nospam
understanding how the car handles is not the same as being a mechanic.

Eric Stevens
That's your definition. Who is it then that adjusts wheel alignment settings, suspension settings, wings, tire pressure adjustment etc ..

nospam
mechanics.

Tony Cooper
Actually, the pit crew is a team of specialists. Generally, when we use the word "mechanic", we are referring to a person who works on or repairs the drive train of a vehicle...engine and transmission. The pit crew people specialize in adjustments to the vehicle, fueling, and tire changing. While they probably have some mechanical skills, the real "mechanics" are back in the garage. I doubt if any race driver refers to his pit crew as his "mechanics".

nospam
unimportant distinction.

Tony Cooper
Is it?

nospam
yes

Tony Cooper
So you would take your car to the Tire R Us shop to have your transmission repaired because you see no distinction between a guy who changes tires and a real mechanic?

nospam
completely unrelated to the described scenario.

Tony Cooper
It's totally related. The driver, who you point out is not a mechanic, doesn't ask the guy who changes the tires or puts fuel in the vehicle, to adjust the throttle linkage. He asks a mechanic from the garage to come out. He may tell the mechanic exactly what is to be done, though. Then, the mechanic goes back to the garage area. There's limited space in the pit area.

Even if the driver is capable of making the adjustment, he doesn't do it during the race. He normally stays in the cockpit when he pits.

Have you ever seen a pit crew in action? Having grown up in Indianapolis, and personally observed the pit crews in action at many races, I can tell you the mechanics are not out in the pits during the race.

nospam
the point is that it's not the driver who does it.

Tony Cooper
No, the point is that the pit crew are not mechanics. I just made that point.

nospam
no, the point is that the driver doesn't need to know the details of how to fix/tune the car. if the pit crew can't do it, they get someone who can. as you say, it's a team.

Tony Cooper
Once again, you labor under the delusion that you can control threads and control what the "point" is.

But, as usual, you will reply with just another argument that doesn't add anything to the discussion.