Quick Pitted

With the NASCAR season getting into gear, pit crews are honing their motor skills. Here's a look at who does what and how they do it.

The anatomy of a pitstop:

Seven crew members
jump over the retaining wall as soon as their car reaches the pit area just before theirs. If they jump early, their car is penalized 15 seconds.

Gas-can man
inserts nozzle of 11-gallon (80-pound) can into tank. Catch-can man holds it in place as gas-can man grabs second can.

At the same time, jack man raises right side of car, so tires can be changed...

...by tire changers at front and back, who unscrew lug nuts. Tire carriers hand them new tires, I each of which weighs about 75 lbs.

Jack man raises left side; tires are changed there. Jack man drops car off jack, signaling driver to leave pits.

Total time in flawless stop: 18 seconds.