NASCAR officials calling pit road penalties have received their share of what might euphemistically be called “hand signals” flashed their way before. In 2004, those officials will have some signals of their own to dish out. NASCAR president Mike Helton said Thursday that a new group of five signals have been devised to indicate the types of pit-road rules violations being called on teams in the Nextel Cup, Busch and Truck series in 2003. Helton did not detail which violations would be indicated by the new signals – and declined an offer of $20 if he’d demonstrate them himself. He said they would demonstrated to the media during Speedweeks in Daytona prior. Common pit road infractions in NASCAR races involve speeding on or off pit road, cars stopping outside the marked boundaries of their pit stall, cars inadvertently taking equipment – fuel or fuel catch cans or wrenches, for instance – with them as they leave their pit boxes, running over air hoses, too many men going over the wall and allowing tires to roll across pit road.(ThatsRacin.com)(1-23-2004)
