Friday, May 1, 2009

NASCAR rules and regulations

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The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) makes and enforces numerous rules and regulations that transcend all racing series.

NASCAR issues a different rule book for each racing series; however, rule books are published exclusively for NASCAR members and are not made available to the public.[1] Still, many of the rules, such as the scoring system, have been widely publicized both by NASCAR and the media.

Contents

Championship points system

Position Points
1st 185
2nd 170
3rd 165
4th 160
5th 155
6th 150
7th 146
8th 142
9th 138
10th 134
11th 130
12th 127
13th 124
14th 121
15th 118
16th 115
17th 112
18th 109
19th 106
20th 103
21st 100
22nd 97
23rd 94
24th 91
25th 88
26th 85
27th 82
28th 79
29th 76
30th 73
31st 70
32nd 67
33rd 64
34th 61
35th 58
36th 55
37th 52
38th 49
39th 46
40th 43
41st 40
42nd 37
43rd 34

For all series championships in NASCAR, driver points are awarded after each race. For the three major championships, as well as the touring championships, points are given out for each race based on two categories: Final Position, and Laps Led. The Whelen All-American Series rewards points on the final position only and the specifics of how points are rewarded may vary from race to race.

For points according to position, there are three different scales: 5 point, 4 point, and 3 point. First Place gets 185 points, with fifteen points separating first from second. After second place (170 points), the first scale starts, with five points separating second through sixth place. After sixth place the second scale starts, separating drivers by four points for positions seven through eleven. After that, the third scale is in effect, separating the rest of the field by three points (see chart on left). This is why cars will sometimes go back on track after a wreck, even if they have no chance of winning. By moving up three positions, they gain nine more points.

For points according to laps led there are two five-point bonuses: 5 points for leading a lap (any single lap) and five points for leading the most laps of the drivers in that race. If a driver has led at least one lap in the race, that driver is awarded an extra 5 points on top of the points they earned based on position. Since, it is impossible to win a race without having led at least the last lap, the five bonus points for leading a lap means that the minimum points a race winner receives is 190 points (185 for position plus 5 for leading a lap). In addition, the driver who leads the most laps earns an additional 5 points. The driver who leads the most laps in a race will have received 10 bonus points (5 for his first lap led, and 5 for leading the most laps). Lap leadership is determined at the start-finish line at the end of each lap. A driver cannot simply lead part of a lap somewhere on the track; the driver must be the first across the start-finish line to be considered the leader for that lap. The pole sitter is therefore not guaranteed to receive 5 bonus points since he could be passed during the first lap. Lap leadership is counted under both green and yellow flags, so drivers will sometimes skip a pit stop in order to inherit the lead during a caution lap and obtain the bonus points.

Drivers’ points are assigned to the driver who starts the race. It is legal (though rare) to change drivers during a race (usually due to injury or fatigue), but the replacement driver gets no points, and the driver that started the race will get credit for the final finishing position. In 2007 Denny Hamlin replaced Aric Almoria in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at The Milwaukee Mile, because Aric started the race he was awarded the points and credit for the win even though Denny Hamlin drove the car to victory lane.

Points are also given to the owner of a car. For a car that makes the field, the owner points are the same as the driver points for that race. Cars that fail to qualify for a race gain owner points based on how well they qualified, continuing the 3 points per position so that the 44th car in qualifying gets 31 points, the 45th gets 28 points, and so forth, to a minimum of one point below 54th.

NASCAR points system development

From the beginning of championship series until 1967 championship points were based on prize money purses. Races with lesser purses paid fewer points than races with bigger purses.

