FIA Improves Pit Safety After Runaway Tire Fiasco

Formula One’s governing body has announced new rules to improve safety in the pits following an incident at the Germany Grand Prix in which a cameraman was injured by a runaway tire that came loose from a car.

The FIA says only team personnel and marshals will be allowed in the pits during qualifying and races. Accredited media will be confined to the pit wall. It will also seek the World Motor Sports Council approval for team personnel to wear head protection plus request a reduction in the pit speed limit from 100 kilometers per hour to 80.

The wheel from Mark Webber’s Red Bull injured Paul Allen last Sunday. Allen was hospitalized but is expected to make a full recovery.

Red Bull was fined (euro) 30,000 ($38,650) over the incident.