Racing flags

Racing flags are traditionally used in auto racing and similar motorsports to communicate important messages to drivers. Typically, the primary flagman, sometimes the grand marshal of a race, waves the flags atop a flagstand near the start/finish line. On most circuits, several officials are also stationed at strategically chosen positions along the course in order to communicate to drivers who cannot see the flagstand. This is especially common at road courses, which usually feature several sharp turns and relatively steep hills. Alternatively, some racecourses employ flashing lights to supplement the primary flag at the start/finish line.

Summary

While there is no universal system of racing flags across all of motorsports, most series have standardized them, with some flags carrying over between series. For example, the checkered flag is commonly used across all of motorsport to signify the end of the race, while the penalty flags differ from series to series.

Uses of Flags in Major Racing Leagues
NASCAR	IndyCar	FIA-sanctioned championships
Start/Restart of Race	Start/Restart of Race	End of Hazard/Restart
Caution	Local Caution (single) or Full-Course Caution (twin)	Local Caution or Full-Course Caution (if displayed with "SC" sign)
Debris (road courses only)	Oil/Slippery Course	Debris/Oil/Slippery Course
Pit Road Closed	Pit Road Closed	not used
Stop Race
Final Lap	Final Lap	Slow vehicle on Track
not used	Ambulance on Course	not used except for Pickup Truck and SCSA oval races: Final Lap similar to NASCAR white flag
Penalty of some form	Penalty of some form	Instant Disqualification for a driver
not used	not used	Car has a problem and needs to stop
not used	not used	Unsportsman-like Conduct
No Longer Scored	No Longer Scored	not used
Local Caution/ Slow Vehicle on Track (Road courses only)	not used	Faster Car Approaching
Faster Car Approaching	Faster Car Approaching	not used
End of Race

It is also crucial to note that some flags can be replaced by lights for better visibility (in rain, fog, crucial blind corners, ...) or during the night.

Status flags

Status flags are used to inform all drivers of the general status of a race.

The green flag

The solid green flag is usually displayed to indicate the start of a race. It is often also shown at the end of a caution period or a temporary delay to indicate that the race is restarting. Sometimes it is displayed by default when no other flags are appropriate. Therefore, if the race is not under caution or delayed, it is said to be under green-flag conditions. Also, a green flag at the entrance to the pits can indicate that the pits are open. However, an alternative to a green flag in other countries of the world, primarily France, would be the national flag, due to Libya having an all-green flag.

Also in NASCAR, when a green and yellow flag wave at the same time, this indicates that the race is under caution, but that the race has started and laps are being counted. Such usually takes place to finish drying a track after a start delayed by rain.

When shown at a marshalling post, a green flag may indicate the end of a local yellow-flag zone.

IndyCar has incorporated a stylized lowercase 'e' into its green flag to promote the series' use of ethanol as a motor fuel.

Before the use of starting lights in Formula One and most other FIA sanctioned or associated events, the national flag of the country in which a race is occurring, instead of a green flag, was used to signal its start, and still does on occasion in the event of equipment failure.

The yellow flag

The solid yellow flag, or caution flag, universally requires drivers to slow down due to a hazard on the track. However, the procedures for displaying the yellow flag vary for different racing styles and sanctioning bodies.

In Formula One racing, a yellow flag displayed at the starter's stand or a marshal station indicates that there is a hazard downstream of the station. The manner of display depends on the location of the hazard:

A single stationary flag denotes a hazard off the course
A single waved flag denotes a hazard on the racing surface itself
Two flags waved simultaneously denotes a hazard that wholly or partly blocks the racing surface. This informs the driver to prepare to stop, if necessary.

When shown at a station, drivers are prohibited from passing until either the hazard or the next flag station displaying a green flag (signifying the end of a cautionary section) is passed. This flag is shown at the discretion of the marshals manning the station.

A double stationary flag, or a yellow flag accompanied by a “SC” sign denotes a full-course yellow, requiring the use of a safety car. This indicates that all racing on the circuit must cease and drivers must slow down, hold position and follow any safety cars that have been dispatched. Passing other cars is strictly prohibited, unless not passing would create a safety hazard.