First, the NASCAR point system used for championship from 1949 till 1951 awarded points on basis 10 points for the 1st place, 9 pts for 2nd, 8 pts for 3rd and so on, multiplied by 0.05*race purse (Race worth $4000 paid 200 points to the winner, 180 for 2nd place...). No info about how many points were given to drivers finishing below 10th place. [2]

From 1952 till 1967, the NASCAR point system was based on linear scale for first 25 positions: 25-24-23-... Coefficients changed, but were always depending on prize money. From 25th place down there were awarded the same number of points. [2]

In 1968, NASCAR started to award points depending on race distance, not prize money. Point system was 50-49-48-... multiplied by 1 for events to 249 miles, 2 for events 250-399 miles and 3 for events 400 miles and more. System stopped from 50th place. This system was in use until the end of 1971 season. [2]

In 1972 (the start of the "Modern Era"), together with shortening the schedule, the point system was also modified. Basic points of 100-98-96-... were awarded for each race. Additionally, lap points were awarded for the number of laps completed. Tracks under 1 mile, 0.25 points a lap; 1-mile tracks, 0.50; 1.3-mile track (Darlington), 0.70; 1.5-mile tracks, 0.75; 2-mile tracks (Michigan), 1.00; tracks 2.5 miles and over, 1.25. This system was also used in 1973. [2]

In 1974, the points system was simple: Total money winnings from all track purses (qualifying and contingency awards did not count), in dollars, multiplied by the number of races started, and the resulting figure divided by 1,000 determined the number of points earned. By the end of the season Richard Petty had such a big lead in points, that he increased it even by finishing 30th while his main rival Cale Yarborough made a top-5 (Remember - the money was multiplied by the number of races started. Even if Cale made more money in one particular race, when the total money was multiplied by e. g. 27, the difference between the two leaders could also increase in comparison with situation after race 26). [2]

The current NASCAR points system was developed in 1975 following years of trouble in trying to develop a points system -- from 1949 until 1971, six different systems were used, and in 1972, NASCAR used a different system each year for the next three years.

That type of inconsistency, which included a system, which rewarded most mileage for the entire season, and then another year where mileage and finishing positions were counted, favored larger circuits, and some fans complained about a champion who only won one race. That resulted in a 1974 ill-fated attempt at basing the points system on money and starts. Even though one driver won consecutive races, his opponent who had won the big money races had scored more points.

Bob Latford, a former public relations official at Lowe's Motor Speedway, devised NASCAR's longest used points system, which was adopted in 1975, which NASCAR used two different versions for their series from 1982 until 1998.[3] In the system, the winner received 175 points, second 170 points, and other positions exactly the same as the current points system.

Until 1998, the Nationwide Series points system offered 180 points for the winner, but no bonuses for leading laps. The same was true for the Craftsman Truck Series until the end of that season, when NASCAR decided to standardise the points system for their series.

One complaint about the points system was that a driver could finish second and receive an equal number of points as a race winner, which was possible if the driver who led the most laps finished second. NASCAR amended the problem in 2004 by adding five points to the winner, and again in 2007 by adding another five points to the winner.

Vehicle numbers

All vehicles competing in a NASCAR sanctioned event prominently display numbers on the roof and door areas. Unlike many series, especially Formula 1, numbers are not assigned based on the previous year’s point’s positions. NASCAR owns the rights to each number and licenses them to teams annually. NASCAR usually reissues numbers that teams have previously used and may allow teams to request numbers of significance.[4] Ironically, while most series including Formula 1 reserve #1 for the reigning champion, only once has any one in one of NASCAR's three national series won a championship driving car #1 or #01 -- Ted Musgrave in the 2005 Craftsman Truck Series in the #1 Dodge for Ultra Motorsports, which shut down after the end of the season.

The numbers displayed can range from 0 (or 00) to 99; however, the official numbers may contain three digits if two teams wish to use the same double-digit number. For example, one team could be #27 and the other #127.[5] No two teams are allowed to display the same number on their cars in the same event. If a situation occurs where two teams show up with the same 2 digit number on the car, NASCAR will ask them to decide who will change their number, if neither team is willing to change then the team higher in points will use the number.

NASCAR rarely retires numbers in the way that some professional sports teams do. Only one number, #61, in the Whelen Modified Tour, is retired, and that was after the 1985 season, when Richie Evans was killed at Martinsville Speedway.

