IndyCar Crews Will Battle for $50,000 in TAG Heuer Pit Stop Competition

A dozen Verizon IndyCar Series pit crews will compete for a $50,000 top prize in the TAG Heuer Pit Stop Challenge during Coors Light Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A fan-favorite event since its inception in 1977, the 12-team competition features four rounds of head-to-head pit stop action. A total of $100,000 will be awarded, with the runner-up team earning $15,000.

Teams must change four tires and perform a simulated fuel hookup during each round, with two cars competing against each other. The faster time wins, with time penalties added for various infractions such as loose wheel nuts or running over air hoses. NBCSN will televise the Pit Stop Challenge live as part of its Coors Light Carb Day coverage from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Scott Dixon and his No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing crew are the defending champions. Team Penske has won a record 14 times, including six for the crew of three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.

First-round pairings are: No. 48 A.J. Foyt Enterprises (driver Alex Tagliani) vs. No. 41 A.J. Foyt Enterprises (Jack Hawksworth); No. 83 Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (Charlie Kimball) vs. No. 14 A.J. Foyt Enterprises (Takuma Sato); No. 15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Graham Rahal) vs. No. 3 Team Penske (Castroneves); and No. 7 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (James Jakes) vs. No. 24 Dreyer & Reinbold-Kingdom Racing (Townsend Bell).

Quarterfinal pairings are: Nos. 48-41 winner vs. No. 27 Andretti Autosport (Marco Andretti); Nos. 83-14 winner vs. No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (Dixon); Nos. 15-3 winner vs. No. 5 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (Ryan Briscoe); and Nos. 7-24 winner vs. No. 1 Team Penske (Will Power). The four survivors advance to the semifinals, with the winners of that round battling for the challenge championship.