Gallery

About those flags / F1

EQUIPMENT

Intercom landline system and a two-channel FM radio system backup:

• The “Landline” will be the primary communication system for competition sessions on-track - UNLIKE MOST INTERCOMS, only one user can speak at a time. Accordingly, STANDARD RADIO USE PROTOCOL WILL NEED TO BE FOLLOWED

• 1.“Backup Radio” channel will be used for longer communications and ‘housekeeping’. Utilized by station Captains, TSP operators, and Blue Flaggers

• 2. “Intervention Radio” will be used to communicate with Intervention Marshals.

• Both radio channels constantly monitored.

Please pass along messages and info from the Clerk of the Course, the F&C Chiefs, and Race Control to your entire crew.

CHECK IN

• At the beginning of each day, on all networks, Race Control conducts a call around, station-by station, in order, at a pre-determined time.

• Call Sector Chiefs on the backup radio for an immediate problem that a Sector Chief can handle.

• Call around order starts with Post Alpha and concludes with Finish. On the backup channel, there

will be a second separate call around for TSP operators.

INCIDENT CALLS – THE “CONVERSATION WITH RACE CONTROL” FORMAT

FLAG CONDITIONS:

o Please call all flag condition changes in “real-time” (as they happen).

o Remember, FIA flags are all waved, please use “3 is YELLOW” / “3 is DOUBLE YELLOW”

PART ONE: Corner reports incident or activity via sound bites...

First bite:

• LOCATION AND FLAG CONDITION - prompts proper flags from adjacent stations.

• Include any “CONTACT” (car to car), “IMPACT” (car to object), or “FIRE” with first call.

• Reserve “HARD CONTACT” or “HARD IMPACT” for when you are certain a car will not continue.

• Otherwise, after the initial call... pause for Race Control to acknowledge.

Second bite:

• CAR NUMBER(s)

• LOCATION(s),

• TRACK BLOCKAGE (if any)

• ENGINE(s) – it is or it ain’t running

• Do not delay your call if you do not have a car number

• Where the car has stopped is much more important than how it got there, at the outset.

If the car(s) continues, please use the word “CLEAR” to report car has left and flags are down. If the car remains...

PART TWO: Race Control “narrates” the decision process...

• Race Director will then decide whether to stop the session, intervene under local flags/Virtual Safety Car, or wait for further developments

• Race Control will verbally walk thru this process and get the involved corners ready to respond

• There will be a brief interval as intervenors and equipment are moved into position

• Race Control will announce when all intervenors/equipment are dispatched

PART THREE: Corner “narrates” the intervention procedure...

• Corner gives brief updates on the status of the intervention, changes, or developments

• Corner reports “CLEAR” when all equipment and personnel are safe behind barriers and flags are

down

OTHER CALLS AND SITUATIONS

OVERTAKING UNDER YELLOW –

• Report ALL passes on yellow, even if they might be corrections.

• Most overtaking under yellow occurs during first moments of a local yellow or Safety Car period.

• Please try to report passes as soon as possible, even if info is incomplete, as it creates a “time

stamp” to research the data

DEBRIS –

• Report location/size/nature of the debris or fluid, (right, left, or in the racing line)

• Your best estimation of what it might be; If it is soft, hard, flat has thickness

• If the cars are running over it or avoiding it

• Doing this avoids a game of “20 Questions” with Race Control (Which you won’t win.)

OFF AND ONS –

• Cars that go off course and continue in race direction under relative control do not need to be

called in if there is no flag change, unless you believe damage may have been done to the car.

• Race Control will advise any parameters regarding Track Limit violation calls as they are decided.

SHORT CUTS –

• Four wheels to the inside of the curbing at any time at the apex of a corner should be called in

ASAP as a “SHORT CUT.” The car’s lap may be invalidated as a result during practice or quals.

• Let Race Control know immediately if a Short Cut during a race results in a pass or time gain

COURSE CONDITION –

• Please relay course condition changes resulting from incidents (Armco/barrier damage, residual

debris or fluids.)

NUMBERS –

• For F1, even with larger numbers on the cars, preference is to report the team name and camera

pod color (e.g.: “Mercedes Black” or “Ferrari Gold”)

• It is acceptable to give the number for F1 if you must. For other series, the numbers are preferred.