Currently, there is debate as to whether #3 (which is commonly associated with the late Dale Earnhardt) should be retired. There was a debate to retire Richard Petty's #43 following his retirement, but NASCAR ultimately chose against it and Petty Enterprises chose in 1994, after spending the 1993 season in the #44, to return to racing with #43, which has continued to this day.[6] Richard Childress Racing has decided to use the #3 in the NASCAR Camping World East Series in 2008, with grandson Austin Dillon racing the #3, a decision he wanted, that his grandfather said, "It was something Austin wanted to do because it was my number (when he started in 1971). It's neat to watch Austin race it, but when I'm watching, I'm more worried than I am thinking about the number."[7]

Safety

History of safety in NASCAR

Safety in racing has come a long way since the first green flag dropped. Up until the last few years, NASCAR was heavily criticized for its lack of focus on safety. Many safety precautions were not mandatory, as they are in other racing series, but only optional or recommended. NASCAR changed its stance on this after one of the sport's most popular drivers, Dale Earnhardt, was killed in a racing accident on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Since 2002, no driver has been killed on the track in any of NASCAR's three major series. The greatest testament to the efficacy of the new safety rules was in a spectacular but nonfatal crash during qualifying runs for the 2008 Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Michael McDowell, in his second Sprint Cup race for Michael Waltrip Racing in his Toyota Car of Tomorrow was in the midst of the second lap of his qualifying run when his car slipped on some loose oil-dry. The oil-dry had been left from the clean up of a previous incident where a qualifier "blew up" his engine between Turns One and Two. Upon hitting the oil-dry, McDowell was sent head first into the SAFER barrier at nearly 180 mph (290 km/h). McDowell's car began to flip and roll violently, leaving much of his car in parts on the track. Thanks to the safety precautions, the use of the COT and the SAFER barrier as well as the mandated use of the HANS device, McDowell walked away and raced later that weekend.

Seats

The seats that the drivers sit in have evolved over the past few years. Most of the seats found in the race cars wrap around the driver's rib cage which provides some support during a crash, spreading the load out over the entire rib cage instead of letting it concentrate in a smaller area. Some of the newer seats wrap around the driver's shoulders as well, which provides better support because the shoulders are more durable than the rib cage. The introduction of carbon fiber seats have also helped improved safety, as carbon fiber absorbs more energy from an impact than the traditional aluminum seats did.

Seat belts and harnesses

The seat belts in stock cars are very important. They are built to be stronger than a normal seat belt. The seat belts used are the five- or six-point harness, which is two straps coming down over the driver's shoulders, two straps wrap around the waist, and one or two come up between the legs. Since a string of accidents in 2000 and 2001 that killed Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, Tony Roper and Dale Earnhardt (plus several other drivers in minor circuits) under similar circumstances, NASCAR has made it mandatory for the drivers to wear the HANS device. Though NASCAR allowed another system, the Hutchens device, in the past, since 2005 HANS is the only head and neck restraint device allowed for use.[8]

Restrictor plate

Main article: Restrictor plate
Artist rendering of a NASCAR restrictor plate

As a safety measure to reduce speeds at the two high-banked superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega), restrictor plates are used. There are some tracks, however, where restrictor plates are not mandated and therefore see faster speeds--specifically Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. While Atlanta is generally considered the fastest track, restrictor plates are not mandated there. In 2004 and 2005, higher qualifying speeds were posted at Texas, earning it the title of the circuit's fastest track. Unrestricted, Sprint Cup cars produce over 750 horsepower (560 kW) and can run at speeds in excess of 200 mph. Rusty Wallace completed a 2004 test for NASCAR at Talladega in which he used an unrestricted motor to complete average lap speeds of 221 mph (356 km/h) and top speeds near 230 mph (370 km/h). [9]

