NASCAR Announces “Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style

NASCAR announced a change to its race format with the addition of “Double-File Restarts – Shootout Style” throughout each race. Beginning with this weekend at Pocono Raceway, the first- and second-place drivers will line up side-by-side as the green flag flies for each restart. “We’ve heard the fans loud and clear: ‘double-file restarts – shootout style’ are coming to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “This addition to the race format is good for competition and good for the fans.”
NASCAR recently used the “double-file” format for its non-points NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which produced an unpredictable finish. The format will be adapted for the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the near future. Under the previous format, cars on the lead lap would restart in a single-file line while cars that had been lapped would start in a line next to them. Under the new format, the race leader will have the option to restart on the inside or outside lane. The second-place driver would then restart next to the leader. Regardless of where the leader starts, drivers in odd number positions (3rd, 5th, 7th places, etc.) will restart on the inside lane, while drivers in even number positions (4th, 6th, 8th places, etc.) will restart on the outside. All restarts will use the same format regardless of the number of laps remaining in the race.
The first-place driver will continue to control the timing of restarts in a designated zone on the track. Likewise, cars are to stay in line until they reach the start/finish line. The first eligible car a lap or more down will continue to earn one lap back following a caution, which is known as the “free pass.” However, a new element beginning this week will be that the “free pass” will remain in effect the entire race [before it was all race until 10 or less laps to go, then none was awarded]. Lapped cars choosing to remain on the track will be “waved around” the caution car and will restart the race in respective track position, thus picking up a lap to the leader provided the leader also pits. This will also remove lapped cars from behind the pace car, allowing the leaders to take the green without interference [so the leader will not restart in the middle of the pack].(NASCAR)(6-4-2009)

Source: http://jayski.com/cupnews.htm#news-double

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Meyer on June 4, 2009 at 5:44pm

That's what I was wondering. I've got it now. Cool rule!

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Permalink Reply by Slider316 on June 4, 2009 at 6:22pm

did more research...you are allowed to come around the pace car to pick up your lap, but you will not be allowed to then go down pit lane

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Permalink Reply by NIKAL on June 4, 2009 at 6:37pm

They were talking about this on Sirius and that is what they said also. If you were two laps down in the passed you were screwed, and you were not getting you laps back. Now what a 2 lap down car can do is not pit and make up one of the two laps. Then he will be one lap down on old tires and low fuel. But if the caution waves soon after the restart then he could pit at that point and be back in sync with the rest of the field. They talked about how late in the race "Cautions bread Cautions" and you might see several cars that were one or two laps down fighting for a top 10.

But also you have to figure if you stay out on old tires, you might be the next caution also! So staying out is a big gamble.

One of the best parts about this new rule is you will not see the leader start 5 rows back as you would have tail end cars starting in front of the leader. That to me has always been dumb.

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Permalink Reply by TOG on June 4, 2009 at 6:39pm

and running out of fuel....lots of audibles will be called now.

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Permalink Reply by Slider316 on June 4, 2009 at 7:24pm

agreed. And the good news for multiple lap-down cars, you could easily see a situation where there would be even more cautions during a race as cars that are desparate to make their laps back would then be more likely to have tire wear issues.

CC's will really earn their keep now....cc's or RG

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Permalink Reply by alan4s on June 4, 2009 at 7:29pm

So this would really come into play at the longer tracks (like Pocono, for example) where a green flag pit stop could be done without losing a lap. Stay out at the yellow to pick up a lap, then pit under green as soon as you can.

It's going to be interesting to see how the strategy plays out.

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Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on June 5, 2009 at 2:39pm

Alan, this is a great point. It would work at the Speedways and Road Courses and Indy. The total where it would work is 9 races or 25% of the season.

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Permalink Reply by Green4x4 on June 4, 2009 at 5:12pm

i think this is definetly a good thing! good for the lap down cars the most. say robby is the 3rd car 1 lap down with the old rule he could be 8 or 9 cars back now he could be right behind the luckydog car. this is great! oh yea and it should make the racing up fron better too.

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Permalink Reply by Matt on June 4, 2009 at 6:38pm

This is the official indication Nascar is starting to realize they crippled passing opportunities with the COT. The only way they can get exciting passes is if two cars are in clean air, or traffic holds one of them up. The COT is so frustrating to watch...