GP2 question - "exceeding track limits" eh?

[Gunner Bill]

I've just been watching the GP2 Monaco race and have seen a driver penalised for "exceeding track limits..." which appeard to be that he was drving to fast! WTF?

Isn't this the whole point of racing cars? I tried to get some more info but all I found was that you can even be penalised in this way whilst qualifying!

Doesn't this kind of negate the whole point of racing a car or am I missing something?

Explanation therefore appreciated!

[CDP]

It probably means putting all four wheels over the white line that marks the edge of the track.

They're talking of changing the rules so that all four wheels have to be inside the line, previously at least part of the car had to be within them. If this happens expect lap times to increase and overtaking to become a lot harder.

[Pkh72]

I watched it earlier too, my understanding is that 'exceeding track limits' was, for example, cutting one of the chicances and making up a bit of time.

[Gunner Bill]

OK maybe I misheard the commentary - it was defo a fault for going to fast but in the context of (which I must have missed) cutting a corner...

[Satsuma]

What was probably being explained to you, was the driver was going too fast into the chicane and as a result of which he could not keep the car within the limits of the track. see white line explanation above.

[Piglet]

Otherwise known as "four wheels off", where all four wheels are over the edge of the circuit, which is usually the outer white line. It can apply to any point of a circuit, not just short cutting chicanes, it's often seen on the outside of corners like Graham Hill bend at Brands. Sometimes it's a way of carrying more speed, sometimes it's a general lack of ability to get round the corner!

It's a hot topic in UK racing at the moment.

[CDP]

Piglet said:

Otherwise known as "four wheels off", where all four wheels are over the edge of the circuit, which is usually the outer white line. It can apply to any point of a circuit, not just short cutting chicanes, it's often seen on the outside of corners like Graham Hill bend at Brands. Sometimes it's a way of carrying more speed, sometimes it's a general lack of ability to get round the corner!

It's a hot topic in UK racing at the moment.

Yes, we all got a written notice about it when we signed on at Cadwell on Saturday.

Penalties as below:

1
2 a flag
3 a five second penalty
4 a stop go penalty
5 game over

Obviously avoiding an accident is not penalised.