Roof flaps

In 1994, NASCAR introduced roof flaps to the car, which are designed to keep cars from getting airborne and possibly flipping down the track. Following Rusty Wallace's crash at Talladaga, Penske Racing designed the original roof flaps. [10] NASCAR team owner Jack Roush helped improve on the design of the roof flaps, in conjunction with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Florida, USA.[11] During spins, as a result of accidents or loss of handling, as the car rotates it eventually reaches an angle where the oncoming air reacts with the profile of the vehicle in the same manner as a wing. If the speed is high enough air flowing over this hydrofoil shape will create sufficient lift to force the car to become airborne. To prevent this, NASCAR developed a set of flaps that are recessed into pockets on the roof of the car. As a car is turned around and reaches an angle where significant lift occurs, the low pressure above the flaps causes them to deploy. The first flap oriented 140 degrees from the centerline of the car typically deploys first. After flap deployment, higher pressure air is forced through an air tube which connects to a second flap, deploying it. This second flap ensures that, should the car continue to spin, no further lift will be created as the vehicles angle changes. The deployment of these flaps eliminates most of the lift on the vehicle. The roof flaps generally keep the cars on the ground as they spin, although it is not guaranteed. [12]

Barriers

Main article: SAFER barrier

Beginning in the early 2000s, many tracks were retrofitted with SAFER barriers along the walls of the track. These walls absorb the energy of an impact better than concrete walls, while maintaining integrity better than traditional steel barriers. This system costs millions of dollars to put in, and the creation of this wall, which connects to the original wall, took many more millions to design and create.

Pit road safety

Pit road safety has become a major focus of NASCAR officials in recent years since the 1990 Atlanta Journal 500, where the rear tire changer for Melling Racing was killed in a pit road crash.

By April 1991, NASCAR implemented the current policy of pit road speed limits. The speed limit depends on the size of the track and the size of pit road. NASCAR uses an electronic scoring system, similar to the VASCAR system, to monitor the speeds of cars on pit road by measuring the time it takes to get from checkpoint to checkpoint. As the cars are not equipped with speedometers, the cars in prerace warm up laps are driven around the track at the pit road speed following the pace car so the drivers can mark their speed on the tachometer.[13] NASCAR does not allow the use of pit road specific rev limiters as found in most other forms of racing.

Since 2002, NASCAR has implemented a rule where all over the wall pit members are required to wear helmets, no visors needed, full fire suits, and gloves; while the gas man must wear a fire apron as well as the suit. While it is not required yet, it is recommended that tire changers wear safety glasses to prevent eye injuries from lug nuts thrown off the car and fuel spills.

Beginning in 2008, teams in the top three series may not roll a car more than three pit box lengths to push start a car. This prevents teams from pushing a car the length of pit road when the starter motor fails.[14] Also, outside tires that have been removed from a vehicle during a pit stop can no longer be free-rolled from the outside of the pit box to the pit wall; rather, they must be hand-directed to the inner half of the pit box before being released. [15]

As with changes to car models, NASCAR will institute new rules during a season if it deems it necessary to enhance safety.

Spotter

In contrast with open-wheel, sports car, and touring car governing bodies, NASCAR does not allow race cars to have wing mirrors. Drivers may still use a rear-view mirror and mirrors attached to the rollbar, but no mirror can extend out side of the car. As a result they are left with large blind spots to cope with. In NASCAR’s more prominent series, spotters are used to combat this problem. The spotter’s purpose is to relay information about where cars in these blind spots are to the driver via two-way radio.[16] Spotters also advise drivers on navigating track-obstructing crashes and may relay messages from one driver to another.

Since a fatal ARCA incident in October 2002, NASCAR has implemented mandatory spotters at all time a car is on the track during all series in practice, qualifying, and the race. In many cases, a spotter is a former driver.

At some tracks, mostly the Road Courses NASCAR mandates multiple spotters at key locations around the track.

Race weekends

In a typical weekend, teams will have two practice sessions, and a qualifying session before the race. In a smaller series, the race may be run in a series of qualifying races known as heats before a feature. A larger series will have a practice session before a two lap qualifying session, where the better of the two laps will represent the driver's time. A second practice session after qualifying which is often referred to as happy hour is no longer common as NASCAR is moving toward more impound races, where the cars are impounded after qualifying and no changes can be made to them. If a practice session cannot be held, NASCAR may have a competition caution at a predetermined time. If qualifying cannot be held, owner's points will be used to determine the starting grid.

