 |
NASCAR Heat Racing League Rules |
Welcome to the league rules page. The rules govern the NASCAR Heat Racing League and ensure fair and fun competition. League members, substitute drivers, and other participants are required to read and understand the guidelines on this page. When a competitor violates the rules, the league administrators may assess penalties, along with other measures, when necessary. If you're ever confused about something in the rules, then always feel free to contact the administrators or post a question in the forum.
III. Behavior and Conduct |
The NASCAR Heat Racing League seeks to promote a positive environment, good sportsmanship, and close competition. We will not hesitate to remove a disruptive or disrespectful person from the league. As a result, everyone should think twice before acting out their frustrations or insulting any other competitors. Ultimately, the league administrators are just looking to assemble a quality group of NASCAR Heat racers. If this objective sounds unnreasonable, then one should not participate in our league.
A. Follow-Up Reviews
I-A 1. The league administrators always strive to apply the rules fairly and consistently. Leniency is our preferred policy. However, if you believe that we've made a mistake, then you can request a follow-up review for a penalty. To do so, please send us a private message on the forum within one week (or close to a week) after the appropriate race results have been posted on the website.
I-A 2. In your request for a follow-up review, you should be prepared to provide the following information: 1) an explanation about what happened, 2) a counter-argument derived specifically from the rules, and 3) the race replay file (if we request it). If these requirements are satisfied, then the administrators will consider your reasoning and come to a prompt secondary decision.
B. Installation Requirements
I-B 1. Each competitor must install the appropriate mods, courses, and updates for NASCAR Heat. For convenience, you can install the entire NASCAR Heat core directory, which includes all original game courses and updates, using NASCAR Heat Essentials. The league administrators may prohibit drivers with game errors or installation problems from competing in any given event.
I-B 2. From time to time, the league hosts events on addon tracks which are not included in the original installation of NASCAR Heat. A competitor should review the appropriate series schedule page to determine which courses must be downloaded for the season. If you're searching for an addon track, then we would highly recommend checking out the The Mod Squad's Tracklist.
C. Custom Paint Schemes
I-C 1. Members of the NASCAR Heat Racing League are allowed to use custom paint schemes during events. Each league member can upload up to three vehicles per series. You can swap or update your custom paint schemes, but you cannot exceed three at any given moment in time. Substitute drivers, similarly, are also permitted to use them, provided they belong to the regular driver.
I-C 2. After developing a custom paint scheme, a league member is required to upload the corresponding tex file to the website before using the vehicle during an event. Any racer who ignores this rule will automatically forfeit 5 points in the championship standings. Please contact the administrators if you need us to create new account for you in order to access our driver login system.
D. Miscallaneous Rules
I-D 1. Prior to a race, the league administrators may announce special guidelines or procedures, when necessary. At a road course, for example, the administrators might decide to implement a pace lap to avoid problems with the starting grid. Racers who violate these ad-hoc rules will be subject to league discipline. We recommend regularly visiting the forum and paying attention in the server.
I-D 2. The NASCAR Heat Racing League does not restart events for accidents. Racers who crash and then demand a restart can expect penalties. However, drivers may request restarts for obvious problems with the starting grid: alignment, pace speed, and damage issues are always legitimate restart requests. Please inform us about issues immediately; do not wait until the race is underway.
A. League Server
II-A 1. You can find the IP address for the league server in the Server Information section of the forum. Occasionally, such as when the server has an unexpected problem, the administrators may post alternative IP addresses on the forum for races and practices.
II-A 3. Before entering the league server, every competitor should select "ISDN" on the NASCAR Heat multiplayer screen. The server performs best when each racer has selected this connection option. Please make it a habit, although we'll occasionally remind you.
II-A 4. The NASCAR Heat Racing League also has a Ventrilo server. All competitors are required to log into it for races. Microphones are recommended but not required. You can find the details for the Ventrilo server in the Server Information section of the forum.
