Can’t say we didn’t tell you…Double File Restarts
RACER'S MARSHALL PRUETT: There's a big change in restart procedures this year. Why abandon double-file restarts at most tracks? Was that heeding the call from the drivers' union to do away with them?
DERRICK WALKER: Well, a lot of the tracks that we do those at are somewhat limited for space going into the first turn, and the potential for the whole track to be blocked was always there. We consulted a lot of different people, drivers mainly, and came to the consensus that the decision we ought to come to is to change that format because of the space available at some of these tracks. When you put that many cars together and they're all going at it, it might look exciting but the potential is there for more accidents because people are so jammed up. Particularly at street races, it's tough to get enough space there to be able to do it successfully without just crashing into everybody. Baltimore was a prime example of when it goes wrong, and we didn't want to temp that from happening again. That was always my concern was ultimately to get track blockage one of these times that really stops the race and you dig everybody out.
MP: There's also been a change on qualifying stoppages and qualifying time periods, too.
DW: Yes, what we will try to do in cases where it's qualifying is always try our best to give the drivers at least five minutes of green time to finish their qualification. So that may not always be possible but that's going to be one of the things that we try to do is to give everybody a chance to get at least a segment of five minutes if possible at the end. Where if it gets yellowed or red in a qualification, then we try to allot some time to everybody to get their one quick lap or three laps in or whatever. And various tracks have different schedules. Sometimes we can get over, sometimes we can't. We're going to try and do that.
MP: You've added to the rule requiring teams to not cover up their cars when the bodywork comes off, extending it from no covers on pit lane to no covers in the garage, under their tent, or anywhere. Most teams don't like the rule, and the engine manufacturers tend to hate it…some have gone to great lengths to prevent photos being taken, despite the rule. Manufacturers don't want their engines exposed, teams don't want their shocks and wings exposed… You appear to be sending a message of: How can we tell people we have interesting technology if everyone's covering it up and hiding it? Is that a fair assessment?
DW: Well, it's all about the fans. I think if I'm a fan and I'm interested in cars, which most of them certainly are, and I come along and you've got a car that's all covered up or your wing covers or whatever that we've had over the years, I think it's just an unnecessary part of what we do. I don't think we have to be that secretive. We've all got the same cars, there is some variations and there will be some variations, but it's really catering toward the fans to say let the fans see what it's all about, let's not cover it all up and be shrouded in secrecy of some sort. If the fans are interested in seeing our cars and our stars, let them look at it. Let's not shun them away and cover them up everywhere. Full interview at Racer.com