Yeeeaaaah, riiiiight, that's us..., just like Penske and Ganassi, sure.
I can sympathize. At MSR a year ago, we did our "final" prep Sunday afternoon the weekend before the race, and while backing the Beetle out of the driveway for a last spin around the block before we put it on the trailer the throwout bearing threw itself out. Replaced clutch and throwout bearing/slave cylinder (all in one for VW/Audi 6 spd) with new spares we had on hand until 11pm. Tried to test drive it and found out that the throwout bearing wasn't a Beetle 6 spd throwout bearing/slave cylinder as the hydraulic line kept popping off the slave cylinder every time the clutch went in. It looked identical but had a microscopically different attachment: VW/Audi apparently has 5 or 6 different ones for different cars. One of the very few times Rock Auto has disappointed me. Had to order a replacement from Pelican Parts Monday morning, delivered to team member in Houston (on Wed) who met us at the track Thursday evening (after our 12 hour drive to the track) for the repeat R&R, but we got it done and slept in Friday am. New Beetle transmission R&Rs are a huge PITA.
Can also tell you about a team I know running a Porsche 914 who needed a suspension part after practice day at Barber a few years back, found one in Atlanta (2 hours away) as the parts place was about to close for the weekend, paid for it over the phone and told the slightly disbelieving parts guy to leave it on the loading dock so they could pick it up when they arrived well after the shop closed. Made it back to Birmingham and got it in, started the race Sat am no sweat.
Just like Penske does it, right?
Here's hoping the radiator support bracket R&R this weekend goes well, as NCM is coming up in two weeks. And we've got to get our tires mounted and balanced, too.