B. Race Requirements
II-B 1. A minimum of 3 drivers must be scored in the race results or appear on the starting grid of a race for the NASCAR Heat Racing League to consider it as an official event in the championship standings. Substitute drivers do not count towards this minimum driver requirement. If the minimum number of drivers is not satisfied, then we will either reschedule or cancel the event.
II-B 2. If the server crashes prior to the midpoint of a race, then the league will not consider the event to be official and will either reschedule or cancel it. However, if the race is more than 50% complete, then the league will count the event, with finishing positions determined through a "freeze frame" when the leader crosses the finish line on the final complete lap before the crash.
II-B 3. If more than half of the field disconnects from the server during a race, then the league will not consider it to be official and will either reschedule or cancel it. The rule just applies to disconnects; over half of the field can fail to finish an event due to more common problems like crashes, withdrawals, engine failures, running out of fuel, and steering wheel and pedal malfunctions.
C. Server Connection
II-C 1. The league usually hosts practices prior to every race. During this time, drivers can tweak their setups, assess their internet connections, and ask the administrators questions about the rules. If racers experience any trouble in their preparations, then the administrators may prohibit them from competing in the event. The league will score such drivers at back of the field in the race results.
For testing download and upload bandwidth speeds, we recommend visiting: Speed of Me.
You may need to restart your system if it is not functioning properly.
II-C 2. The NASCAR Heat Racing League is not responsible for dropped connections. A competitor who is disconnected from the server during a race should not return and argue with the administrators. Strange things often happen; sometimes drivers are disconnected without apparent reason. More often than not, however, the individual's internet connection, and not the league server, is the culprit.
A. Sportsmanship
III-A 1. You should not direct foul language or disparaging remarks at other competitors in the NASCAR Heat Racing League. We expect league members, substitute drivers, and other participants to demonstrate respect towards one another in the server, on the forum, and elsewhere. For additional guidance, please review our supplemental guidelines about expected behavior and conduct.
III-A 2. The league administrators should be notified about conflicts that develop between competitors. We do not accept excuses for revenge and payback incidents that find their way to the race track. Everyone should evaluate whether intentional contact is worth the typically serious consequences. Penalties can involve point deductions, suspensions, and even season-long bans.
III-A 3. The NASCAR Heat Racing League does not suggest using the "heat of the moment" excuse for prohibited conduct or intentional contact directed at other competitors. The league administrators will not consider this reasoning when determining penalties for these infractions. A league event should never descend into a firestorm of chaos and disrespect, such as during BBFF episodes.
III-A 4. Competitors should always minimize unnecessary disturbances during league events. Please do not engage in arguments or write commentaries using the NASCAR Heat chat interface. You should always discuss your problems in a private setting with the league administrators. Drivers who cause pointless disruptions before, during, or after races will face league discipline.
B. Cheating
III-B 1. The NASCAR Heat Racing League does not tolerate cheating. What is our definition of cheating? We consider cheating to be editing NASCAR Heat in order to gain a competitive advantage. However, certain files in the game may be modified for fun, such as menu screens, spotter sounds, and tire colors. These modifications are acceptable because they do not alter the core physics of the game.
III-B 2. The league administrators possess accurate and reliable tools to detect cheating. Drivers with modified car and track files, for example, are identified with a streaming cheating message in the league server: "player X may be cheating." If the cheating message appears, then the administrators may prohibit the driver in question from participating in the applicable league race.
III-B 3. Sometimes, cheating messages can appear in NASCAR Heat due to unexpected installation problems. If you're concerned about your NASCAR Heat installation, then you should come to the server ahead of time and test whether this message appears.
III-B 4. The NASCAR Heat Racing League will remove or suspend drivers who are caught cheating. Be warned! The league administrators will permit secondary reviews for cheating bans, but do not expect the outcome to change if the facts remain obvious.
