IMSA Maintains Pit Stop Procedures Despite Petition

“IMSA always is open to input and constructive feedback from our industry. Recently we were made aware of a discussion regarding pit stop procedures and regulations. As a result, the matter was placed under review by IMSA’s Competition Department.”

IMSA’s position within the letter then goes to the driver changes and spinning wheels during tire changes segments. IMSA reiterated a driver assistant can still be used to tighten and fasten on the driver safety harness for driver changes.

Meanwhile the greater issue that occurred at least twice at the Rolex 24 at Daytona was where wheels spun during tire changes. This affected the No. 1 Tequila Patron ESM HPD ARX-04b and one of the BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTEs in those two instances.

A petition created by David Heinemeier Hansson, co-driver of the No. 1 HPD, gathered more than 700 signatures to change the regulations.

In it, the Dane suggested to turn the engine off and refuel first before changing tires to improve safety, a procedure that’s currently enforced in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European and Asian Le Mans Series.

Heinemeier Hansson responded to IMSA’s letter with this statement, via Change.org:

“IMSA has responded to your overwhelming outpour of concern for safe pitstops by essentially claiming that everything is great the way it is, thus no need for change.”