[Russell Sobie]

That's my biggest problem with slow down penalties is that it combines a whole lot of things together that make a giant section of the track around the penalized a huge danger zone. First, the driver getting penalized is likely screaming at their display ("WTF I did not go off track!" or "WTF I didn't gain any time outside of avoiding that certain wreck!" or "WTF I hate slow down penalties on principle!"). Secondly, because they are likely now distracted, they will no longer be watching what is in front of them or behind them. Thirdly, they will be compelled to immediately get the giant red text off the top of their screen and lift or stop right where they are... typically in the racing line. Combine all of these together and the potential for carnage is way higher than it ever should be.

Recently I avoided a wreck at Monza at a chicane and very clearly did not go through there faster overall than I would have being able to stay between the white lines, and I got one of those 20 second penalties that does not go away immediately if you come to a complete stop. I kept my head and continued on, but to avoid getting DQed I had to become a giant road block through the final turn at Monza (a fast right hander). Pretty sure I made multiple drivers passing me shit themselves as they adjusted and drove around (thankfully). It was either that or I get disqualified? Horrible choice.

I would love if SRS switched over to using some other form of penalty system which is not only not abuse-able, but also a bit more accurate insofar as what is actually a track cut (i.e. an alternate line that actually saves time and/or tire wear more than staying on track would).

Edit: /\/\/\/\ Kunos designed it the way they did so they could have an immediately imposed penalty on drivers that would be clear about final position at the end on public servers. It is understandable... not all that well designed, but trying to get pubbies to go through pit to serve a penalty OR having them understand that they didn't actually win the race because they cut every chicane and now have a 2 minuted per lap time penalty is basically like herding cats. For any sort of organized racing, however... it's garbage. SRS may not be 100% "League Racing" it is not even close to as bad as a default public server.