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Green Flag
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. |
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 unless
specifically told to by NASCAR (such as the "Lucky Dog"). 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.
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White
Flag
A white flag means that there is one more lap to go in the race.
This flag is displayed exactly once per race.
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Checkered
Flag
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. |
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Black Flag
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. |
Red Flag
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. |
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Black Flag
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.
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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. |