Alan followed the crew out, opened an umbrella, and squatted beside him. "The rain will only get heavier. Be careful not to push too hard."
"Yeah, I know."
While they talked, the crew members unloaded four wet tires from the trolley and started inflating them.
"Keep the pressure low," Wu Shi said.
"What?" Alan was puzzled.
"Never mind, just inflate them to the normal level." Wu Shi shook his head. Lower tire pressure would increase the tire's contact patch, providing better grip, which would be generally beneficial for early competition. However, the larger contact patch would also cause the tires to overheat quickly, leading to a rise in tire pressure and accelerated wear. In certain situations, such as some qualifying sessions, low tire pressure could provide a stronger competitive edge than high tire pressure. But for the main race, it was better to have higher tire pressure to avoid a blowout mid-race.
Alan held the umbrella, glancing at his watch from time to time.
