A team practice run is a chance to find out what happens after the quick lap. Load the car with the fuel you expect to start with and run a stint at a pace you can repeat in traffic. End the run with a real pit entry and handoff. The last few laps will tell you as much about the plan as the first few.
Measure the things you’ll use
Track fuel use across several representative laps, including any traffic that changes your pace. Record the units and agree on when the crew should call you in. Practice the pit entry and know where the speed limit begins and ends. Then check the event rules for required driving time or lap shares, pit service, and driver eligibility. Procedures vary by series and simulator. iRacing’s team racing guide is a starting point if that’s the platform you’re using.
Practice the changeover with your teammate
Agree on who calls the stop, who adjusts pit service, and when the incoming driver should take over. Pass along the few things they can act on, such as traffic at pit exit or how the car behaved late in the stint. Check that voice chat is clear and rehearse any commands with your usual button layout.
Use the run to check the rig as well. Keep water where you can reach it during a break and take note of any controls that become awkward over a full stint. If the team hesitated at a particular step, write it into the handoff and run that part again.