Posted on 07/16/2004 10:45:34 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Yellow-flag finishes are all but finished in NASCAR.
The sanctioning body said Thursday it will go to a green-white-checkered format, hoping all Nextel Cup and Busch series events will end with the cars racing.
The new rule will take effect with the races July 24-25 at New Hampshire International Speedway. The truck series already has the rule in place.
``The green-white-checkered format is an attempt to achieve everyone's goals -- a green-flag finish,'' NASCAR president Mike Helton said. ``This change, hopefully, will provide competitive finishes in the relatively rare occasions it is warranted.
``This format has been successful in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series and, considering the tight competition week in and week out in the other two national series, we feel the time is right to use the same procedure in all three national series.''
The new format will not mean a race can't finish under yellow. If there is another caution after a green-flag restart, the race will end immediately.
The rule in the truck series has allowed multiple green-flag starts at the end of the race to assure a green-flag finish, but NASCAR said that also will change beginning with the race Aug. 21 in Michigan to assure uniformity in all three series.
The new procedure will be used in case of a caution period that would in the past have forced the race to end under yellow, with the cars finishing behind the pace car. Instead, the competitors will restart under a green flag after the track is deemed ready for competition and take the white flag -- signifying one lap to go -- the next time around.
The new rule also will eliminate the need for late-race red flags, which have been used in recent seasons to stop the event, clean the track and finish under green. The red-flag rule was used -- usually with four or five laps left -- to allow more than one lap at racing speed.
Still, four of the last 10 Cup races have ended under caution, meaning the drivers did not get to race to the finish. That didn't make the drivers or the fans happy.
Fans were particularly enraged with the finish under caution in the spring at Talladega Superspeedway.
Under the rule NASCAR adopted last fall, freezing the field when a caution is displayed, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was first scored in the lead when the caution came out on the 184th of the 188 laps. race. But replays showed Jeff Gordon was about three-quarters of a car-length ahead, and he was put in front.
With fans booing and throwing beer cans and food onto the track, Gordon drove slowly to the finish, just ahead of Earnhardt.
Some drivers are not in favor of the change to green-white-checkered finishes.
``All these race fans drinking beer and screaming and hollering have not been in a helicopter upside down with 30 tubes hanging out of you after going end-over-end 30 times like I've been before because of these green-white starts,'' Rusty Wallace said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. ``I think it's ridiculous and it's unsafe.''
If you would like on or off this list, let me know.)
The week-end is quiet with NC racing resuming next weekend at Loudon in NH.
Be Safe and C'Ya soon! ;-)
I can't imagine why anybody likes this "sport". To each his own, I guess.
Believe me, you are not alone.
I and a few fellow long-time fans are not amused of late with all the 'WWF-like' behavior in the sport.
I have mixed feelings on this one. I understand the danger factor but I don't want to spend a couple of hundred dollars to see them drive by at 60 mph behind a pace car.
On a side note, I'll try to get some good pics from the truck race next weekend.
But whatever.
NORM that stupid idea by NASCAR
STUPID STUPID STUPID NICE GOING NASCAR what up with WWF behavior when I watch NASCAR I expect Dale Earnhart Jr not Stone Cold Steve Austin
I hate yellow finishes. It is such a bummer to end the race weekend like that.
However, I can easily see someone lodging a very legitimate complaint after running out of fuel becase the race went an extra 10 laps. It ain't like short-track saturday night racing.
All in all, though, I like the idea.
I'm a Wallace fan but I think Rusty has gotten too old and cranky lately.
He does have a spiffy website tho. ;-)
One good thing about Rusty he's kind of the unofficial union rep for drivers.
I have some pics from the DSL 400 here if you're interested.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/54892/
Then why would you waste your time reading the thread?
Some people do not want to watch tattooed thugs that belong in jail (usually end up there) playing in facilities paid for with tax dollars. With a very few exceptions race tracks, NASCAR and other sanctioning bodies, build the tracks with private funds. A good Conservative way to do business don't you think?
Yep, very rare occasions.
more of nascars "closing the barn door after the cows are out" rule changing tactics...
they were talking about two other changes as well
not counting caution flag laps (my preference)
letting the cars race back to the flag when a caution occurs on the last lap (also reasonable, all things considered)
those could've cured the crap the green white checkered are gonna cause so of course they wouldn't want to use them!
In my opinion, the threat of a yellow flag finish increases the excitement in the earlier laps. It means every lap counts, and getting to the front on lap 190 is preferable to waiting until the last couple of laps to make your move. And I can guarantee there will come the time when a teammate at the back of the pack decides to have an "accident" so his man in third place can get bunched up for the stretch green-white-checker.
And you can't defend it on principle; they don't discount earlier laps run under yellow, so why the last? It's no more important than the first, in the grand scheme of things.
If they make that change, I'd be more inclined to accept this rule as well.
Did you just waltz in to piss on this thread?
Wait until the Top Ten in points elimination race for the championship really heats up..
It may look like a demo derby instead of a car race is my suspicion.
Yep. But I think he's lost his edge on the track. He can't buy a break and that is usually the driver's fault. I'll continue to be a fan but I'm shopping for a younger driver to cheer for.
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