Why didn't the Safety car wave Alonso & others past?

[John S]

I have had a nagging doubt at the back of my mind about the actions of the safety car crew in the Valencia race. The rules allow for the safety car to let cars by until it picks up the leader so my first question is why didn't this happen with Alonso and Massa? Secondly because Vettel, Hamilton and others pitted just how much longer it  took for the safety car to pick up the leaders as it had just missed them when it set off?

To my way of thinkling a lot of Ferrari's problems could have been avoided by allowing their drivers and others to pass the safety car, is there something I have missed as to why this did not happen?

[Scott]

That's what I thought.  Why didn't the safety car just wave everyone past until Vettel got there, and close the pits until everyone's in line.

[lkjohnson1950]

That is the way NASCAR does it, which seems to be a good reason for F1 not to. Alonso and Massa were the only ones affected, as the others from Kubica back went directly to the pits. Virtually every major US series does just what you suggested: the safety car waves everyone by until the leader is picked up. The pits are closed until the field is lined up, anyone pitting early goes to the end of the queue. Simple, logical.

Lonny.

[Ian]

Totally agree Lonny but your last two words explain why the FIA won't implement it
   
                  SIMPLE  LOGICAL


         

[Monty]

Various external commentaries have covered this. Charlie Whiting decided it was too risky having so many cars going around the track at high speed while Mark Webber was still being attended to. It is the race directors decision to wave cars past or not. I believe there have been safety car periods in the past where cars were waved by until the leader was picked up.

[rmassart]

...Virtually every major US series does just what you suggested: the safety car waves everyone by until the leader is picked up. The pits are closed until the field is lined up, anyone pitting early goes to the end of the queue. Simple, logical.

Lonny.

I also thought this is what happend in F1. I don't think the safety car should be allowed to ruin someones race as it did Alonso's.