FIA Flagging Rules

[73_Gstock]

Question about FIA flagging rules. In the US, the two main sportscar sanctioning bodies use 'modified' FIA flagging rules. Does the FIA require the use of a mandatory stationary backup for a waving yellow? I was under the impression it did. Over in the F1 forum, (in the thread about Panis and Schumi's pass) someone mentioned that the FIA has no stationary yellows. I was at the USGP, but didn't marshall so I was just wondering.

73 Gstock

[Steve Tarrant]

I believe the FIA, for F1 use, did away with stationary yellows a couple of season's ago.

But then again, F1 has it's own rules anyway ..................


Steve

[Adam43]

Yes F1 does have there own slant on things. The blue flag rule has been modified too hasn't it (because the F1 boys need more help with things like flags ).

[Woolley]

I haven't flagged a GP, but I have done DTM and GTs and I'm sure they're all the same. The general rule is:

Everything is waved, no stationaries - note green flags after SC periods.
No preceeding flags, so yellows waved at the post immediately before the incident, waved green at the next. In the event of a serious problem - a car on the track for instance - you may have double yellows at the incident and single waved at the previous post. Usually the instruction to do this comes from Race Control, although it was suggested that if they saw this occurring at the post due to 'local discretion' they would then send the instruction to back it up!

At the GP (someone correct me if I'm wrong) I think blues are shown on instruction only.

[73_Gstock]

What about the surface flag?

Also, do they use the white flag to warn about emergency vehicles or slow moving race vehicles on track??

Just wondering.

As you can tell, I'm somewhat new and wanting to learn a bit about those crazies at the FIA!

73 Gstock
http://www.lakeeriecommunications.com

[roys1]

Surface or oil flag is shown stationary,white flag is used as you have said and is waved. Blue flag... the control has now come back to marshals discretion due to the demise of Bernie's tv but can be asked for still by race control,also if it is noticed by the marshals that said car seems to be ignoring it they can radio back and inform race control. hope that helps

[TwoSheds]

Originally posted by 73_Gstock
Also, do they use the white flag to warn about emergency vehicles or slow moving race vehicles on track??

The white flag is only used for emergency vehicles, not for slow racing cars

[blackx]

The white flag is only used for emergency vehicles, not for slow racing cars

I am sure I saw a white flag being waved at Suzuka when JPM was approaching 130r at a snails pace whilst suffering car problems...

[Mark Mitchell]

Sorry! Wrong!
White flag IS used for slow cars!
We get specific instructions on this from the F1 C of the C

Also, there was a white being waved for a Williams in yesterdays GP!

[blackx]

Also, there was a white being waved for a Williams in yesterdays GP!

Thought so

[JimW]

Appendix H to the Yellow book says:

d) Light Blue flag:
This should normally be waved, as an indication to a driver that
he is about to be overtaken. It has different meanings during
practice and the race.
At all times :
A stationary flag should be displayed to a driver leaving the pits if
traffic is approaching on the track.
During practice :
Give way to a faster car which is about to overtake you.
During the race :
The flag should normally be shown to a car about to be lapped
and, when shown, the driver concerned must allow the following
car to pass at the earliest opportunity.

(Yes, LIGHT blue and they specify Pantone 298C. Just try taking that to your milleners when making your own flags!)

Regards

Jim

[Flagman]

Yellow book does not apply to F1...

They make up their own rules - including, at one British GP, changing the rules part way through the race...

[Bodysnatcher]

re the specific blue color

(Yes, LIGHT blue and they specify Pantone 298C. Just try taking that to your milleners when making your own flags!)

Indy F1 2000 - drivers complain blue flag not blue enough - with any back lighting it looks white.
solution - naw.. you would'nt believe it (or I've already told you)

[thebear]

Originally posted by Bodysnatcher
re the specific blue color

(Yes, LIGHT blue and they specify Pantone 298C. Just try taking that to your milleners when making your own flags!)

Indy F1 2000 - drivers complain blue flag not blue enough - with any back lighting it looks white.
solution - naw.. you would'nt believe it (or I've already told you)

The flags that I have used at Le Mans suffered from the same VERY pale blue color. Perhaps they fade with age?:confused:

[Dutch chap]

solution - naw.. you would'nt believe it (or I've already told you)

Well you haven't told me, but you certainly made me curious! So please Snatcher, explain!

[Bodysnatcher]

Originally posted by Dutch chap
solution - naw.. you would'nt believe it (or I've already told you)

Well you haven't told me, but you certainly made me curious! So please Snatcher, explain!

ok my dutch chap here goes.
What you have to remember is that Indy 2000 was the first F1 event in the states for many years, so everybody was trying to do things by the book.
As JimW has already said, the blue flag colour specified is a very light blue. The American flag chief(s) got samples of flag material well in advance of the event and sent it of to Paris for FIA approval - which they duly got.
Friday and Saturday using the lovely light blue flag - we start to hear of driver feedback that the blue is'nt blue enough - like I said it almost looked white if the sun was behind you.

Saturday night and about 30 of the marshals are on a night out at another race track in Indy - I think racing was due to finish about 10pm, and the chief flags tells us that after it's over she's off to the local 24hr hardware store (Home Depot?) to try and get something that can be turned into good blue flags.....

Sunday morning, our post receives one of the new F1 spec (revised) blue flags.
A brush handle with a doubled over piece of blue plastic groundsheet material stapled to it.
Had a nice crinkly effect and certainly was'nt going to get heavy if it rained. F1 - leading hi tech world racing series
did the job though..

No names have been given in this story in order to protect the innocent (or guilty).

[Dutch chap]

A brush handle with a doubled over piece of blue plastic groundsheet material stapled to it.

Thanks for this BS. Indeed a high tech solutiun! :rolleyes

[theracegypsy]

OK body snatcher, I promise I won't tell her.

[Bodysnatcher]

Thanks Bob, I'm sure she'd forgive me anyway, it was just such a brilliant scenario down at turn 3 that morning - you want us to wave THAT?

Personally I think the guilty ones are in Paris and the people on the ground came up with a great save albeit just a wee bit unusual - and you can verify the story too, can't you?

[KayBee]

Originally posted by JimW
Appendix H to the Yellow book says:

(Yes, LIGHT blue and they specify Pantone 298C. Just try taking that to your milleners when making your own flags!)

Regards

Jim

I thought milliners made hats?

Perhaps the FIM also specify this pale blue colour because I visited BH over the weekend, for a bike meeting, and they were using a very washed out blue flag.

[JimW]

Originally posted by KayBee
I thought milliners made hats?

Oops. For millener read milliner. For milliner read draper.

Two corrections for the price of one.

Thanks

Jim