Qualifying Procedure

General

In general, the starting order for races is determined by the best qualifying time. All cars are brought into the pits, and one at a time they are allowed to enter the track and accelerate to race speed for a two lap qualifying run. Qualification begins as the car crosses the finish line for the first time, and the best single lap time is used as the qualifying time. Qualification on road courses is generally limited to one lap rather than two. The order in which the teams qualify is determined by a random draw.

One position in the race (the last spot) is reserved as the "Champion's Provisional". It is available to any past champion who would not otherwise qualify for the race. If more than 1 champion wishes to use the provisional, priority is given to the most recent champion. If the provisional is not used by a past champion, it is released to the next fastest qualifier.

Should qualifying be cancelled due to inclement weather or other reason, qualifying order is set by current car owner points, except that during the first five races of the season, qualifying order is set by the final car owner points for the previous season.

Qualifying order is also used to determine pit stalls for the race, with the fastest qualifier getting first choice. The sole exceptions are for the NASCAR Shootout, where positions are assigned randomly, and the Sprint All-Star Race, where the results of the annual Pit Crew Challenge determine pit selection order.

In some series, particularly the Sprint Cup, there are additional practice sessions between qualifying and the race. Cars may be damaged in practice, or the team may discover other problems in practice. A car (regardless of damage) can be replaced with a backup car and remain qualified for the race, but the driver will be sent to the back of the field during the parade laps. Crews are allowed to repair a car, possibly avoiding being sent to the back, but some repairs (such as engine changes) will automatically incur the penalty. Official race records use the driver's qualifying position as his "starting position", rather than his actual position at the green flag. A separate statistical line may be included for drivers "sent to the back" and the reasons for those penalties.

Sprint Cup

In Sprint Cup races, the top 35 cars in the standings qualify automatically, regardless of qualifying time. The "top 35" cutoff is based on car owner points, not driver points. Furthermore, for the first five races of the season, the "top 35" is considered to be the final top 35 from the previous season. After 5 races, the "top 35" is the current top 35 at the conclusion of the previous race. The purpose of this rule is to reward teams which run the whole schedule. This is generally believed to improve the ability of teams to retain sponsorship by offering the sponsors assurance that their cars will indeed be in the race.

While the starting order is still based on qualifying times, teams above the top 35 cutoff are guaranteed to be "in the show". The top 35 teams in owner’s points (as opposed to driver's points) are guaranteed to start in the top 42 positions. The 43rd starting position is reserved for the Champion's Provisional. If there is no former champion using this provisional, the eighth fastest car not in the top 35 will start 43rd.[17]

NASCAR has revised its rules on provisionals many times over the years. There was actually no limit on provisionals during 2005-2006, and some drivers were able to take advantage of this rule to ensure qualification of an otherwise uncompetitive team. As of 2008, an eligible driver may use the champion's provisional a maximum of 6 times per season. However, if qualifying is cancelled, the provisional may be used without being charged against the maximum.[5]

The need for sponsorship makes the top 35 cutoff critical for teams outside the top 35, and they are sometimes known as "Go or Go Home" cars. In previous years, the random qualifying draw included all possible cars, but starting in 2008, the cars were separated into two draws, with the top 35 cars going first in the session and all cars outside the top 35 going second, which has become known as "The Boris Said Rule", named for an incident where he was on the provisional pole for the 2007 Pepsi 400 during qualifying until a downpour canceled the remainder of the qualifying session, and because his team was outside the top 35, and the field was set by the rulebook, Said went home. This was done to ensure that track conditions would be as consistent as possible for qualifiers outside the top 35.[14]

Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series

The Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series also use a two-lap, single-car qualifying formula on ovals. Unlike the Sprint Cup Series, only the top 30 teams qualify automatically.[14] For road courses, European-style qualifying is used. This involves putting all the cars attempting to qualify in groups of 5-7 based on practice speeds and giving each group about 5 minutes on the track to produce their best lap time. [18]

Daytona 500

The Daytona 500 has a unique qualifying process. A standard qualifying session is used to determine the front row (two cars). All remaining qualifiers are separated into two qualification races (the Gatorade Duels), whose finishing order is then used to determine the starting grid for the main race. The top 35 rule remains in effect and is applied after the Gatorade Duel races.

