Ferrari set to go back to lollipop man

Monday 6th October 2008

The lollipop man is to make a reappearance in the Ferrari pits at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Ferrari have been using a pit stop lighting system, but it caused them great embarrassment in Singapore and dealt a major blow to Felipe Massa's hopes of winning the World Championship.

A mechanic prematurely gave Massa the green light to leave the pits, but the fuel hose was still attached to the Brazilian's car and he knocked over a member of the pit crew as he attempted to head back out on to the circuit.

Formula One surpremo Bernie Ecclestone is one of those who questioned Ferrari's decision to use the pit lane traffic lights system.

"If I wanted to be a smart-arse, I'd have devised a system so that the light goes green to release the driver at the same time as the coupling hose comes off the car," Ecclestone told The Mail on Sunday.

"If it's a matter of turning a switch, which I am led to believe is how it works, then why not stick with the "lollipop" man of old? Why do you want to have some other piece of technology that can go wrong? It's over the top."

It now appears the Scuderia will stop using the system for the remainder of the 2008 season.

The Times reveals: "In an acknowledgement that all is not quite as it should be just now, the team has decided to go back to the lollipop for the three remaining races of this season.

However, they will again switch back to automated system when the 2009 season gets underway in Australia, and they also claim several other teams could follow their example.

"Ferrari are keeping their pit lane traffic lights system despite the dramas they have experienced recently. Several of their rivals are now researching their own version of the lights. They also say that they have heard nothing from the FIA on the subject and there has been no move to have the system banned on safety grounds."

Your Comments

robson

"it would be better to practice more with current system than reverting to an old system that is slower if both used at their optimum."

tartan_rob

"Before devising a super fantastic system (that doesn;t work), you need to ask a few basic questions: 1) Can the existing system be improved? 2) Does it need to be improved 3) What is the cost benefit (time benefit in the this case) Answers? 1) Possibly not bearing in mind the system would struggle to cope with being able to release cars safely onto the run out 2) Some would argue yes and no 3) I suspect very little To ellaborate further on #3. If the lollipop man is doing his job, he would raise it the instant he could (and not before). Where is the benefit?"

skittles

"the system was designed exactly how mr. e describes it: the light goes green when a censor on the coupling device is released from the car. however, the chief mechanic operates a manual override button in the case they want to hold the car in the pit stall- ie: another car in the pit lane or other extenuating circumstances. when kimi had his moment few races back ferrarit chose to stop using the censor and went directly to the mechanic to signal the lights. the human element is what caused massa's error. same as if he were holding the lolli and lifted - the mechanic pressed the button too soon. more importantly, the system has proven a three to four tenths time advantage! a massive edge on the competition. my guess is you will see the other teams using this in 2009. another guess, mr e and luca are just posturing for the sake of publicity."

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