Zoom Honda looking at a new pit stop system

Just as Ferrari abandons its unique 'traffic lights' approach to pitstops, Honda has begun testing a near-identical concept at the scene of the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Brackley-based squad does not however intend to replace the traditional 'lollipop' system either at Fuji Speedway or elsewhere in 2008.

But Honda, led by the former long-time Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, did trial the system during pitstop practice in the pitlane on Thursday.

"It is something we have been working on actually for quite a long time and we are not proposing to use it at the moment in races, probably until next year," team boss Nick Fry explained in Japan. "But we are going to use the Fridays and maybe Saturdays over the next few races to practice."

"I understand our system is designed in such a way that if the fuel hose is not disconnected the car physically won’t be able to move," he added.

Meanwhile, it is rumoured in the Fuji paddock that - despite the calamity during Felipe Massa's pitstop in Singapore two weeks ago - Ferrari might reintroduce a tweaked traffic lights system at some point in the future.

It is believed that Honda's new system can only trigger a green light if the fuel hose is removed from the car, irrespective of any manual button controls operated by mechanics.

E.A, Source: GMM
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