| There are eight different flags that
the NASCAR officials use from the flag stand to control the race. Many
are a common site during the course of a race (green, yellow, checkered)
but some are a bit obscure and require a little more explanation.
Green
Green signals the beginning or resumption of
competition. This flag is used at the beginning of the race or after a
caution period to tell the drivers that the track is clear and they
should begin racing for position.
Yellow
A yellow flag means that there is a hazard on the
race track and that the drivers should slow down and stay behind the
pace car. This flag typically is displayed when there has been an
accident. However it can come out for other reasons such as, light rain,
debris, an emergency vehicle needing to cross the track, a NASCAR tire
check or even if an animal has wandered out onto the track.
During a yellow flag situation it is absolutely
forbidden to pass the pace car. Doing so will result in a penalty.
At most tracks, except road races, the yellow flag
period will last a minimum of three laps. This to allow adequate time
for all drivers to pit and catch back up to the pace car for the
restart.
White
A white flag means that there is one more lap to
go in the race. This flag is displayed exactly once per race.
Checkered
It's over, the race has been completed. If you are
the first one to receive the checkered flag then you have won the race.
Red
The red flag means that all competition must stop.
This not only includes the drivers on the race track but also the pit
crews. If the crew is working on repairing a car in the garage area then
they too must stop work when the red flag is displayed.
The red flag is commonly seen during a rain delay
or when the track is blocked due to emergency vehicles or a particularly
bad accident.
A red flag is always followed by a few yellow flag
laps which allow the drivers a chance to warm up their engines and pit
if they need to.
Black
The black flag is officially called "the
consultation flag." It means that the driver who receives it must pit to
respond to a NASCAR concern.
Frequently the black flag is given to a driver who
breaks a rule of some type such as breaking the speed limit on pit road.
It can also be given to a driver who's car is smoking, dropping pieces
on the race track (or in danger of doing so) or a driver who is not
maintaining the minimum safe speed on the race track.
A driver receiving a black flag must pit within
five laps.
Black with White X
If a driver does not pit within five laps of
receiving a black flag they will be shown a black flag with a white 'X'
on it.
This flag tells the driver that they are no longer
being scored by NASCAR and have effectively been disqualified from the
race until they obey the previous black flag and pit.
Blue Flag with Orange Diagonal
Stripe
This is the "courtesy" flag or the "move over"
flag. It is the only flag that is optional. A driver may, at his
discretion, ignore this flag.
It is displayed to a car (or group of cars) to let
them know that the leaders are coming up behind them and that should be
courteous and move over to let the leaders race.
Again, this flag is optional... However, NASCAR
takes a dim view of anyone who repeatedly and without a darn good reason
ignores it. |
