Quote:
Originally Posted by MyNameIsNigel
I am looking at the Chronological Analysis of FP2 and note that the #1 Audi did a 29-lap stint at the beginning of FP2 (laps 1-29). In Austin, on a track measuring 5.513 km, the Audis were able to do 24-lap / 25-lap stints. On the shorter Fuji track (4.563) I therefore expect the Audis to be able to do 29-lap / 30 lap stints. Assuming normal race conditions (no rain, no SC), we can assume that the race will take 230-240 laps to be completed. That would require 7, possibly 8 pit stops for the Audis.
The Toyota #7 apparently managed to do a 33-lap stint during FP2 (laps 9-41) which is pretty impressive compared to what the #8 was able to do at Austin (i.e. between 25 and 27 laps on a single tank of fuel). That could possibly allow the Toyotas do stop only 6 times, at most 7 times.
It's seem reasonable to expect that the Toyotas will manage to stop one time less than the Audis, "costing" the Audis something like 1min20sec to 1min30sec. A 0.2sec/lap advantage over the Toyotas will indeed not be sufficient for Audi, even if they double-stint their tires.
This race is going to be interesting. |
Toyota said they couldn't use the full amount of fuel in Austin. They left 1-2 laps on the table. So potentially they were able to go 27 laps at COTA. That would equal 148.5 km, divide that by 4.5km per Fuji lap and you get... 33 (laps per stint)
