Comments on: Pressure, What Pressure?

By: T.C.

T.C. — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:29:36 +0000

Newracefan: If a guy isn’t comfortable talking, or even being on TV for that matter, you can decline to wear the helmet cam. If a guy does wear the cam, they just need to buck up and not let it affect their performance.

By: Newracefan

Newracefan — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:32:19 +0000

TC If TV wants the guys to talk and they usually do not, can’t that throw off the stop too? Is the TV time really worth it?

By: T.C.

T.C. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:26:44 +0000

It’s for the audience’s benefit. I don’t normally talk to myself unless I screw up and am uttering choice words, or if something happens and I’m hollerin’ at one of the other guys. ESPN wants the helmet cam guys to talk because it makes the footage more interesting.

By: windowlicker

windowlicker — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:10:18 +0000

ESPN has in race pit guys miked up & with a helmet cam. When they show the tire changer going through the pit stop, he is always talking, counting the lugs off & on as he hits them as well as commenting when running around the car. Is this for the audience’s benefit or do you guys talk to yourselves? It seems like it would be incredibly distracting having to comment on what you’re doing while you’re actually doing it.

By: T.C.

T.C. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:39:26 +0000

Neon: Yes, we are not technically competing with anyone. The second we start trying to “race” other teams, we will get into trouble. Once we step off the wall, it’s time to go to work. You don’t start looking for where the competition is until the job is done. The most important thing is to be as accurate as possible. If I hit 20 lugs, and the other guys don’t make mistakes, the speed thing will take care of itself.

By: Neon

Neon — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:03:11 +0000

TC: Is it fair to say that it is you against the clock……and only the clock?
Once the decision is made for you to hit (10) or (20) you don’t care what the competition is doing. You could be 200 yards away from your main competitor.
It took me a minute to figure out how you came up w/ (20) lugs. (5) off, (5) on, (5) off, (5) on. Multiply that x2 changers and ya’ll really do have to be spot on.
Thanks for shooting down the comment “races can be won or lost on pit road”. I too cringe when I hear announcers say that. Even worse is to hear Jack Arute say during an IRL race that a driver is a master at “making fuel”. Arrrgh! I never knew on board oil refineries were considered safe and legal.