Pit crews that work during NASCAR races may seem able to accomplish impossible feats \u2014 they can change scorching-hot tires on a race car in the time it takes you to grab a drink from your cooler. What can these mechanical miracle workers actually fix during a NASCAR race, and what is beyond their abilities?<\/p>\n
Worn tires, blown tires, tires with holes in them \u2014 all of these are common repairs during a pit stop. A really good pit crew can change all four tires, fill the gas tank and make any minor adjustments<\/a> in just a few seconds, allowing the driver to get back out onto the track as quickly as possible. The record for a full pit stop is about 12 seconds.<\/p>\n There are so many moving parts under the hood of a car, it\u2019s easy for one thing to go so wrong that it causes the entire system to fall apart. Many of these repairs can be \u2014 and are \u2014 fixable with a simple application of duct tape. In this case, it\u2019s not the same sort of tape you keep around your house. It\u2019s known as 200-mile-per-hour tape, and it\u2019s designed to stand up to the heat of an engine compartment.<\/p>\n The onboard computer of a NASCAR race car is a fantastic piece of engineering. It allows the pit crew to set personal preferences for the driver, monitor the car itself during the race and even facilitates communication between the driver and pit crew. If something goes amiss with the car or the computer during the race, the pit crew can make adjustments to the computer before the car heads back onto the track.<\/p>\n NASCAR officials only allow five minutes for repairs \u2014 if the repair takes longer than five minutes, they won\u2019t allow a car to return to the race. You won\u2019t see a pit crew taking on a more time-intensive repair during a NASCAR race. Blown head gaskets are common on the track, though, so the pit crew keeps products designed to help<\/a> keep the motor running even after the gasket has blown. If it keeps you in the race, it\u2019s the perfect tool for those speedy pit crews.<\/p>\nQuick Repairs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Computer Adjustments<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What Can\u2019t They Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n