• Do not delay your call for lack of an accurate number, find another descriptor

EMERGENCY VEHICLE PROCEDURES (In Case of a large scale cleanup)

• Emergency Vehicles will be dispatched over an Emergency Services radio. The session will already be neutralized via Safety Car, VSC, Full Course Yellow or Red Flag

• PLEASE DO NOT CALL EV MOVEMENTS, CORNER BY CORNER TO RACE CONTROL. ONLY THE FOLLOWING IS REQUIRED CALLING EVs -

1. When EV leaves its station

2. When EV arrives at an incident

3. When EV leaves the scene of an incident

4. When EV returns to its station and is “CLEAR”

• As always, please inform Race Control if you suspect they are UNAWARE of Emergency Vehicles that have not cleared the track as a session is about to start/restart! IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!

BLACK FLAG PROCEDURES

• Displayed to the drivers at the request of the Race Director at the Finish Line and 11B

• Control will call FINISH and 11B with or the team designation / pod color for F1, or the car

number/color for other series –

o (e.g.: "Control to FINISH and 11 Bravo, black flag Alpha Tauri Gold or Car 3 red.")

• Call through stations for 10 are and 11

• Call through for FINISH will be 19 and 19A

• When requested, 11B will display the car number on the number board as soon as the call is

made. DON’T WAIT FOR THE CAR TO APPROACH.

• Please GIVE PRIORITY to communications regarding the black flag procedure EXCEPT TO CALL

AN INCIDENT or to report a status change for the car being black flagged.

When a car is shown any black flag, station 19A will indicate whether the car pitted. 19A shall also call any cars that pit during a session that were being observed for mechanical issues.

RED FLAG PROCEDURES

• Sessions are interrupted at the request of the Race Director with red flags at all flag stations EXCEPT THE LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT which will remain waving yellow or will flag the incident as required.

• Station 19A will call the last car in the pits. All red flags may be withdrawn when the course is empty of running cars.

SAFETY CAR PERIOD ENDING PROCEDURE (Practiced and reviewed daily)

Should a Safety Car period be required during a race, the Race Director places a high degree of importance on the end of the Safety Car period regarding the timing of the withdrawal of the Safety Car boards and single Yellow flags. This procedure will be practiced each morning after the Inspection Laps.

1. The Safety Car and the Medical Car will circulate during this period. The Medical Car simulates the lead car in the race.

2. The Safety Car Boards and Yellow flags will be requested at all stations by Race Control, simulating a Safety Car period. Ensure the both boards and flags are clearly visible and neither obstructs the other.

3. The Safety Car turns its lights out around T12.

4. Safety Car Boards will be called to be withdrawn when the Medical Car passes T-15

5. The single Yellow flags will be called to be withdrawn when the Medical Car passes T-19

6. The Safety Car then enters the pit lane and the Medical Car continues on course, simulating the lead car

7. A Single Green flag is displayed at the FINISH LINE ONLY to the Medical Car. During the race the flag will be displayed at the Finish line until all cars have passed.

Naturally, this operation takes more than one person and some spatial coordination between them is required! All stations are encouraged to prepare and rehearse this maneuver PRIOR TO the formal practices each morning.

This procedure will be used for the 3 FIA series ONLY (F1, F1 Academy and Masters Historic,) Masters Historic Safety Car lights will turn off around T-17.

FLAG/COMM PROCEDURES FOR PORSCHE CARRERA CUP NORTH AMERICA:

The Porsche DeLuxe Carrera Cup North America series will be operating under standard IMSA flagging procedures:

• Please use the terms “Standing Yellow” or “Yellow” for a car stopped off course, and “Waving Yellow” for a car stopped on course or whenever marshals or safety personnel are exposed

• TSPs will not be used

• Intervention by marshals alone will be at a minimum. Safety equipment will be dispatched (in most

cases) to recover vehicles

• Please use numbers to identify cars

• FULL COURSE YELLOW periods will be flagged with a double standing yellow except at the

incident

• When the Safety Car lights are extinguished before a restart, all flags will be withdrawn. Only a

single green at the finish line will be displayed on the restart

 

AND FINALLY...

Race Control, the Clerk of the Course and the Race Directors understand that these procedures are not the norm for a typical North American marshal. Never hesitate to ask questions or to seek further explanation for anything that is unclear. Now that there are three F1 Races in the US, many of us will have the opportunity to use these procedures more than once yearly.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, ENTHUSIASM, AND YOUR LOVE OF MOTOR RACING!

Please note that the communications guidelines adapted from USGPs are not strictly identical to Canadian practices.  We would prefer that you learn and use the car (driver) numbers, but if you only recognize the team livery and camera mount color, that's enough for us to get the job done.