I want to first debunk the claim that all reds must be open. It is not part of the rule book and red flag procedure. (page 112, 1309 Red Flag Procedure) In fact the very first sentence of that rule states; Red flags will be opened up "at the discreation of the Chief Steward." It also states in this rule, Time to work is not gauranteed, you may not be able to reach your car before the 1 min horn is sounds. At the request of the teams they wanted more oppertunity to service their cars when possible. They were not given a promise it would happen but when possible all reds would be opened if conditions were right.

Opening the reds do not extend the length of the shows. The facts are pretty clear on this topic. Over 90% of the time when the crews were allowed to go on to the track durring a red the crews were removed before the track was ready to start cars. At one event the crews cleared their cars and it was 11 min before the first car was pushed. Notice I didn't say 100% of the time. Early in the season there was a learning peroid to make this procedure work properly. Some tracks are more efficent at cleaning up a red, have better wreckers and not every red needs to be open. At the discreation of the Chief Steward is the proper way to handle the open reds.

Racefan20 comment that the fans preception that opening the reds extend the show is probabley correct. All they see is the thong of crew members heading out to their cars. They don't see that only one wrecker is working properly or that only three or four push trucks are pushing 24 cars.
Ron