Race Procedure

Sprint Cup races are held either Saturday night or Sunday (weather permitting), while Nationwide Series races and Craftsman Truck Series races are usually run Friday night or Saturday. NASCAR avoids holding Sprint Cup races and other series races on the same day. Regional series also usually run Friday night or Saturday. Sprint Cup teams are rarely allowed to practice the day of a race.

Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series also cannot be held at the same time, owing to NASCAR's television restrictions that prohibit both series from running at the same time, and the lower series must air on tape delay rule if that happens.

Start of Race

NASCAR holds a mandatory driver's meeting two hours before each race, or in impound qualifying followed by the race shortly afterwards, before qualifying. Drivers that fail to attend the meeting or in pre-race ceremonies are forced to start last in the race. In addition, any team that switches to a backup car (due to an accident in practice), requires an engine change, requires other unapproved parts changes (in impound races) or makes a driver change (i.e. not being driven by the same driver who qualified it) must also drop to the rear of the field for the start.

Since 2004, drivers must wait until after the national anthem(s) has/have played before entering their cars.

At five minutes after the National Anthem, the command "Gentlemen, start your engines" is given by grand marshal of the race. After at least three warm-up laps behind a pace car, all NASCAR races begin with a rolling start.

In Race

During the race, each driver will periodically have his car serviced during pit stops.

Because of the success of the Winter Heat Series in Tucson Raceway Park in 1994-95, the Craftsman Truck Series, which raced two exhibitions at the track, used a half time break format for all races for three and a half seasons, at all tracks in order to prevent teams from flying special pit crewmen to change tires, and to equalize smaller teams. From 1997 until the end of the format in July 1998, teams would stop for fuel in standard race conditions in addition to the one intermission break for fuel at larger circuits.

End of Race

A "green-white-checker" procedure was adopted by NASCAR in 1995 for the Craftsman Truck Series, this requires the race to end under green flag conditions. After an experiment during the 1994-95 Winter Heat exhibitions, and in mid-July 2004 for all national and regional series, a one-attempt rule in effect for all NASCAR Touring series. Ironically the final Craftsman Truck Series race held under the old rules had four different attempts.

Following the race, winning drivers often celebrate with burnouts and victory laps before arriving at victory lane.

Flags

Main article: Racing flags

Like most other sanctioning bodies, NASCAR will use flags to provide the drivers with information regarding track conditions. NASCAR, not adhering to the FIA rules (despite NASCAR being a member club of ACCUS, the U.S. motor racing sporting authority and representative to the FIA's World Motorsports Council), does not use the flag system outlined in the FIA International Sporting Code. Major differences include that in NASCAR (and other championships in North America) the white flag is used to signal that the leader is on the last lap, in ISC regulated events (such as Formula One and most European championships) it is used to signal that a slower car is on track. Also, the blue flag specified in the FIA ISC does not have a diagonal stripe.

