Slipstream - April 2002

Photo by Bill Dugan
Photo by Drew Campbell
Which way did they go?
Cars stopped on track will generally be covered by a waving
yellow flag. If the car is fully functional, I should bring the car
back to a reasonable speed off line then resume my lap and report
ASAP to the black flag station in the hot pit. A parked car on the
track is a bad thing and will generally bring a halt to the session
at one of our DE's. If the car is stopped ON THE TRACK it is
usually in a more dangerous situation than if it is moving even
slowly down track.
In this situation the corner workers will first protect
themselves, then communicate with other cars through the flags,
notify control and communicate with you. The communication
with you can take several forms, but basically, if you are moving
or signal you are ok, they are going to assume you are ok. If you
move your car they are going to assume it is ok. If YOU don't
move they will call for help. If your car does not move they will
assume it can't and take appropriate action. On Sunday that
action was to stop the session with a black all. Both cars were on
A “patriotic” 911 showing its colors.
Photo by Wendy Shoffit
track, off line and facing the correct direction. They should
have accelerated down track off line and continued as
appropriate. Sitting on track created a dangerous situation where
none should have existed.
3. What do I do if my car is not operable?
Most of the time you should stay strapped in the car unless
it is on fire until help arrives or the session is over. If you feel you
must leave the car, do not cross a hot track. You can use hand
signals with the corner workers for special request from a stalled
. . . arms raised over your head like
a touchdown . . .
car. There is a "normal" set of arm and hand signals that you can
use but they are actually designed for corner workers to communicate
with each other. For example, arms outstretched to the
Let sleeping drivers lie... Right, Hill Bullock? DEs are tiresome.
sides forming a T with your body says you need a flat tow. From
the T position bend the elbows down forming a W with your
arms and that says you need a wrecker. Slant your T by raising
one arm and lowering the other says I need a roll back flat bed.
The signal to request a point back on to the track if you get the
car restarted is arms raised over your head like a touchdown with
your palms facing forward. The problem with these signals is,
you can't do most of them very well from inside a car. Let the
corner workers and control do their job. Wait until the session is
stopped then signal what you need.
The reason I use terms like generally, usually and most of
the time is in any situation on a race track you must ALWAYS use
good judgement and that prevents us from saying always.
15