The Porsche Club of America: Maverick Region
What The Flags Mean
Flags and their meanings will be covered at the driver's meeting each day. But if you want to study in advance, here are the typical flags you are likely to see, and what they mean:
Green Flag: Track is open. Under green flag,
passing is allowed in designated passing zones only, and with
acknowledgement from the driver being passed. Green flag is
shown only at start finish and is often omitted during DE
events, and the track is considered Green unless the yellow
or other flag is shown.
Yellow Flag: Used as a warning flag for danger
or an obstruction ahead. Stationary: Danger ahead, No Passing
(even in passing zones). Be in full control and prepared to
drive alternate lines and, proceed with caution. This flag
is given at one or more location for a localized obstruction
either as a standing yellow for minor hazards or typically
as a waving yellow flag for serious hazard potential. You
may see a standing yellow providing advanced warning at a
station before a station displaying a Waving Yellow Flag.
Your car should be fully and completely under control in a
yellow flag zone.
When two yellow flags are displayed at any station (typically
as a two stationary yellow flags), then this indicates a full
course Yellow. When the "double yellow" flags are in effect,
you should slow down, and proceed with caution. No passing
is allowed anywhere on the track (even in passing zones) under
Double yellow flag condition. In Race settings this condition
will usually indicate a pace car is entering the track for
a grouped restart. In DE settings you should consider that
there might be course workers and emergency equipment elsewhere
on the track. Your car should be fully and completely under
control in a yellow flag zone.
White Flag: Emergency, service, or slow moving
vehicle is on the course. Under a white flag, passing is prudent
only when full visibility of the track section in which the
pass will occur is possible.
When a stationary yellow and black flags are displayed at
any station, then this indicates a full course Yellow and
a "Black All". When the two "yellow/black" flags are in effect,
you should slow down, and proceed with caution to the track
exit and enter the hot pits. No passing is allowed anywhere
on the track (even in passing zones) under yellow/black flag
conditions. You should consider that there might be course
workers and emergency equipment elsewhere on the track.
Checkered Flag: Session is over. When the
checkered flag is out, you can complete one cool down lap,
and proceed into the pits. The cool down lap should be driven
at lower speed, and no passing is allowed, even in passing
zone under checkered flag conditions. As you pass each corner
stations, acknowledge their efforts and let them know you
have seen the flag with a brief wave.
Black Flag: A black flag can be pointed at
a particular car by the corner worker, or can be a general
or standing black flag at all stations for all cars on the
track. When the black flag is displayed to a specific vehicle,
that vehicle must enter the hot pit area and see the grid
master for instructions. The Chief Instructor will explain
the reason for the black flag. A standing black flag at all
stations (Black-All) indicates all cars should exit the track
to the hot pits. Often shown with a stationary yellow as described
above. Typically the first car to receive the checker will
also receive a standing "Black-All" which will precede that
first car around the course.
Red Flag: A red flag indicates danger on
the track. All cars must stop as soon as safely possible.
When stopping on red flag condition, you should pull off line
but remain stopped on the pavement and secured in your car
until given instructions by a corner worker. Do not go off
the pavement as you could bring dirt or mud onto the track
when it is time to proceed. Also, hot catalytic converters
sometimes cause fires if they come into prolonged contact
with dry brush or grass. If you have not stopped on a level
place, please turn your motor off and place your car in gear.
Holding your car stopped with the handbrake or footbrake on
a slope will likely warp your brake rotors.
Blue with Yellow Stripe: The blue flag with
the diagonal stripe is used to signal a driver that his vehicle
is impeding faster traffic. The car at which this flag is
waved is being notified to allow faster traffic to pass at
the next passing zone. For this reason, some call this the
"move over" flag. Others call it the "Check your mirrors"
flag.
Black-Orange Disk (Meatball) Mechanical Flag:
A mechanical or "meatball" flag is waved and pointed at a
particular car by the corner worker to indicate a mechanical
issue exists with the car. That vehicle must reduce speed
and enter the hot pit area and see the Black Flag Steward
for instructions and assistance.
Surface Flag: Used as a warning flag for
something on the track surface. This could be debris, dirt,
gravel, a part fallen off another car, rain water, coolant,
oil, or any number of things that are not normally on the
track. This flag will be displayed for one or two laps and
then be withdrawn so it can be reused if a new condition develops.