Any qualification attempts that take place between 4:45 and 6 p.m. that are completed runs, receive the checkered flag and move into the top 11 for that day, those cars will come down pit lane after completing their run, stop at the start/finish line in front of the Pagoda, and be immediately impounded. Those cars will then sit in pit lane right in front of the Pagoda, (and) once the driver gets out, the crew cannot touch them if they're in that fastest 11. If they get bumped out of the 11, the owner and team can take that car immediately, go make changes and get back in line and start playing the game again. If they see they think they're going to get bumped and are sitting 10th after that run, and they don't want to wait until that physically happens, they can sign a withdraw sheet, withdraw that time and get that car back immediately. If they want to keep that car in the impound area and stay in the top 11 as long as they can, and play the game with the "T" (backup) car at the qualifying line, then the same rules and procedures apply that have traditionally been in place. If Tim (Cindric) is in the impound area with car #3, and he comes across the tech line with car #3T, when that car gets to me at the head of the line, the same procedure that historically has been in place is still in place: I'm going to look at Tim and say: 'You make a choice. Are you withdrawing the speed of the #3 car and going out with #3T, or are you pulling out of line with the #3T and standing on your line with #3?'
This is the same thing they've always been able to do.
Once a car gets into that impound area in the last 75 minutes, the owners have multiple choices again, taking consideration where they're at with the (fastest) 11 for that day, if they're going to play the game with the spare
car, if they want it back right away to go change gears, they can withdraw the time, and they're out. If they want to wait to get bumped. that's what we're talking about. This thing's going to have a lot of strategy and drama
to it. That's our procedure. Noon to 4:45 p.m. will be a fairly normal tech process. It will take 55 to 70 minutes for (teams) to get their cars back, from 4:45 to 6 p.m. we'll have an impound corral where the cars will be
immediately impounded. Any car that's still in the top 11, when the 6 p.m. gun goes off, will then roll up quickly to do photos, then go through post-qualifying procedures after the track closes at 6 p.m."
Q: If that #3 car goes out at 5:10 p.m. and is third quickest, and comes down to the impound area and they decide they can run for the pole, and goes back in line with the same car, does that speed go out?
"Yes. He has to withdraw that speed to get that car out of the impound area."
Q: As long as you don't take a checkered flag on a run, is that not an attempt at all?
"That rule also has not changed. An attempt is defined by taking the green flag. We'll still do the same thing: an owner or team representative will go to the north end of pit lane with a yellow or green flag, second time by that team representative needs to hold up the green flag or a yellow. A green flag signifies the start of an official attempt, which they get three a day, a yellow flag or a 'no flag' is a non-attempt and they come back to the pit. So the definition of an attempt has not changed; it is taking of the green flag to start a qualification attempt."
Q: So even if you don't finish that run, it is considered an attempt for that day?
"Correct. And is unchanged from previous years."
Q: Can you stand on a time, from a previous day, on Bump Day if the field is not yet full?
"There is no standing on a time. If you are bumped out, then that time is wiped off the board. It is not held in reserve in any way, shape or form."
