Impound

Impound in motorsport refers to a period when race cars are placed under strict supervision with limited access, preventing teams from making adjustments to their vehicles, or alternatively, the legal seizure of vehicles by authorities, typically related to illegal street racing activities.

The most common use of impound in professional racing relates to what's also called "parc fermé," a French term meaning "closed park." During an impound period, race cars are essentially locked down under official supervision. This typically happens between qualifying sessions and the actual race. Think of it like putting the cars in a secure garage where teams can look but not touch.

When cars enter impound, racing teams face numerous restrictions on what they can do. They cannot jack up the car, adjust the suspension components like shocks or sway bars, add fuel or fluids, or modify body parts such as spoilers. Even simple actions like tightening bolts are usually prohibited. Teams might only be allowed to check tire pressure or cover the car to protect it from weather.

The purpose of impound rules is threefold: controlling costs, ensuring fairness, and maintaining the integrity of qualifying. Without impound restrictions, wealthy teams could completely rebuild their cars overnight with different setups optimized specifically for race day. This would give them an unfair advantage and dramatically increase costs for all competitors.

NASCAR has been a major proponent of impound races. In 2005, the series designated 21 of its 36 races as impound events. This meant teams had to qualify their cars with a setup that would also work for the race itself, requiring smarter engineering decisions and reducing the need for large crews working through the night.

Breaking impound rules carries serious consequences. If officials discover that a team violated the restrictions, penalties can include starting the race from the back of the field, losing qualifying positions, or facing fines. These strict penalties ensure teams respect the impound regulations.

The second meaning of impound relates to law enforcement and illegal street racing. When authorities catch people racing on public roads, they can legally seize and impound the vehicles involved. The cars are towed to an official impound lot where they're held in custody.

Vehicle impoundment for street racing serves as both punishment and deterrent. Owners must pay towing fees and daily storage charges to retrieve their cars. Depending on local laws, impoundment periods can range from 30 days to six months. In severe cases, authorities may permanently seize the vehicle through a legal process called forfeiture, meaning the owner loses the car entirely.

Police departments across the country regularly conduct impound operations targeting illegal street racing. These enforcement actions help protect public safety by removing dangerous drivers and their vehicles from the streets. The financial burden of impound fees, combined with potential criminal charges, makes street racing an expensive and risky activity.