How To Make Pit Decisions in iRacing

Author Alessio Lorandi
Alessio Lorandi
April 27, 2024

When competing in iRacing, making informed pit decisions is crucial for maximizing your performance and staying competitive throughout a race. 

Follow these steps to effectively manage your pit strategy and optimize your chances of success on the track.

Step 1: Determine the Need for Pit Stops

making informed pit decisions iRacing

Evaluate the need for pit stops based on various factors such as black flags, fuel levels, and damage to your vehicle. 

Pit when necessary to address issues like black flags, fuel depletion, or significant damage that impairs your car’s performance or drivability. 

Additionally, consider the duration of the race and whether it warrants tire replacements, especially in special endurance events where tire wear becomes a critical factor.

Step 2: Adjust Fuel Levels

To adjust the fuel level in your car, access the Garage menu. Within the setup options for each car, you can modify the amount of fuel in the tank. 

Note that while rookie series utilize fixed setups, allowing no adjustments to fuel levels, other series provide flexibility in fuel management. 

Keep in mind that altering fuel levels will affect ride heights, so make corresponding adjustments to suspension settings to maintain optimal performance.

Step 3: Configure Pit Stops

Utilize the black box interface to configure your pit stops effectively. Assign key bindings to cycle through the black box options or use your mouse for navigation. 

Within the black box, specify parameters such as the amount of fuel to add, tire replacement preferences, tire pressures, and the option for a fast repair, if available. Monitor your current fuel levels and estimated lap count to plan pit stops strategically.

Step 4: Calculate Fuel Requirements

Calculate the amount of fuel needed for the race by estimating your fuel consumption per lap and multiplying it by the total number of laps. 

Ensure you add a safety margin to your fuel calculation to account for unexpected circumstances and engine performance degradation as fuel runs low. 

If unable to carry sufficient fuel for the entire race, plan pit stops accordingly to minimize time spent refueling during the race.

Step 5: Consider Series-Specific Pit Strategies

Be aware of series-specific pit stop requirements and strategies. In series like VRS, IMSA Hagerty, and ESS, pit stops are often mandated due to limited initial fuel loads. 

Avoid unnecessary tire changes in these races, as the time lost outweighs the benefits of fresh tires. 

In endurance races, carefully manage tire usage over multiple fuel tanks, considering factors like tire tread percentage and overall race strategy.

Step 6: Utilize Addon Apps for Assistance

Take advantage of addon applications like Crew Chief or Kapps to streamline pit stop calculations and setup adjustments. 

These tools can provide valuable insights and assistance in managing pit strategy, allowing you to focus more on driving and less on manual calculations.

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About the autor

Alessio Lorandi

Alessio has been involved at the highest levels in racing since the age of 5 (2003). He won a CIK-FIA World Championship in 2013 and then raced in F3, F2, and finally GT3s before now dedicating himself to SOLOX. He’s now on a mission to help thousands of sim racers around the world achieve their fullest potential through his ACC setups.

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