this to be necessary.
COMPETITION BULLETIN 96-12 May 25, 1996
TO: ALL PARTICIPANTS
FROM: J. KIRK RUSSELL, VICE PRESIDENT-COMPETITION WALLY DALLENBACH, CHIEF STEWARD
RE: DOUBLE FILE RESTARTS:
1. Upon receiving the starters signal, all competitors on the lead lap will move up to form a right hand (outside) lane in race order and all lapped competitors will move down to form a left hand (inside) lane in race order next to (but not ahead of) the competitors in the right hand lane. The race will not be restarted until the officials are satisfied that the field has been properly formed.
2. Any competitor on the lead lap who pitted during the yellow after the designated pit lap will rejoin the field at the back of the right hand lane (provided he has maintained his position on the lead lap at all times.)
3. Any competitor who has been assessed a standard pit lane violation (speeding or running over equipment) will rejoin the field at the end of the longest line.
4. The leaders of the field will not begin accelerating until they reach the designated acceleration cone. This cone will be placed (in consultation with the drivers) at a spot chosen as most suitable for each individual track. If the field does not maintain the proper formation, the starter will display a yellow and the competitor(s) out of sequence will be moved to the end of the longest line before the restart.
5. If the leader of the left hand (lapped cars) lane reaches the start-finish line before the leader of the right hand (lead-lap cars), the yellow will be thrown and he will be moved to the back of the longest line.
6. As at the start of any race, the rule for all restarts shall be that no competitor may pass until any other competitor until after the start-finish line. However, any competitor not able to maintain the pace of the restart or unable accelerate properly should move to the left of the left hand lane to allow competitors who are able to keep pace to pass him on the right.
Source: IndyCar News Service