Flag Description
Green Flag
 The green flag indicates that the race has started or restarted.
Yellow Flag
 The yellow flag or caution flag indicates a hazard on the track. All cars must slow down and follow the pace car. Passing is not allowed under the yellow flag. On road courses, a "local yellow" is signaled with a yellow flag with a black border. A spin without a local yellow is signaled with a blue flag.
Red Flag
 The red flag indicates that the race has been halted. This may happen due to a large accident, inclement weather, track repair (such as damaged catch fencing), or for severe track cleaning (such as the final laps, when NASCAR may clean the entire track to ensure the race can finish under green flag conditions, and to do so with the track clean of oil from engine failure or crashes.
Red Flag with a Yellow Cross
 The red flag with a yellow cross is shown to indicate pit road is closed. This will be shown at the entrance of pit road when the yellow flag is displayed. When all the cars have gathered behind the pace car, pit road will open and this flag will be withdrawn. A red and green strobe light system is also used at the entrance and exit of pit road.
White Flag
 The white flag indicates one lap remaining in the race.
Checkered Flag
 The checkered flag indicates that a race or qualifying is over.
Black Flag
 The black flag indicates that a driver is being penalized. This may be due to a rules infraction by the driver or pit crew, or if a vehicle has sufficient mechanical damage that it is a hazard to other drivers. A black flag shown with a red flag indicates a practice session is over.
Black Flag with a White Cross
 The black flag with a white cross indicates a driver is no longer being scored. This is normally shown if a driver does not respond to a black flag within three laps.
Blue Flag with a Yellow Stripe
 The blue flag with a yellow stripe is shown to warn slow drivers of faster cars approaching. NASCAR rarely punishes drivers for not obeying this flag; however, it is frequently displayed and warnings may be given if it is blatant (such as a lapped driver blocking for a teammate). NASCAR uses the yellow diagonal stripe on the blue flag because of the flag is usually displayed on top of the starter's stand, and not at eye-level to the driver from the track.
Blue Flag
 The blue flag is used to indicate a local caution on a road course. It is not used on ovals. If a full course caution is required, NASCAR will use the yellow flag to indicate this.[19] In the wake of a fatal corner worker crash at Daytona International Speedway in 2004 in a non-NASCAR sanctioned (but using track workers) race, NASCAR has become reluctant in recent years to use this flag, opting to full course cautions if any safety team members have to approach the track in an attempt to give safety workers a safer environment to inspect debris by forcing all cars under safety car speed, instead of race speed, to remove debris. The rationale is most of the field will be packed together while cleanup is happening, instead of being at speed.
Yellow and Red Flag
 The yellow and red flag indicates that there is debris on the track. This flag is only used on road courses.

Beneficiary rule

Main article: Lucky dog

In years past, NASCAR would permit drivers to "race back to the caution flag". This would allow drivers to race for position just after a crash has happened, but before they had crossed the start/finish line with the yellow flag waving. Drivers had developed a gentlemen's agreement to hold their position, and let slower cars gain lost laps, in this event rather than race, and in many instances, lead drivers would use this practice to reward lapped cars for not interfering with them during race conditions.

During the September 2003 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway, Casey Mears, in an attempt to race back to the caution to gain a lap, nearly ran into the side of the disabled car of Dale Jarrett, parked at the start-finish line following a restart crash.[20]

This safety incident resulted in NASCAR banning the practice, and instituting a Beneficiary Rule to help the slower cars that would no longer be given laps back, by letting lapped cars race each other to gain a lap back.

One type of NASCAR race penalty which can be awarded is a one-lap penalty and the driver not being eligible to gain the lap back by the beneficiary. The beneficiary can be restored, however, by later racing the leader and passing the leader to gain the lap back. Once that happens, and that driver is lapped again, he would be eligible for the beneficiary rule.

Technical requirements and inspection

NASCAR officials are using a template to inspect Casey Atwood's 2004 Nationwide Series car

NASCAR will inspect every car before a race to ensure that this car does not violate any rule of its series, after the race the top 5 finishers and another random car will be reinspected. These inspection periods involve measuring the angle or size of the spoiler, weighing the car, comparing the body lines to templates, distributing restrictor plates (for restrictor plate races), distributing the wings (for the Car of Tomorrow), and measuring the ride height.

All NASCAR race cars use a roll cage to protect the drivers and serve as the chassis. All vehicles use a front engine-rear drive layout with pushrod engines as overhead camshaft engines are not allowed. All engines are carburated and fuel injection is not allowed. Forced induction is also not allowed, thus making all engines naturally-aspirated.

