Thundermoose

This incident aside, the most important job we have as drivers is to pay attention to the flaggers . And the hardest thing for me at least when I am trying to squeeze out the last tenth is to keep my vision from narrowing.

I have only been to RA once and I didn't even know there was a flag station there so my takeaway is continue to work to be alert to all manned flag stations.

ProCoach

Veloce Raptor

Pro or amateur, it is incumbent upon all of us to find every corner station of every track we drive. The one in question at RA is plainly visible every time we enter pit lane. Not knowing it even exists is problematic, to say the least.

And it is incumbent upon all of us to heed all flags shown. Period. Full stop. End of discussion.

tcsracing1

you can see why they dont build tracks like this anymore...

Gary R.

Exactly.

Thundermoose

I agree. That is a bit of a wake up call for me at least.

My standard protocol on out laps under standing yellow is to wave at all corner workers. So it is entirely possible that I acknowledged this corner initially but I am fairly certain that on hot laps that my eyes were not directed towards this station but something I plan to correct next time out.

stownsen914

Man, situations like this one scare the sh*t out of me. I haven't driven RA, but for high speed turns with limited visibility and/or that have high risk of bad consequences from lifting (e.g. leading into the esses at Watkins Glen), I very explicitly look for the flag station preceding the turn as soon as I can see it and make sure I get a clear view of it, so I have time to back out of it if needed before it's tool late (and hopefully reduce chances of being rear ended in the process). Peter's reference to the Dale/Barbazza IMSA incident at this turn is right on. That was an ugly-*** crash that badly injured two pro drivers and ended their driving careers, and totaled at least three cars. I'm not sure whether they had the benefit of advance warning. This situation easily could have ended up like that one. At a Club Race!

Sounds and looks like some heads up reactions on the part of a number of drivers to not wreck or collect the stationary yellow car. The drivers can be commended for that. But more acknowledgement of and reaction to flags can only help avoid these kinds of close calls.

RSA964993

951and944S

When I started PCA DE years ago (had already raced a non PCA series), my sign off instructor asked me random questions about flag stands after I had already passed the one in question.

I was in a hard to handle 944T and he would sometimes quiz me when I had my hands the most full, being totally preoccupied with braking, etc.

At the time, I thought it strange that he focused so much on that aspect.

Last year at Road Atlanta, SP1,2, 3 enduro, my son started 4th in class and passed, on track (not pit stop fluke) all other SP2 competitors.
Worked really hard for 1st, studied the leader for lap after lap and ended up making him commit down the hill at issue here and nabbed him for position.
He pulled a good gap once out front and came upon an E 911 that he was setting up to lap.....alongside on the pit straight when yellow flew at T1.
He backed off and filed in behind E car.
An Sp3 968 and the previous leader of SP2 class sailed on by both of them and didn't let off the gas until the third waiving yellow.

My son approached they guy who denied any wrongdoing and ended up taking the win from my son.

I sent him video of the error when we got home as I had to acquire it from the E car via a well known Texas based E 911 car builder.

I guess in his mind (the red mist), he figured that my son had run him down by 1/4 lap distance, remained in his rear deck space for 10 laps, set him up like a rookie and proceeded to pull away at +2.0/sec a lap just to slow and hand him the lead....

T

al@cpt

I struggle with many things on track, one of which is keeping my eyes up. Certainly, easier said than done.

I'm glad the OP posted his video thus starting this discussion as it will serve as a reminder to all.

fleadh

I can't speak for anyone else, but I have an absolute paranoia of missing a yellow flag and hitting a stopped car or a safety vehicle (or marshal when racing in Europe).

For me, I don't have to remember to look for them no matter how hard I'm pushing -- I simply drive 100% my fastest and hardest when I 100% certain there isn't a yellow being shown at the next station. And I purposely drive as hard as I can on all laps (including in and out), so I'm always naturally trying to confirm there isn't a yellow -- instead of assuming I'll notice it out of the corner of my eye. I wouldn't go so far as to say I completely "look" at the station (takes to long), but I focus enough on my peripheral vision that I'm 100% certain there isn't a standing or waving yellow flag (or any other flag for that matter).

Since I started racing in 2011, I don't think I've ever missed a yellow flag either at a club race or professional race. I came super close at COTA during the PWC race when I undercut a Mustang exiting turn 2 entering the esses -- the crew came on the radio literally rite as I turned in for the esses and said "full course caution!" and I thought I had missed it. I spent the entire FCY period being a whiney brat (sorry Chris!) on the radio asking the team to confirm if I should give the position back incase I missed the flag (I had made up so many positions I really didn't want a penalty). The next flag station in the esses had the yellows out. After talking with the officials after the race, it turns out I made the pass rite as it was announced over the pit lane but before the marshal actually had the time to pull out the flag....

Anyway, just thought I'd point out how I approach corner stations/flags in general incase it helps anyone else go faster too. Be safe out there and watch out for your fellow competitors!

-mike

MSR Racer

This is good stuff. The way is should be.

ProCoach

Yep.

Weston Dillard

It is pretty common when you have a high risk situation for the waving yellow flag station to be "backed" by a standing yellow at the previous station.

West

ProCoach