Racing Flags

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In motorsports, flags have traditionally been used by track workers to communicate with drivers. Even with modern radio communication systems that allow individual teams to keep their drivers alert to changing track conditions, flags are still very important.

Uses of flags in major racing leagues[edit | edit source]

Flag Tyson-Madigan Championships ARLA V8 Champcar Others
GRN.png Start/Restart of Session/End of Hazard
YEL.png Localized/Full-Course Caution Full-Course Caution TBA TBA
RED.png Session Stopped
ORA.png not used Localized Caution TBA TBA
BLK.png Penalty TBA TBA
WAR.png TBA Unsportsmanlike Conduct TBA TBA
YLD.png Yield to Lead Lap Cars
DSQ.png TBA No Longer Scored TBA TBA
AMB.png TBA Ambulance on the Course TBA TBA
RCL.png not used Driver Ordered to Meet with Race Control After Session is Complete not used TBA
HAZ.png TBA Potential Racing Surface Hazards TBA TBA
WHT.png Final Lap of Session TBA TBA
CHK.png End of Session

Status Flags[edit | edit source]

Status Flags are used by the starter and track marshals to communicate the condition of the course during sessions.

The Green Flag[edit | edit source]

The green flag signals a clear track to race on.

When waved by the starter, the green flag signals the start and restart of a racing session. On road courses, it is also waved by marshals to indicate that a hazard has been cleared off of the track and it is safe to race again.

Caution Flags[edit | edit source]

The yellow flag indicates a caution period.
A red flag with yellow stripes indicates traction hazards.
ARLA uses a solid orange flag to indicate localized cautions.
An orange flag with a red cross signals that an ambulance is on the course.

The yellow flag is waved by both the starter and marshals to signal the start of a caution period. In oval racing, an accident or a stalled car is guaranteed to trigger a yellow-flag period in which the entire field slows down and lines up behind the safety car for a period of time before the track is deemed safe again.

For many of the major racing series, road course events are a different story. Because full-course cautions on these tracks normally take much longer to run, race control instead opts to throw localized cautions in certain sections of the track where incidents occur. Whenever there is an accident or a stalled car, flag stations at that section of the course will wave flags at oncoming traffic, alerting them of the hazard and the presence of marshals on the course. The rest of the course remains under green-flag conditions.

ARLA utilizes a special solid orange flag that indicates localized caution periods, as well as certain safety precautions that drivers must obey in an orange-flag zone. It is waved at local flag stations. According to the 2012 rulebook, drivers must slow down to pit road speed and may not overtake each other within the orange-flag zone until the flag is withdrawn.

A red and yellow striped flag, used at road courses only, is waved at local flag stations to indicate potential hazards on the track surface such as debris from an accident (in which case it is sometimes waved in conjunction with a local caution), dirt, water, or other matter that could affect traction. If this flag is not waved as a result of an accident, it is typically withdrawn after a few laps and the hazard is considered to be part of the track surface itself.

Another ARLA-exclusive road course flag is an orange flag with a red cross, indicating the presence of an ambulance on the course. Drivers encountering this flag must proceed with extreme caution, slowing down to half of pit road speed. Severe penalties are placed on drivers who are deemed to be endangering marshals and the medical crew under this flag. However, it is much more likely that in the event of a severe accident, race control would put out the red flag.


The Red Flag[edit | edit source]

The red flag means stop.

The red flag is waved simultaneously by the starter and marshals to indicate that the track conditions are too dangerous to safely continue the race. The red flag is usually waved after a severe accident occurs or if inclement weather strikes. It is known that TM Master Cup Series officials wave the red flag after an accident of any kind in practice and qualifying sessions.

Depending on the series, teams may or may not work on their cars under the red flag. This is due to the idea of teams being likely to take advantage of time to repair their cars that they would not otherwise have if the race were simply under a yellow flag. However, it is known that ARLA is considering allowing teams to repair their cars under the red flag, provided that they have not suffered terminal damage. After the red flag is withdrawn, the field usually follows the safety car for a certain number of laps, and then the event can resume. However, in rare cases, races have been called prematurely after being red-flagged. This could be prompted by events such as a driver fatality or inclement weather striking shortly before the event is completed.

The White Flag[edit | edit source]

The white flag indicates the last lap of a session.

In most racing series, the white flag is waved by the starter when a driver begins his/her final lap of a qualifying session or as the leader of a race session. The white flag is traditionally followed by the checkered flag.





The Checkered Flag[edit | edit source]

The checkered flag ends the current session.

The checkered flag is waved by the starter, and indicates the end of a session.