C. Racing Tactics
III-C 1. Everyone should recognize that other competitors are frequently traveling at different speeds. A driver must use caution and patience when encountering traffic on the race track. The race leader, for example, should be willing to cruise behind a lapped car before forcing a dangerous passing maneuver, enabling the slower driver to see the faster car and make the appropriate adjustments. The league administrators may assess penalties when drivers are overly aggressive or initiate unnecessary contact.
III-C 2. Lapped drivers can compete with and pass the leaders. However, a slower car may not block a faster car lap after lap without moving aside eventually. Both frontrunners and backmarkers should recognize their surroundings, demonstrating "heads up" driving. An aggressive, impatient driver who slams cars out of the way without allowing them to move can expect dangerous driving penalties. At the same time, a backmarker who causes pointless accidents while blocking faster cars can also expect league discipline.
III-C 3. Excessive contact or blocking is prohibited. Drivers may still "trade paint" while competing in close battles, but the contact should never become retaliatory. Drivers may protect a position, but may not block faster cars attempting to make reasonable passes. As a general rule, once vehicles are side-by-side (fenders overlapping relative to the track), the leading driver no longer has an opportunity to protect a position. Protecting a position and instigating a dangerous block are two quite different things.
III-C 4. On road courses, drivers must keep at least two full tires on the paved racing surface. The white curbs or the checkered "rumble strips" on certain tracks are also part of the legal racing surface. Please use caution when driving on road courses. In the heat of competition, it can be easy to forget that you're also placing three or four tires off of the track. A driver who consistently violates the minimum two-tire rule to gain an advantage may face significant penalties and even a modified finishing position.
III-C 5. Drivers may not make passes by leaving the racing groove and diving onto the apron. However, a competitor who completes a pass on the apron and then recognizes the mistake may then yield the position without facing penalties after the race.
D. Forgiving Penalties
III-D 1. The league has a forgiveness system enabling drivers to forgive other competitors for committing a penalty. As is obvious, one must be involved in an incident with another driver to issue a forgiveness to that driver. For example, you cannot forgive someone for a random pit road penalty. You may, however, forgive a driver for causing an accident in which you were involved.
III-D 2. In order to issue a forgiveness, a driver should submit a private message to the league administrators. You can contact the administrators either before or after the final race results have been posted on the website. If you issue one beforehand, please describe the incident and identify the lap of the race. If done afterwards, please identify the penalty and the lap of the race.
III-D 3. The league administrators retain final approval over each forgiveness. We're unlikely to accept a forgiveness for an intentional crash or any other significant infraction. If we accept a forgiveness for a particular incident, then we'll reduce the related points deduction for the driver to 0. Also, if your request is confusing or unclear, then we may not accept it as a valid forgiveness.
Here are a couple examples of an acceptable forgiveness message:
I would like to forgive Bob for the "dangeroud driving" infraction he received on lap 58 of the Cup race at Texas.
On lap 71 in NBS, Bob and I crashed in turn 3. If Bob is to blame for this incident, I would like to forgive him for it.
III-D 4. A forgiveness must be made within one week after the final race results have been posted on the website. In a multi-car crash, all drivers involved in the incident must forgive the perpetrator for the league administrators to accept a forgiveness.
A. Season Standings
IV-A 1. The NASCAR Heat Racing League determines the championship standings for each series based on driver points scored during a season. After the final event of the season, the competitor with the most points earns the series championship.
IV-A 2. If two or more drivers are tied in the championship standings, e.g. in points, then the following tie-breaking criteria will determine their respective positions. The league administrators will proceed down this list until all ties are resolved:
a. fewest number of scored races
b. greatest total of race victories
c. greatest total of top-5 finishes
d. greatest total of top-10 finishes
e. best average finishing position
f. winner-takes-all arm-wrestling
IV-A 3. In our standard championship format, the worst finishes of each driver are dropped in progressive segments of 4 races during a season. After a driver is scored in 4 races, the lowest point total from an event is dropped and not counted in the championship standings. After 8 races, the lowest 2 point totals are then dropped from the standings. After 12 races, the lowest 3 point totals are dropped. The system enables drivers to miss the occasional race and yet remain competitive in the championship standings.
