We ended up getting a penalty for stepping forward and touching the controls before the bell. We were told that "to be safe " we shouldn't step forward before the bell ( not the buzzer.) It was announced the next day at the driver's meeting that the bell was the determining factor on when you could step forward. We knew we were right, but there is not much you can do when the head ref makes the ruling.
Sigh....
Well , on to next year!!