In NASCAR and IndyCar series, a single yellow flag waved from the starter's stand places the race under caution. At this time a pace car will enter the course and lead the field at a safe predetermined speed. At these races, yellow flashing lights are usually used to supplement the primary flag at the start/finish line. The field is locked into place at the beginning of a caution period and no one is allowed to pass another car without mutual consent (excluding crashed and immobile cars). In some races, though, cars may pass one another on the pit road during a caution period.

Safety concerns and the Beneficiary in NASCAR

The point at which the caution period starts is a topic of controversy in oval racing. Traditionally, the cars had been locked into their positions when they cross the start/finish line, but technological advancements have made it possible to lock them in at the instant that the caution is declared. This has effectively put an end to the "race back to the caution," in which drivers sped up during yellow flag periods to beat the leader to the flag. This practice, while giving lapped drivers a better chance to make their lap back, was at times highly dangerous in that it encouraged drivers to engage in pitched battles with major safety hazards on track. Safety workers were not able to respond to accidents until the cars were under control of the pace car, which markedly slowed their response times to potentially injured drivers. To compensate for the elimination of the race back to the caution, NASCAR and some other motorsports series, both road racing and short oval, have implemented the beneficiary rule, which allows the highest-placed car that is a full lap or more behind the race leader to complete an extra lap during the caution period in order to make up a lap.

In some series (Indy Racing League, Champ Car, and beginning in 2007, Formula One) lapped cars between the pace car and the leader will be allowed to move to the rear of the next lap when the signal is given two laps before a restart.

In Formula One, all lapped cars between the leaders are permitted to advance one lap.

The rule, as enforced in the three open-wheel series, is designed to prevent lapped cars from blocking on ensuing restarts, as to prevent unsportsmanlike blocking when a lapped teammate or friend of one driver attempts to help that driver through impeding the progress of an opponent on the restart.

Red and yellow striped flag

The yellow and red striped flag is displayed stationary at local flag stations to indicate that there is something on the track which could reduce grip or cause a car to lose control - generally oil, coolant, small pieces of debris or sand. Many organizations will display this flag for only two laps.

The red flag

The solid red flag is displayed when conditions are too unsafe to continue the race or practice session. Depending on the series, the cars are directed to proceed to pit road, or to stop at a specific spot. Also depending on the series, any repair work in the pits or garage area may not be done under red flag conditions.

There are several hazards that might cause a need to delay or prematurely end a race. Many hazards, such as rain, darkness, a blocked course (due to debris, water or safety vehicles), a car on fire, or a devastating multi-car crash (especially one that results in serious injuries or one that results in damage to walls, fences or the surface itself which require repairs) might prompt series officials to call for the red flag.

Some series use a red flag when a severe accident has occurred or to temporarily stop a race nearing the end of a race. This is usually done when a collision requiring cleanup would otherwise extend the caution period to take longer than the amount of race laps available to finish the race, when a fuel spill occurs on the circuit, or to maximise safety team work. During such a red-flag period, cars are directed to stop in line at a specific point on the track, usually directly opposite to the incident.

Also, a red flag or board, sometimes with a yellow saltire, at the entrance to the pits can indicate that the pits are closed. Such a flag is used in both the IndyCar and NASCAR series. In NASCAR, a red flag with a black flag signals the end of a practice session.

The red and yellow flags displayed together

In the event of a bad start, the yellow and red flags may be displayed together to indicate a restart. Drivers will go back to their starting positions and line up for another start. This is rarely used, and can create much confusion as the drivers attempt to get back in order.

The white flag

In all championships which use the FIA International Sporting Code, the white flag indicates the presence of an official car in the circuit when displayed at a marshaling post.

In the IRL and NASCAR, a white flag displayed from the starter's tower indicates the start of the last lap for all the competitors.