IV-A 4. Your lowest point totals will tend to shift throughout a season. A middling 15th-place finish in the opening race, for example, may not remain among your lowest point totals at the end of the season. Furthermore, all "Did Not Start" and "Did Not Race" finishes are also eligible to be dropped. Therefore, you should remember to notify the league administrators when you expect to miss a race. A driver who misses a race without notification is not scored, forfeiting a potential point total that could have been dropped.
IV-A 5. Occasionally, the NASCAR Heat Racing League may use alternative standings systems in series that contain shorter schedules. The default, "method of choice" in such series will be the good, old-fashioned cumulative points race for the championship. The league administators will explain in greater detail when a special approach will be implemented for a particular series.
B. Bonus Points
Drivers can earn 5 bonus points for leading a lap, leading 10% of the laps, starting in the pole position while failing to lead a lap, and capturing either the Hard Charger or Die Hard awards in a race. Drivers are recognized but do not earn bonus points for starting in the pole position while leading a lap or capturing the Move of the Race or Headache awards. Substitute drivers can earn 5 bonus points for leading a lap and leading the most laps but are not eligible to capture the Hard Charger or Die Hard awards.
Pole Position: The fastest driver in time trials captures the pole position. If the driver does not lead a lap during the race, then the driver receives 5 bonus points for capturing the pole. If the driver leads a lap during the race, then the driver does not receive bonus points for capturing the pole. Substitute drivers cannot participate in time trials and thus are ineligible for the pole position.
Lead One Lap: All drivers who lead at least one lap during a race will receive 5 bonus points. A driver can also earn 5 additional bonus points for leading 10% of the laps during the race (for more, see the explanation in the following paragraph).
Lead 10% of the Laps: A driver who leads at least 10% of the laps during a race will receive 5 bonus points. If no driver meets this criteria then the one who leads the most laps will receive 5 bonus points. A driver achieving this feat will always collect at least 10 combined bonus points since the driver has, by default, also satisfied the requirement for leading at least one lap in the race.
Move of the Race: The driver who executes the best maneuver during a race captures the Move of the Race. A driver does not earn bonus points for capturing the Move of the Race but the distinction ranks among the most prestigious race prizes.
Hard Charger Award: The driver who gains the most positions during a race captures the Hard Charger Award. A driver who struggles in time trials but battles to a strong finish tends to be the recipient of this award. For the purpose of the Hard Charger Award, two or more drivers who skip qualifying and take a provisional are automatically considered to be starting from the same position on the grid. In addition, a driver cannot "triple up" by leading a lap, leading the most laps, and finally, also winning this award. In such cases the award goes to the next eligible driver. Penalized and substitute drivers are also ineligible for the Hard Charger Award.
Die Hard Award: If a driver struggles during a race, then there may be some consolation by capturing the Die Hard Award. The worst-finishing driver who stays running during the entire race and either a) gains at least one position from the starting grid or b) maintains position or loses the fewest positions (if no drivers in the race have gained at least one) earns the Die Hard Award. Similar to the Hard Charger Award, drivers who lead the most laps and face a "triple bonus" scenario cannot win this award. In such cases, the Die Hard award goes to the next eligible driver. Penalized and substitute drivers are also ineligible for the Die Hard Award.
Headache Award: Although it's not Pearl Harbor all over again, it's almost always a day of infamy whenever a driver captures the Headache Award. The driver who loses the most positions from the starting grid earns this dubious distinction.
C. Substitute Drivers
IV-D 1. League members may find a substitute driver to take their place when they would otherwise miss an event. If your substitute driver is not already a league member, then you should make sure that they read and understand the rules page. When necessary, the league administrators may prevent an inexperienced or unprepared substitute driver from competing in a race.
