KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- On its face, figuring fuel mileage would seem deceptively easy: miles divided by fuel used. But when Sprint Cup crew chiefs are scrambling to determine if their driver has enough fuel left in the tank to make it to the finish, there's a little fudge factor involved in the calculation.
Why one car makes it to the finish line when another doesn't isn't an exact science. And being able to guess the closest without running out is the hallmark of the sport's best pit box bosses.
Adding to the complexity is fuel mileage doesn't occur at a constant rate. It improves or declines based on a variety of factors, including track conditions, weather, traffic, handling and whether the driver is doing anything inside the cockpit to help conserve. Even the miniscule amount of fuel that spills from the tank during the stop needs to be added into the equation.
