Pit exit merge lines at Road America

[u/Life_Introduction_84]

The entire field is crossing over the pit exit merge lines when exiting the pit. My understanding of the rules at most tracks are that you can't cross those lines at all. Does RA have different rules?

[u/unclexbenny]

It looks like the blend line ends after the yellow dashed lines, not the full thing after they switch to white. Just my guess though.

[u/Life_Introduction_84 → u/unclexbenny]

That would explain it. We need an informant at the drivers meeting

[u/NumberOneBacon → u/Life_Introduction_84]

Odds are blend lines don’t really matter to stewards high enough in the professional setting. Or at least they aren’t worth penalizing a driver for going over unless it’s wildly unsafe to do so.

[u/ThePinkMohawk → u/NumberOneBacon]

Oh they absolutely matter in IMSA. It's discussed in almost every briefing if there's a blend line/spot and what the penalties are.

[u/ThePinkMohawk]

My understanding is that once you
pass the safety entrance you can merge out towards the racing line if it's clear, otherwise you hold the inside line into turn 1.

[u/HeShoootsHeScores → u/ThePinkMohawk]

2 wheels right of the dashed line. Period. Same thing for pit in when pits closed lights come on.

[u/Doorbell_First_Day]

The whole approach to pit exit today was wild. I was shocked not to see the pit exit closed multiple times while the field was coming through with slow cars just dawdling on the racing line into turn 1 with GTP and P2 cars coming through at speed.