The white flag can also be used for the FIA purpose in North America. In the IRL, this white flag includes a red cross whose arms extend all the way to the edges of the flag. Usually, official cars are not used in those circuits, but instead a pickup truck or tow truck will be used because it is easier to distinguish an official truck from a racing car. However, in NASCAR, the blue flag is instead used for this purpose.

Instruction flags

Instruction flags are usually used to communicate with one driver at a time.

The black flag

The solid black flag is used to summon a driver to the pits. It is usually used to punish a driver or team for disobeying the rules, but may also be used when a car is suffering a dangerous mechanical failure, such as a loose hood or dragging bumper, or even calling a driver to the pits when their radio is not working. The car number of the summoned driver is displayed in a designated place near the flagstand or occasionally on the flag itself. Black flags can be waved at all observation posts simultaneously to order all drivers to clear the track after the starter waves the red flag, often in the case of a serious accident.

Black flag with orange circle

In Formula One, a black flag with an orange disk in its center (also known as the “meatball” flag) will be displayed, indicating that a car is being pulled off the course due to mechanical problems that are interfering with the race, such as an oil, water, or fuel leak.

The per-bend black/white flag

In Formula One, a diagonally-divided black-and-white flag is displayed with a car number to indicate a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. This flag can be displayed if a car tries to intentionally drive another car off the course, or if a driver gets out of his/her car and initiates an altercation with another driver.

Other administrators do not distinguish mechanical problems or unsportsmanlike conduct from rules violations.

The white cross flag

Some leagues use a black flag with a white saltire. It is displayed with a car number if a driver ignores the other black flags for an extended period of time, and indicates that that car is no longer being scored. In NASCAR, once this flag is displayed, the car is not scored again until it answers the black flag by pitting. In IndyCar, an orthogonal cross is used instead of a saltire.

The blue flag

A light blue flag, sometimes with a diagonal yellow, orange, or red stripe, informs a driver that a faster car is approaching and that the driver should move aside to allow one or more faster cars to pass. If the flag is waved, it indicates to the driver that the fast car is on its tail. In some series, the blue flag is not mandatory - drivers obey it only as a courtesy to their fellow racers. In other series, drivers get severely penalized for not yielding or interfering with the leaders, including getting sent to the pits for the rest of the race. In Formula One (in which the blue is lighter and does not have a stripe), if the driver about to be lapped ignores three waved blue flags in a row, he is required to make a drive-through penalty.

The checkered flag

The checkered flag is the most famous flag in auto racing, and it invariably indicates that the leader has completed the race.

Design of the checkered flag

There is no standard design for the checkered flag. Although it nearly always consists of alternating black and white squares or rectangles arranged in a chequerboard pattern, the number, size, and length-width proportions of the rectangles vary from one flag to another. Also, the checkered flag typically has a black rectangle at the corner of the flag closest to the top of the flagpole. In NASCAR, the checkered flag has also had the fuel sponsor’s logo (Sunoco, since 2004 and Union 76 Before) emblazoned in the center of the flag.

In NASCAR events, a single checkered flag is waved to signal the completion of a race. In IndyCar and F1, 2 checkered flags are waved together.

NASCAR traditionally has a special version of the checkered flag sewn for Victory Lane that has the name and date of the race on it. That flag is used for the team in winner's photographs taken after the race, and is a prize awarded to the team along with the race trophy. Teams often hang such flags at race team's headquarters in a similar fashion to other sports hanging championship banners from the rafters at stadiums.

Origins of the checkered flag

The exact origins of the use of a checkered flag to end races are lost in history, although there are many theories. A possible though unlikely theory is that horse races during the early days of the settlement of the American Midwest were followed by large public meals and that to signal that the meals were ready and racing should come to an end, a checkered tablecloth was waved.

Another origin theory claim is that the checkered flag's earliest known use was for 19th century bicycle races in France.

A more likely explanation is that a single-colored flag would be less conspicuous against the background of a crowd, especially when early races were run on dirt tracks (and therefore dust reduced the driver's visibility).

