Pit Stop Challenge

Pit Stop Challenge
Pit crews participating in the 2019 Pit Stop Challenge
Action during the 2019 Pit Stop Challenge
SportAmerican open-wheel car racing
CompetitionPit stop contest
DisciplineIndyCar Series
Awarded forOutstanding performance by a pit crew
History
First award1977
First winnerJim McElreath (Carillo Racing)
Most winsTeam Penske (19)
Most recentScott Dixon (Chip Ganassi Racing)

The Pit Stop Challenge is a single elimination, pit stop competition held two days before the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana and after the final practice session on Carb Day.[a][1][2][3] First held in 1977, the contest has pit crews compete head-to-head in single-round eliminations for three rounds. In each round they conduct a standard pit stop—switching all four tires on a racing vehicle and simulating refuelling via a fuel hose connection to the fuel tank—in the shortest possible time in a drag race-style event that happens in a specially constructed dual pit lane.[b][3][5][6] Each round commences with the green lights being illuminated to signal to both drivers who are lined up side-by-side to begin from a standing start.[3][7] They enter the pit box and stop there before crossing the finish line, which is 200 ft (61 m) away, as fast as possible.[3][4] During the competition, no fuel is used,[8] and all pit stops must last for a minimum of three seconds.[9] The time a team's car spends in its pit box determines the winner, and the fastest team in each pairing advances to the next round.[5][6] Squads may be assessed time penalties if they exit their pit box with an incorrectly fitted tire, if pit crews or equipment leave their designated area, or if a driver runs over pit equipment such as an air hose.[5][10]

Since 2017, the top two teams have competed in a three-round final. The team with the fastest time in the semi-finals gets to select their preferred lane for the final, and the team with the fastest time in the final gets to choose their favored lane for the third and deciding round.[11] The tournament bracket is decided by a blind draw, and the top four teams receive a bye from the first round to the quarter-finals, with the remaining squads beginning in the first round.[6][12] Contest participants are selected from IndyCar Series-registered teams and Indianapolis 500 entrants. Qualification for the contest is based on pit stop performance after the last Indianapolis 500, current season IndyCar entrant standings positions, and one-off Indianapolis 500 entries.[c][13] The winning team and driver share the winners' prize of $50,000 from $150,000 total prize money.[d][22] Each crew member receives pit lane equipment from prize donors at a Gasoline Alley giveaway as well as Jostens custom-designed rings.[23][24]

The competition allows pit crews for the Indianapolis 500 to adjust their routines, practice to reduce errors, and become acquainted with their pit lane box.[25][26] Past sponsors of the competition include Miller,[27] Coors,[28] Checkers/Rally's,[29] McDonald's,[30] Izod,[31] TAG Heuer,[11] and Ruoff Mortgage.[13] It was canceled in 2008 due to rain,[32] and all advertized prize monies were donated to charity;[30] it was also canceled in both 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana.[33] As of May 2024, the record for the most victories is held by Team Penske with 19 wins since their first win in the 1981 final.[34] Galles Racing are in second place with six wins, and Chip Ganassi Racing are third with four victories. Hélio Castroneves has the most victories among drivers, with eight, followed by Scott Dixon and Danny Sullivan with four wins each.[22][35][36] Rick Rinaman has four wins, more than any other chief mechanic. Travis Law, Matt Jonsson, Owen Snyder, and Travis Law follow in second place with three victories each. The inaugural winner was Carrillo (Jim McElreath) in the 1977 final, while the most recent winner was Team Penske (Josef Newgarden) in the 2024 final.[35][36]

  1. ^ a b Marquis, Thomas (May 25, 2018). "Miller Lite Carb Day 2018 is here". Speedway Digest. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
    Marquis, Thomas (May 24, 2019). "It's Carb Day at IMS". Speedway Digest. Archived from the original on June 3, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Ash 2010, p. 273.
  3. ^ a b c d Spinelli, Mike (May 25, 2017). "How Does an IndyCar Pit Crew Train For 7 Seconds of Glory?". The Drive. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Mears' crew wins pit competition". Florida Today. May 27, 1983. p. 4C. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ a b c Schwartz, Ethan (May 24, 2018). "Top Crews To Compete for Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge on Miller Lite Carb Day". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Callahan, Terry; Kelly, Paul (May 2, 2000). "Indy 500: Coors Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge Grows To Include 12 Teams". The Auto Channel. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge" (PDF). IndyCar Series. May 26, 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Kelly, Paul (May 23, 2006). "New Format, Larger Purse Add Excitement To Pit Stop Challenge". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on August 10, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
  9. ^ Powell, Eric (May 26, 2004). "Miller Lite Carb Day Offers Practice, Pit Stop Challenge, Concert Fun". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Archived from the original on June 25, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  10. ^ "Indy 500: Pit Stop Challenge preview". Motorsport.com. May 22, 2009. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Sribhen, Arni (May 25, 2017). "New TAG Heuer Pit Stop Competition format features best-of-three final". IndyCar Series. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Sturbin, John (May 17, 2012). "Wheldon To Be Honored During Pre-500 Festivities". Racin' Today. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Crews Take Spotlight in Ruoff Mortgage Pit Stop Challenge". IndyCar Series. May 25, 2022. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1978Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1980Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1982Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1986Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1996Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1999Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1998Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2001Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2023Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Pruett, Marshall (May 25, 2022). "The hidden tradition behind the Indy 500 Pit Stop Competition". Racer. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  24. ^ "Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge To Feature 16 Elite Crews". IndyCar Series. May 25, 2023. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Rafford, Claire; Mitchell, Dawn (May 26, 2022). "Why it's called Carb Day when Indy cars don't use carburetors". The Indianapolis Star. p. 2W. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  26. ^ "Pit crews tune vital teamwork". Daily Press. May 21, 1992. p. C6. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  27. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1995Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  28. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1997Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  29. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2004Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  30. ^ a b "IMS, IRL Donate $100,000 To Belle Isle, Hole in the Wall Camps". The Auto Channel. June 12, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  31. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2012Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  32. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cancel2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  33. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cancel202021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  34. ^ "Pit Stop Competition". Team Penske. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  35. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2024Winner was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  36. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WinnersRunnersUp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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