All cars racing in the top three divisions use radial slick tires supplied by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Goodyear maintains ownership of the tires at all times and leases them to teams during race weekends. Until 2009 Goodyear would issue limited numbers of tires to teams for testing at tracks not governed by NASCAR. Starting in 2009 NASCAR has banned all testing at NASCAR-sanctioned tracks and Goodyear isn't allowed to supply tires for testing. Under the old rules (which NASCAR has said will go back into effect when the economy is better) Sprint Cup Series teams receive 200 tires, Nationwide Series teams receive 160 tires, and Craftsman Truck Series teams receive 120 tires. [14] NASCAR does not allow the use of rain tires on oval tracks as the fast turns and heavy cars place too much stress on the tires. In the late 90's NASCAR did attempt using rain tires in road course competition for all major series, but a lack of rain and road course dates and the development of the heavier car of tomorrow meant that rain tires were not economically viable anymore for the Sprint Cup Series. The Nationwide Series may still use rain tires on a road course if needed. On August 2, 2008 NASCAR used rain tires in official competition for the first time in its existence in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec. The tires proved adequate in competition on a wet track, but heavy rains creating standing water caused the race to end prematurely after 48 of a planned 74 laps.

Impound rule

In 2005, NASCAR implemented a system of impounding cars between qualifying and the race, similar to Formula One's parc fermé. All cars used in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race must be either a Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Dodge Charger, or Chevy Impala. With the introduction of the car of tomorrow the differences between the different models were significantly lessened, but teams can have differences in engines, and setups. NASCAR created work lists that teams may perform immediately after qualifying and a few hours before the race. All work is to be done under the supervision of NASCAR officials. NASCAR will not allow teams to return to their cars once the work is complete. In 2006 and 2007 due to teams needing more practice time with the car of tomorrow the rule was applied to 5 Sprint Cup races after being used in 21 races during 2005.[21] The rule is still applied to all Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series races as well as many smaller series.

Gear Rule

Among the major series, NASCAR will enforce restrictions on the gear ratios teams may use at certain race tracks. NASCAR will provide teams a choice of possible differential gear ratios, while the highest transmission gear must be a 1:1 ratio and no other gear may be higher than 1.28:1. Overdrive gears are not permitted.[22] The purpose of the rule is to lower the maximum RPM of the engines during races thus lowering the cost of building race engines.[23] This is in contrast with other series such the IRL IndyCar Series or V8 Supercar which limit engine speed electronically.

References

  1. ^ NASCAR.com FAQ/Customer service Retrieved 1/29/07
  2. ^ a b c d e McDowellNews.comArticle on early point systems
  3. ^ Fastmachines.com Article linking Bob Latford to the point system
  4. ^ Foxsports.comarticle on number assignment
  5. ^ Jayski.comexplanation of triple-digit numbers
  6. ^ ESPN.comarticle on number retirement
  7. ^ RCR Racing
  8. ^ [1] Article about the Hutchens device
  9. ^ NASCAR.com Report on Rusty Wallace at Talladega
  10. ^ [2]Jayski's Silly Season Site
  11. ^ Various Contributors (1998). Official NASCAR Trivia. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-107304-0.
  12. ^ Howstuffworks.com Explanation of roof flaps.
  13. ^ [3] Article about pit road speed
  14. ^ a b c d ESPN.com"Drivers not in top 35 in owners' points to share track in qualifying" Retrieved 1/29/07
  15. ^ NASCAR.COM - NASCAR changes two pit rules for safety reasons - Jan 10, 2008
  16. ^ Popular MechanicsNASCAR Spotters: The Driver's Eye In The Sky
  17. ^ About.com NNCS qualifying procedure
  18. ^ NASCAR.comNBS road course qualifying procedure
  19. ^ [4] Article on blue flag
  20. ^ NASCAR.com Report on beneficiary rule institution
  21. ^ Jayski.com Detailed explanation of impound rule
  22. ^ NASCAR.com "Crew chief Puccia fined for Martinsville violations" 3/7/08
  23. ^ NASCAR.com "NASCAR will restrict gear ratios in '05 for Cup, Busch, Trucks"
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_rules_and_regulations"
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