IV-D 2. Substitute drivers may not participate in qualifying. Instead, a substitute driver must skip time trials and start at the rear of the field. A substitute driver who ignores this guideline automatically accrues a 10-point penalty for the regular driver.
IV-D 3. Substitute drivers must use the same number as the regular driver. A substitute driver who comes to a race using a different number automatically accrues a 10-point penalty for the regular driver. Also, as BBFF has shown, find a sober sub.
IV-D 4. During a standard 12-race season, league members can use up to 3 substitute drivers per series. The league administrators will explain special rules for series with shorter schedules. We may also grant exceptions in any unique circumstances.
IV-D 5. Where can one find a decent substitute driver? An excellent place is right here in the NASCAR Heat Racing League! Drivers in other series are always the most trustworthy option. We've even provided a section in the forum about searching for substitute drivers. We're confident everyone can find an adequate substitute driver given the typical number of members in the league.
A. General Pitting Rules
V-A 1. Every driver should understand the appropriate procedures for entering and exiting pit road. Please read through this section to understand the process for each course. Occasionally, the league administrators may also post tutorials on the forum.
V-A 2. If you have enough space, then you should keep to the outside lane when cruising on pit road. On oval tracks, this is the furthest lane to the right from the pit stalls. On road courses, this can either be the furthest lane to the left or right from the pit stalls.
V-A 3. If two drivers are side-by-side on pit road, then they may remain alongside one another as long as they follow the appropriate procedure. In this situation, both drivers share a responsibility to leave enough space for everyone else between themselves and the pit stalls. The "inner" driver does not have to be in the outside lane, but should be positioned as close to it as possible.
V-A 4. Do not needlessly cut through other pit stalls when entering and exiting your own pit stall. The league administrators recognize that completely missing the pit stalls immediately in front of and behind your own pit stall can be challenging and that heavy traffic, awkward positioning, and incoming cars can frequently add further complication to the pitting process. As a result, every driver is granted some leniency given the situation. In most cases, a competitor should never have to cut through more than three pit stalls to enter or exit their own pit stall. Additionally, drivers should attempt to pit squarely, avoiding stopping excessively long, short, or outside of their stall.
V-A 5. At times, pit road can seem frantic and complicated, creating a challenging decision-making process. As a general rule, a driver should be alert, and always attempt to avoid thoughtlessly colliding with or damaging other cars on pit road. When exiting a pit stall, for example, you should check the rear camera view (F4) for any incoming cars before returning to the outside lane. In reality, pitting does not have to be very complicated. Most of the time, good old patience and track awareness can prevent a bunch of trouble.
B. Pitting on Alternate Speedways
Entering Pit Road: Alternate speedways are not an official course category but rather intermediate speedways with distinctive entrance configurations. At Las Vegas and Miami, a long and flat apron ramp leads to the entrance of pit road. At these places, drivers should decelerate before turn 3, enter the apron ramp at a safe speed, and avoid sliding back onto the racing surface.
Exiting Pit Road: Alternate speedways also include intermediate speedways with unique exit configurations. At MP Pocono, drivers must merge right onto the track, as there is no apron area. At Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and Miami, drivers must use the apron ramp to reach the back straight. After merging at all tracks, check for incoming vehicles and hold the left-most lane until reaching turn 4.
C. Pitting on Intermediate Speedways
Entering Pit Road: Drivers may enter pit road directly from the track at intermediate speedways. When preparing to pit, drivers should signal their intentions, move to the left-most lane before turn 3, decelerate onto the aprea lane before turn 4, and hold a safe speed to avoid sliding back onto the racing surface. At the pit road entrance, please brake gradually rather than abruptly.
Exiting Pit Road: When exiting pit road, drivers must remain in the apron lane through turns 1 and 2 prior to merging onto the back straight. After merging, drivers should check for incoming vehicles and remain in the left-most lane until reaching turn 4. At Darlington, there is a deceptive, double-banked apron. Be careful not to leave the lower level too soon and cut across the track.
