Falcon

in any NASA region where you are racing.

The issue is if during the race someone passes you, and then the offender tries to give the position back. If you take the pass back while in the yellow flag zone, technically, that would put you violation too, since you passed under yellow.

In the Southeast Region, you could be DQ'ed for the re-pass, if it's reported by the corner worker. We've been told not to take the pass back.

It would behoove everyone to ask the race director, during the racer's meeting, for a ruling on that circumstance so that you know how to handle it when you're racing out of region.

It'd certainly be beneficial to know this at Nationals, too.

Which brings up another item, scrubbing tires on the practice or qualifying outlap. In the Southeast, if the green flag is out, there is no scrubbing allowed. Doing so can send you to the back of the field for the race start. I suspect it's the same for all regions and Nationals, but it's a question worth asking.

exracer28

I am a SCCA racer and our rules covering yellow flags is covered in our GCR. I was taught that passing under a yellow is not permitted but in the event you were in a pass and you enter a yellow flag zone and you have not completed the pass you are to drop back behind the car you were trying to pass. I have also seen some drivers apply their brakes at the sight of a yellow flag and you end up passing their car. In this case I was told to "when safe" slow down, pull off line and wave the passed car around. If done close to a corner station they should note that you waved the car around.
In case of a pass in progress when the yellow flag is displayed, the
over-taking car is expected to fall back and take station behind
the car he was attempting to pass.
The difference between SCCA and NASA should not change this rule but SCCA has dedicated race officials at their races and It looks to me that NASA officials are more of a part time position and they also drive. If the officials are well trained and apply common sense there should not be an issue. Basic rule is for safety and if you do not gain position there is not an issue.

Falcon

The rules for yellow flags are covered in the NASA CCR, too, (i.e. 19.3.4, 19.3.5, 19.3.6, 25.5) but like everything there are nuances that aren't covered, repassing under yellow being one of them. Does the SCCA GCR cover specifically "repassing under yellow?"

mgarfias

so if you wanted to screw someone behind you under yellow, you could stomp on the brakes and force a pass?

ZoomFreakinZoom

I would assume NASA is the same when it comes to those kinds of situations as Grand-Am is. If you HAVE to pass a car under yellow, AKA the car in front brake checks you, breaks down, or something along those lines, the race directors review it and make a call based on what they saw, not necessarily what is written in the rules. Not that any of the fine drivers in Grand-Am or NASA would EVER brake check you on purpose . That said, in Grand-Am we have a lot more communication between the officials and each car than NASA would. In the past, if I have messed up or want to give someone the position during a caution be it in Grand-Am, NASA, or SCCA, I just give it back to them once we go green again.

For scrubbing, in most club racing if the track is green they won't want you scrubbing or warming up your tires. In Grand-Am some people in practice drive like they're in qualifying, so it just depends on what you want to do. There isn't a rule that says you can only scrub under yellow etc. Basically they tell us to just be smart about it.

Falcon

If the following driver is not paying attention, perhaps. Hopefully, as a racer you're looking far enough ahead and have brakes comparable to your opponent and won't get caught by his abrupt action. If he does outfox you, you could plead with the race director to invoke rule 25.3.

Again, check with the race director at the pre-race meeting so that everyone has a clear understanding of the region's policy. I know what the SE region says.

It could be that the corner worker doesn't report the infraction so this whole discussion would academic. But just like prepping your car for the race, you better prep your knowledge of the rules.

BTW, have video available.

Jason

NASA too.

Falcon

Even worse are those who use the qualifying session as practice time.

Jason

And race during qualifying.

Timz06

or those who qualify during the race!

davidfarmer

Are you referring to the race this Saturday....? It was so F'd up who knows. When the officials send a tow-truck out in the middle of the race, causing another wreck in doing so, I certainly wouldn't count on them to clarify ANY rules!

Generally, I would not take the re-pass unless instructed to do so by an official. Without radios etc, you might want to wait until a restart and give it back. If the race ends before the correction can be made, a the gentlemanly thing to do would be to correct the issue in impound.

brkntrxn

What happened?

sperkins

These are just some of the reasons that I think NASA should require at least a few TT events before getting a race license.
(coming from someone who just got his hard card )

C&M Racing

We use radios and when anything like this comes up the crew checks with official before driver changes position. If not corrected in time and if important to driver it can be brought up after the race but it's not like we are racing for anything more than boasting rights.
Back in my NASCAR days if we had an issue we would drive side by side until official made a decision. Most of the time if we did not get mad it worked in our favor