How to Do a Pit Stop in iRacing (Beginner’s Guide)

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How to Do a Pit Stop in iRacing (Beginner’s Guide)

If you’re new to iRacing, pit stops can feel intimidating at first. You might even be running competitive races with a high license level but still feel unsure about entering the pits without getting a penalty.

The good news? Pit stops in iRacing are actually very simple once you understand the process.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to perform a pit stop in iRacing—from entering pit lane to exiting safely—so you can avoid penalties and even gain positions during a race.

Watch the Full Video Tutorial

Step 1: Locate Pit Entry and Exit

Before you even start a race, you should know where the pit entry and exit are located.

Typically, the pit entry is near the start/finish straight, but it varies depending on the track.

As you approach pit entry, look for:

  • Two yellow cones
  • A message showing the pit speed limit

Example:

Pit Speed Limit: 50 mph

You must be at or below the speed limit before crossing the pit entry line, or you’ll receive a black flag penalty.

These penalties can include:

  • Drive-through penalty
  • Stop-and-hold penalty
  • Time penalties depending on the series

Step 2: Use Your Pit Limiter

To prevent speeding in pit lane, you should configure a pit limiter button.

You have two main options:

Option 1: Auto Pit Limiter

iRacing automatically activates the limiter when entering the pits.

Option 2: Manual Pit Limiter (Recommended)

Bind a button on your wheel to activate the limiter.

Many experienced sim racers prefer this method because it allows you to:

  • Slow down before pit entry
  • Hit the speed limit exactly
  • Maximize pit stop efficiency

Pro Tip:
Practicing pit entry and exit is one of the easiest ways to gain time in races like the Simucube Sprint Series or endurance races.

Saving 1–2 seconds in the pits can be much easier—and safer—than trying to find that time on track.

Step 3: Configure Your Pit Stop Strategy

Before arriving at your pit stall, you need to configure what services your crew will perform.

This is done through the iRacing black box menu.

You can select things like:

  • Fuel
  • Tire changes
  • Windshield tear-offs
  • Repairs

Many drivers use tools like a Stream Deck or button box to quickly adjust these options.

If you don’t have one, you can still scroll through the black box using button bindings on your wheel.

Important Tip

Start fueling before you reach your pit stall.

If you wait until you stop, you’ll waste time.

Step 4: Enter Pit Lane Cleanly

Once you’re in pit lane:

  • Stay predictable
  • Don’t weave across pit stalls
  • Know where your pit box is located

A helpful strategy is to line up about 3–4 pit stalls early, then slowly approach your pit crew.

Your crew chief will guide you with instructions like:

  • “Stop”
  • “Go forward”
  • “Go back”

If you overshoot your pit box, you can simply put the car in reverse and adjust.

Once correctly positioned, your crew will begin the pit service.

Step 5: Use Auto Fuel

One extremely helpful feature in iRacing is Auto Fuel.

This feature automatically calculates how much fuel you need to finish the race.

You can also set a fuel margin.

For example:

  • 1 extra lap of fuel (recommended)

Why?

Because if the race leader laps you and you must complete an additional lap, you won’t risk running out of fuel at the finish.

Losing a few seconds adding fuel is much better than losing the race entirely.

Step 6: Wait for the Lollipop

When your pit stop is complete, your crew will signal that you’re ready to go.

This may appear as:

  • The lollipop lifting
  • The car automatically going into gear

Once you see the signal, you can pull away.

But remember:

Your pit limiter is still active.

Step 7: Exit Pit Lane Safely

As you approach pit exit, you’ll see two green cones marking the end of the pit lane.

However, some tracks also include:

  • A blue cone
  • A solid white line

You must stay inside the pit exit lane until you pass these markers.

If you merge onto the racing line too early, you’ll receive an unsafe pit exit penalty.

Also avoid accelerating too early.

A good strategy is to wait until the pit limiter indicator disappears before disabling it.

Don’t get greedy trying to save two-tenths of a second leaving the pits.

It’s not worth a 20-second penalty.

Pit Stop Tips to Gain Positions

If you want to gain positions during pit stops, focus on:

✔ Practicing pit entry speed
✔ Engaging the limiter at the perfect moment
✔ Configuring fuel before your pit stall
✔ Knowing your pit stall location
✔ Avoiding penalties

Small improvements here can easily gain multiple seconds over competitors.

Final Thoughts

Pit stops might seem stressful at first, but once you practice them a few times they become second nature.

In fact, mastering pit entry and exit can become a competitive advantage, especially in endurance races and strategy-heavy series.

If you’re still nervous about pit stops, spend a few minutes in a test session practicing them before your next race.

You’ll quickly build the confidence to execute clean, fast stops every time.

More iRacing Guides

If you’re looking to improve your sim racing setup, check out these guides:

  • How to Use a Stream Deck with iRacing
  • Best Button Box Setup for Sim Racing
  • How to Build a Sim Racing Rig Enclosure

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to subscribe to the Moore Podiums YouTube channel for more sim racing tips, gear reviews, and iRacing tutorials.

See you on the grid.

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