D. Pitting on Road Courses
Entering Pit Road: Road courses have the easiest pitting procedures. When preparing to pit, drivers should signal their intentions, shift to the appropriate side of the track, and decelerate at a safe speed towards the entrance to pit road. One note: at IndyRC T, drivers must enter the apron from the NASCAR oval in turn 14. Please click here to view a picture of the process at IndyRC T.
Exiting Pit Road: When exiting pit road, drivers can simply merge directly onto the racing surface. However, please use caution, check for incoming vehicles, and remain on the same side of the track as the exit of pit road. Please do not just swing into the middle of the racing groove. You should only move to the racing groove once you have reached the first corner following the exit to pit road.
E. Pitting on Short Tracks
Entering Pit Road: Drivers may enter pit road directly from the racing surface at short tracks. Be aware, however, of the steep banking and sharp transitions at certain courses. When preparing to pit, drivers should signal their intentions, move to the left-most lane before turn 3, decelerate onto the aprea lane before turn 4, and hold a safe speed to avoid sliding back onto the racing surface.
Exiting Pit Road: At each course except Martinsville, drivers should remain in the apron lane through turns 1 and 2 and merge onto the back straight. At Martinsville, there is no apron between turns 1 and 2, so drivers must merge right onto the racing surface. After merging at all short tracks, drivers should check for incoming vehicles and remain in the left-most lane until reaching turn 4.
F. Pitting on Super Speedways
Entering Pit Road: Drivers may enter pit road directly from the track at super speedways. When preparing to pit, drivers should signal their intentions, move to the left-most lane in turn 3, and decelerate onto the aprea area after clearing turn 4. Please demonstrate caution and avoiding hitting others from behind. Vehicles will be traveling at high speeds around the entrance to pit road.
Exiting Pit Road: When exiting pit road, drivers may merge directly onto the racing surface. After merging, drivers should remain alongside the apron line through turns 1 and 2 and the entire back straight. Drivers who dart into the middle of the track and interfere with incoming vehicles traveling at high speed in an attempt to complete some ill-conceived maneuver can expect league discipline.
A. Caution Flags 101
VI-A 1. Starting in the 2015 season, the NASCAR Heat Racing League will implement driver-led and -managed caution flags in all official championship races. Jes Rathbun, the caution flag guru and innovator, will serve as the league's part-time caution flag consultant.
VI-A 2. All drivers are required to sign onto the league Ventrilo server during caution flag events. And, while we always encourage it, you are not obligated to own or use a microphone. You just need to be able to hear the caution flag instructions during the race.
VI-A 3. Our caution flag rules are similar to those in NASCAR and other racing series. The main difference between NHRL and NASCAR is that we do not have overtime periods. Additionally, lap-down drivers can line up at any position in the pace line during our restarts.
VI-A 4. Jes Rathbun, the league's part-time caution flag consultant, will sometimes serve as the pace car driver in selected events. When applicable, the league administrators will suspend the driver-led and -managed aspect of caution flags for a particular event.
VI-A 5. A league administrator or the pace car driver will serve as the caution flag official. Drivers are required to follow all instructions from the caution flag official without engaging in arguments or needless disruptions. Drivers who do so will be subject to penalties.
VI-A 6. During league events, drivers can communicate with the caution flag official to clarify instructions, draw attention to any on-track incidents, or offer opinions - if requested. Drivers who mislead or obstruct the caution flag official will be subject to penalties.
B. Caution Flag Procedures
VI-B 1. The caution flag official will communicate with drivers by typing announcements via the NASCAR Heat chat interface. All messages will appear in the bottom center of the screen. He will also frequently communicate caution flag instructions verbally on Ventrilo. Please be aware during competition and pay attention to every caution flag instruction. Drivers who fail to do so will be subject to penalties.
