Tire changer on 12 team continues to see success (cont'd)

The timing of pit stops has also accelerated in pace with equipment improvements.

"Back when I started, if you could do a four-tire change in under 20 seconds you were doing something," Piette said. "Now, like you say, we're shooting for something around 12 seconds.

"The equipment is much better -- smaller, lighter and they don't require as much air pressure so you can go faster without losing control.

"The equipment has come a long way, but the training and how we prepare to do our jobs is a big part of it, as well. And I think the jackmen and tire carriers are a big part of how much faster we are."

These days, rather than being an athletic aggravation, Piette inadvertently has become an inspirational figure due to his long-term perseverance at developing his craft in an incredibly volatile, dangerous and competitive arena -- and for serving as an inspiration for dogged determination.

After cutting his teeth with Marcis Auto Racing, Piette's changed tires full time for the last 16 years for Stavola Brothers Racing, Petty Enterprises and MBV Racing before coming to Penske Racing in 2002.

For advocates of safety in the workplace, the saga that Piette lived at California Speedway earlier this season would have a better ending if it resulted in across-the-board use of eyewear on pit road.

But while NASCAR has mandated helmets, gloves and fire suits for several seasons, the decision of whether or not to don eye protection when going over the wall is a personal choice.

Piette, who works as a general mechanic during the week at Penske's shop, typically spends two days on pit practice and three days on physical training during the season, in addition to his regular mechanic's duties.

But nothing could prepare him for what happened only nine laps into the Auto Club 500 in February.

"It was the third lug I took off, and it must have hit the center cap or something, because it bounced up and hit me in the corner of the eye," Piette said. "I've had that happen before, and it's no big deal -- so I finished putting the lugs on and finished the stop on the left side."

Remember what Piette said about robotically achieving rapid pit stops? Despite the incident, the crew executed the stop in 13.4 seconds.

"After the stop was over, my left eye was watering, and all of a sudden I realized my contact was gone," Piette said. "I had Trent Cherry, my tire carrier, look in my eye and on my uniform, but it was gone -- it had been knocked out."

Piette and a teammate went out on pit road to look for the lens and were stopped by their NASCAR inspector, who asked what they were doing. Told the problem, "20 seconds later, he found it, literally all wadded up into a ball with debris all over it, but it wasn't torn."

After washing it off, Piette returned the lens to its proper place and was ready to get back to work.

"I literally got the lens washed off just before Newman came in for his second stop," Piette said when describing a day in which he changed 18 tires, spinning 180 lugs off and on.

"I always have spares with me, but they weren't on the pit cart that day," Piette said, laughing again. "But they always are, now." (Continued)