Why has NASCAR failed to use the blue flag with a yellow stripe lately?

Question

I've seen slow lapped cars in the way of faster lead lap cars all the time. Sometimes it seems as if they are holding up traffic on purpose. Why hasn't NASCAR used that flag lately? I haven't seen it waved in a very long time. I've seen situations where they could of used it, but didn't use it.

Answer 1

Nascar still uses this flag regularly during a race, though you may not see it on TV. It is not waved liked the other flags (green, yellow, white, checkered) but rather held out by the flagman with both hands and pointed at the driver. It is used to alert drivers that the leaders are approaching from behind and they should give way. It is a request for courtesy to other drivers and not a requirement.

Answer 2

Mostly because the cars are still competitive cars and are still racing for position but may not be as fast as the leader amd just trapped a lap or two down, and as long as they meet the mandatory minimum Nascar wont pull em. Alot of the slower cars the drivers are racing for the "lucky dog" .Other times if drivers know they are slower they will already be out of the way.

The only place you will probably see it used is on a Road Course where slow traffic can have a large effect on the cars behind it. Ovals and others its much easier for a car that is faster and handling good to get by a slower car.

In addition the Blue Flag with the Stripe is the only flag drivers dont get penalized for not following its more of a suggestive flag to be courteous to guys behind you. So if you messed with a slower car earlier you are screwed

Answer 3

NASCAR uses that flag very sparingly because they want lapped cars to try and compete to stay on the lead lap. Also it one of the Fan Favorites got flagged like that it would create a firestorm of controversy.

At times I wish they would thow that flag especially at Ryan Newman who has cost many a Driver a win be getting in the way on the final laps when he is one or more laps down.

Answer 4

That flag is to let a car that is either being lapped or going too slow to move over and allow the faster cars by. It doesn't get much use in NASCAR; but in the Lemans, American Lemans and other racing leagues where there are multiple classes of cars on the track, it get plenty of use.

Answer 5

They use it, but not on a car thats only a lap or two down. If your several laps down, or a slow car, they will display the flag.

And even if they did it a bunch, it hardly ever gets noticed unless someone is willfully disobeying the flag.

Answer 6

They do still use it, they just don't show it on tv. Besides that, the flagman only waves it once or twice up and down, then re-furles the flag so it doesn't confuse other racers. It's not as if he keeps waving it for the whole field to see.

Answer 7

Just goes to show that Nascar sucks with their flagging.
Not flagging when HMS blows tires shows that for one.
Then when wrecks happen between lead lap cars and those a lap or more down moving slower.

Answer 8

sorry i could be wrong, but i believe that someone told me that this flag was to let a car know that they just posted the fastest lap of the race at that point. could be why we only see it once during most races. seems that if it were to signal slower cars, we would see it all during the race.

Answer 9

The rules are so arbitrary that they may just be waiting for a title sponsor for the flag.

Answer 10

Did you bring up this question because of what happen last weekend with Ryan Newman?