Racing Flags
- Details
- Category: Racing
- Published on 03 January 2012
- Written by Administrator
- Hits: 233
Professional racing officials signal messages to drivers during races by waving an assortment of colored flags. The flagman resides on a stand high above the start/finish line and plays an important role during the event.
Green Flag - Displayed at the start of the race and also for restarts during the race. At the start of the race, cars must maintain position until the have crossed the start/finish line. The pole-sitter at the race start - and race leader on restarts - control the pace and cannot be passed prior to the green waving.
Yellow Flag - Signifies caution and will be given to the first car passing the starter immediately following the incident that caused the display of the flag. All cars must slow down immediately to a pre-determined pace, hold their position and form a single line behind the pace car.
Red Flag - Signifies the race must be stopped immediately regardless of the position of the cars on the track. The red flag shall be used if the officials decide the race should be stopped, usually for safety and/or competition related reasons. Cars wil be brought to a stop in an area designated by the officials. Repairs or service of any nature or refueling, whether on pit road or the garage, will not be permitted when the race is halted due to a red flag unless the car has withdrawn from the event.
White Flag - Waves when the driver in the lead begins his or her final lap of the race.
Black Flag - Display of this flag requests that the car go immediately to the pits and report to the official at the car's pit area. The car can receive a black flag for a variety of reasons, including a driver/team infraction or a potential problem with the car reported by the officials and warrants a closer inspection in the pits. It does not mean automatic disqualification. At the discretion of the officials, if the driver does not obey the black-flag directive, the driver may then be given the black flag with a white cross at the start/finish line to inform the driver that any additional scoring of his or her car will be discontinued until further notice.
Blue with Diagonal Yellow Stripe - Although this flag is displayed regularly during most races, it is probably the least recognized. This flag is displayed to drivers, who are a lap down or significantly slower and are about to be passed by lead-lay cars. Drivers who are shown this flag must yield to the faster lead-lap cars.
Checkered Flag - The most famous of all flags, the black and white checkered flag is displayed when the winner has crossed the finish line. All cars on the track will take the checkered flag once.
