CL944135I

Keep in mind, that I have not been to Road Atlanta personally, but it seems real weird that there is no flag stand near the bottom of the hill on the inside, where you are likely looking through that corner. In the video the apex and track out look pretty blind with the walls and yellow barrels (why yellow? only colour that could be worse is red) on the inside. I say this, since it is 8 seconds from when you can see the yellow at the top of the hill until the crashed car comes into frame. That is a huge distance for a blind corner exit. Is it easier to see the start/finish stand in real life than in the video?

GT3DE

excitement starts at 13:00

tcsracing1

nice recovery!

certz

This part here is exactly why many of us think there should have been a double yellow. It is the perfect scenario to take the judgement out of the racers hands for their safety. There were several near misses before the car that hit the yellow car, including one driver that drove on the grass between the yellow car and the wall. As I said, when I went by there was a stationary yellow and a debris flag - that does not indicate a car in the middle of the track. I did back down some, especially as I was being told to stay right on the radio, but I was still surprised to see a car in the track based on the flags.

Also, if you are one of the ones that think the track did a fine job of signaling on this incident, answer this question - next time will they do the exact same or immediately go to double yellow or black all? I can already answer this question as I was there for the enduros on Sunday and the they made much different calls on the incidents in those races.

Seth Thomas

jscott82

I don't believe PCA uses waving double yellow (like formula 1) There is only : yellow (caution), waving yellow(extreme caution), double yellow (full course caution).

Waving yellow is the most extreme local caution. Red or black do not denote caution, they are instructional.

Or did I miss something.. here..

sbelles

Nope. With a waving yellow and a debris flag, I would be thinking that there are at least parts on the track. Anything on the track in 12 is not a good thing. I would have been coasting down the hill until I could see through the corner.

Veloce Raptor

I have no idea nor any opinion of whether the track or anyone else did a good job of flag selection due to the incident. My only point is that we all have the responsibility to drive the flags that are shown, regardless of whether we feel they are justified or not.

That did not happen in this case.

dgmark

After Sebs and a half a dozen other cars close calls I wold think that the tower should have called a full course yellow or even a red flag immediately . The car was disabled and was not able to move from the track surface. I was radioed that there was an issue and until I was at the bottom of the hill I could not see the disabled car. To make it clear the car was hit by another racer after Sebs near miss.There was a lag between the time the full course yellow and the hit by Doug. As John stated, in the later race when there was a serious wreck in the same spot, the race was immediately red flagged.

chrisc

It's time for RA to add a light system at least at the bridge before cresting the hill. When I'm in traffic & getting passed at the bridge on the inside I don't always have the time or peripheral vision to see the station on the left. The Pro's may not have a problem seeing the station at the top of the hill but the amateurs do. If this was a one time incident that would one thing but it isn't. Happened twice in fairly recent HPDE's in the "fast" run group.

Veloce Raptor

Some of the attitudes shown in this thread sort of boggle the mind...

certz

Dave, I can understand this statement, but I think you needed to be on the track to fully appreciate the frustration from our point of view - which is what I think you are reading here, frustration, not that we are all out there ignoring yellow flags. Three screenshots below are the first indication there was an issue - yes that flag is waving, but I do not recall it waving (in my minds eye it was stationary) as that station is viewed out of the corner of my eye because of the attention the track demands at this point. The second pic is the first time I see the car on the track - anyone that has been to this track knows at this point if you are at speed you are committed (I am not saying you should be at speed due to the yellow flag, but this is far into a blind corner). Lastly, the position of the car on the track - to many of this, this is what warranted a full course yellow, not a local yellow, to bring everyone to pace car speeds.

One other point to debate - a local yellow, whether it is waving or stationary, indicates caution ahead, but it also indicates racing will resume in the immediate future - whether that is after you pass the incident or at the next green/clear flag station. With a car in this position I do not think that should have been the case.

K964

Veloce Raptor

John, your attitude is fine. Not one of the ones I was opining upon...

MSR Racer

I am 100 % with Dave here!
As I indicated in the previous post, we (racers) all should be mortified if we either miss a flag or fail to heed it. There is no excuse! Race control also failed in this instance, there is no question. However, that is not a good enough reason to deflect from the racers' responsibility. In this case, the lead cars did not slow one bit in spite of the waving yellow! On turn 11-12, you don't need to slow down that much to be in control...just a longer lift to unload the car, and you can swerve and stop or whatever. And to be blasé about it (missing the yellow or not heeding), is doing a disservice to all of us.

I think we all can make representations to the PCA CR leadership about doing a better job on their side separately, but we should use this forum (and this thread) to learn from this incident. That way, we will all be safer.

The other thing is that the racer in the yellow car was in first full year of club racing, and I know personally that he is done with PCA club racing! His wife saw everything from the stands and she cant believe what she saw...the near misses and all.

I think the racers here, who have been around a while, have a responsibility to make it safer for the new comers and set an example, if not maintain a good etiquette. I would like to think that is part of the spirit of club racing!