New rule for racing back to the caution

[Bucky Badger]

Credit: Autostock
First lapped car to get lap back under new rules
By Lee Montgomery, Turner Sports Interactive
September 20, 2003
11:32 AM EDT (1532 GMT)
DOVER, Del. -- As part of NASCAR's new procedures that prohibit racing back to the yellow flag, the sanctioning body announced Saturday at Dover International Speedway that one car will get a lap back during each caution period.

NASCAR officials held a closed-door meeting with Winston Cup and Busch Series teams Saturday to outline the new procedures. Media was not permitted, but NASCAR issued a statement.

One of the main rule changes was to allow the first car not on the lead lap to regain a lap. Previously, the leader of the race would sometimes slow to allow one or two cars back on the lead lap.


Under the new procedure, the first car not on the lead lap would automatically regain a lap, regardless of where the car was in relation to the leader.

NASCAR announced Thursday that racing back to the caution flag would no longer be permitted. Other parts of the rules change are:


Once the yellow flag is waved, all drivers must immediately reduce speed to a "cautious pace" and get in a single-file line behind the leader.


Drivers who pass while reducing speed will be given the chance to return to their original position immediately. If they do not, "NASCAR will intervene."


Drivers who do not "maintain a reasonable speed" during the yellow will lose their track position.


Any driver involved in the incident that caused the caution will restart in the position they are able to return to the race without advancing their position.

NASCAR also made a small alteration to its pit road rules. All cars will be required to come on to pit road single-file, and any passing must be made to the right. Passing to the left would result in a penalty of restarting at the end of the longest line for a caution penalty or a pass-through on pit road for a green penalty.

 

[97forever]

mmmmmm??VERY interesting,Buck.Not sure what to make of it...

 

[HardScrabble]

The racing back to the yellow rule will work out the way it works out I reckon. Gonna have to watch a while to see how NASCAR is able to sort things out particularly back in the pack.

While one car will benefit from getting a lap back on every caution, which will sometimes mean a car that would not have under the old rule and sometimes several who would have won't. Cars multiple laps down will get no break at all.............

The pit road deal will guarantee one thing.......every driver will want those first few pit stalls on pit road. I see an opening for abuse here. If a driver holds postion in the "right" lane until he slows to duck into his pit stall, every driver behind him will be forced to slow as well. If a driver has to slow 3 or 4 times for this his total time on pit road will increase substantially. Those who get into their pits closer to the entrance will not be likely to affected as much..........betcha within a few races this rule will have to be modified to account for this.