Graham Rahal incident in the pits

[jackmart]

I was at the race so I wasn't able to hear any commentary or see everything great.

"The pit stop and the penalties killed us. I came in for a routine stop. We just wanted to make sure we got out of here pretty quick because we had some guys that were pretty close. Basically I just wanted to get in and out as quick as I could and when the car was dropped (off the airjack), I was waved out and it wasn’t time to go yet because the fuel hose was still attached. The penalty was crap. They told me to let three cars by and I did but then I got a drive through (penalty) because they said I didn’t let the cars by quick enough. John (Tzouanakis, team manager) told me on the back straightaway and I didn’t hear him but when I did I let them by in Turn 1 so the other penalty was unnecessary. That really hurt us but then we were so far behind because of having to come through the pits that there was no way we were going to be able to catch up."

I know Graham was doing really well then due to the mishap in the pits he never quite recovered. From what I saw the guy gave him the thumbs up and before I know it he has a pit member on the ground.

I was reading the post-race interviews.

Here is what he said.

I had no idea he got two penalties. I didn't see any footage of it online. I thought he went back through the pits because of the problem with the car. Did he really take that long to let 3 ahead of him. What do you guys think?

[colinspooky]

That was weird. The front left guy clearly waved him out, yet the commendators said Rahal left because he was too keen to get back out - and they were watching what we were watching, and still seemed to miss the pit guy's wave. :rolleyes:

[jimispeed]

I had no idea he got two penalties. I didn't see any footage of it online. I thought he went back through the pits because of the problem with the car. Did he really take that long to let 3 ahead of him. What do you guys think?

I think the commentary was too into showing us the replays, and how all of the fuel mechanism works. I don't think they showed any footage of when or where he let 3 go by. That could have been alot worse than it was!!

[chuck34]

This was a clear case of the guy on the left front being the one that was too keyeed up. He clearly waved Graham out. Not Graham's fault at all.

I too was wondering why the guys in the booth didn't say anything about that, strange.

Plus I never heard anything about letting 3 guys go by. I don't know what that is all about. I'm pretty sure the penalty for hitting pit equipment/crew is always a stop and wait (or at least stop and go). I think maybe the letting the guys go was another issue?

[underpowered]

This was a clear case of the guy on the left front being the one that was too keyeed up. He clearly waved Graham out. Not Graham's fault at all.

I too was wondering why the guys in the booth didn't say anything about that, strange.

Plus I never heard anything about letting 3 guys go by. I don't know what that is all about. I'm pretty sure the penalty for hitting pit equipment/crew is always a stop and wait (or at least stop and go). I think maybe the letting the guys go was another issue?

I'm with you, I thought it was an automatic Stop and Go for hitting pit equipment crew.

[jackmart]

so no one heard anything about the two penalities, just the first?

poor graham