VI-B 2. If the caution flag official issues a yellow flag, then the leaderboard immediately becomes frozen. Drivers should slow to a safe speed and line up single file behind the pace car driver or the leader of the race. Passing on the track is prohibited until the green flag resumes after the restart. The pace speed at most tracks will be 10 MPH faster than the pit road speed. As a general rule, drivers should keep a half-second interval between themselves and the driver in front of them (the gap should be "0.5" on the leaderboard).
VI-B 3. During a caution flag, both lead-lap and lap-down drivers enter pit road at the same time. The caution flag official will announce when pit road is open for service. Drivers who enter a closed pit road may receive post-race penalties and must always go to the tail of the pace line prior to the restart. After pitting, drivers should look ahead and drive at a safe speed to reach the back of the pace line.
VI-B 4. All normal pit road procedures remain in effect under caution. We recommend applying an extra level of prudence and awareness when making pit stops during yellow flags. Compared to green flag pit stops, drivers are typically bunched much more closely together during caution flags. As you are leaving your pit stall, for example, you should always be aware of incoming vehicles on pit road.
VI-B 5. Each caution, the highest-placed driver one lap down or more - at the time of the flag - will receive a "free pass" lap back from the field. Usually, drivers will receive their free pass by passing the pace car on the final yellow flag lap before the restart. The caution flag official will communicate the proper instructions to follow. Please be careful when circling around the track to receive a lap back. It is the driver's responsibility to circle around the track and reach the back of the pace line safely and without "jumping" the restart.
VI-B 6. Additionally, during a caution flag, other lap-down drivers can potentially receive a "wave around" lap back from the field. The situation occurs when one or more lap-down competitors decide not to make a pit stop under caution and end up in front of the leader prior to the restart. Wave around drivers who receive a lap back will follow the same, circling-around procedure as a free pass driver.
C. Caution Flag Policies
VI-C 1. The caution flag official will not issue cautions during the final 3% of a race. As a result, no league race that has caution flags can finish under caution (barring a server crash or other unforeseen circumstance). In a 100-lap race, for instance, that means cautions cannot occur between laps 97 and 100. The math is the following: [last possible caution flag] = [laps in race] - [[laps in race] x 3%].
VI-C 2. Use common sense when it comes to cautions. Like other league rules, caution flags do not have to be complicated. Always listen to the caution flag official and feel free to ask questions when you're in doubt. Please keep chatter on Ventrilo at a sensible level during cautions. A little discussion is fine, at appropriate moments, but there is a threshold after which things can get confusing. Disruptive drivers who interfere with the communication of the caution flag official or the general proceedings of the race will be subject to penalties.
VI-C 3. During yellow flag races, in general, a certain degree of trust, give-and-take, and responsibility is required. The purpose of caution flags is not to create confusion or opportunities for gamesmanship, but rather promote exciting races and close competition. Please always remember the principles involved in caution flags and act accordingly. Remember, when in doubt, ask the caution flag official!
VI-C 4. A restart, or the return to green flag racing following a caution flag, is a pivotal moment of the race. As a restart approaches, the pace car driver, if present, will leave the pace line and drive to pit road. The field will then switch from single file to double file for the impending restart. Every driver should be squarely in line. The caution flag official will then type a message like "ggg" or "green flag" to alert you that green flag racing is resumed. Do not attempt to jump the restart or pass drivers before reaching the start/finish line.
VI-C 5. Under caution, multiple drivers are often entering the pits at the same time, leading to tight races coming off of pit road. When two drivers leave pit road, and it's really close, it may not be obvious whom should be in front of whom. This situation is a good example of give-and-take. We don't have access to instant replay during the race, so your wise and sound judgement is required there.
VI-C 6. Be aware and careful under caution. Sometimes, drivers will be passing the pace line at a higher speed than the pace speed, for example, to receive a free pass or wave around lap back from the field. From time to time, the caution flag official may extend the current caution flag period by an extra lap or two. One reason for doing so might be to better organize the pace line. And, although he drives in a funny-looking car, under no circumstances should you ever strike the pace car driver, unless of course, he clearly deserves such.