The earliest known photographic record of a checkered flag being used to end a race was from Long Island, New York in 1904 at the inaugural Vanderbilt Cup race. Some historians dispute the dating of this photograph, and attribute it to the Vanderbilt races of 1906 or 1908.

A 2006 publication "The Origin of the Checker Flag - A Search for Racing's Holy Grail", written by historian Fred Egloff and published by the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen, traces the flag's origin to one Sidney Waldon, an employee of the Packard Motor Car Company, who in 1906 devised the flag to mark "checking stations" (now called "checkpoints") along the rally-style events of the Glidden Tour.

In 1980, USAC starter Duane Sweeney started a tradition at the Indianapolis 500 by waving twin checkered flags at the end of the race. Previous starters had only used a single flag. Sweeney also marked the first use of twin green flags at the start of the race.

Celebrating a win with the checkered flag

In many short tracks, the flagman gives the checkered flag to the winner of the race, but a variety of other celebratory traditions, such as the burnout, the Polish Victory Lap and the Victory Lane or Victory Circle celebration, sometimes overshadows the checkered-flag tradition.

The Polish Victory Lap and "doughnuts" burnout have become popular as post-race tributes to honor fallen or injured race car drivers such as Alan Kulwicki (killed in a 1993 plane crash) and Alex Zanardi (lost both legs in a 2001 Champ Car race).

Tony Stewart, borrowing a move from Helio Castroneves, climbs the fence after a victory and waves the checkered flag in salute to the fans.

The checkered flag's symbolism in popular culture

The checkered flag has become so well recognized that it is often used to indicate the conclusion of many things unrelated to auto racing. For example, some software installation programs display a checkered flag to indicate that a computer program has been installed successfully.

Checkered flags were also posted at each corner of the end zones in Yankee Stadium when the facility was used by the New York Giants of the National Football League from 1956 through 1973.

Flags in other motorsports

Flags in karting

The chequered, red, black, yellow, white, and green flags are used identically to how they are used in auto racing, as is the yellow and red striped flag. Other flags used include: A blue flag with a red saltire (diagonal cross), to indicate that a lapped driver must pull in to the pits.
A green flag with a yellow chevron, to indicate that there has been a false start.
A black-and-yellow quartered flag, to indicate that a caution has been declared and the first participant across the start-finish line will set the pace for all other participants during the caution period.
A black flag with a red disc, to indicate a mechanical problem.
A white over black diagonally flag, (rather than the Formula One Black over White) to denote unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Flags in motorcycle racing

The chequered, red, yellow, white, and green flags are used identically to how they are used in auto racing. The yellow and red striped flag is used to indicate debris on the track. Other flags used include:

A white flag with couped red cross, to indicate an emergency vehicle is either required or is on the course.
A black flag with white border, indicating that a rider must leave the course.
A dark, rather than light blue flag, indicating that a faster motorcycle is approaching.
A white flag with a "V", to indicate poor visibility ahead. Used at the Isle of Man TT festival.

Practicality of racing flags

Historically, the only means for race officials to communicate to drivers was through the usage of flags. With the advent of two-way or full-duplex radios, this is not necessarily the case. Most drivers racing on paved short track oval courses do not rely on flags; rather, they are informed of track conditions by their crew chiefs and spotters or by yellow flashing lights found on most oval tracks. Occasionally, though, some drivers must rely on the use of flags for information when they experience radio malfunctions. Flags are still used to tell the crowd of spectators what is happening. Dirt track and lower level racers are less likely to have radios than their paved track counterparts.

In contrast to smaller circuits, road racing drivers rely heavily on the use of flags. As it is impractical to have spotters covering all segments of a winding road course, the first indication to drivers of local hazards almost always comes from marshals stationed at various flagstations around the course. Missing or disregarding a flag can have critical consequences - as Mario and Michael Andretti discovered during a 1991 CART race in Detroit, Michigan. Michael came around a blind corner at high speed, without heeding the yellow flag being displayed - and plowed into the back of a CART safety truck tending to another disabled car. Fifteen seconds later, his father Mario disregarded the same madly waving yellows and crashed into Michael.