Green-white-checker finish
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The green-white-checker finish is a rule implemented into many levels of automobile racing in the United States. When the race would otherwise end during a yellow-flag "caution" condition (during which no competition may take place, including a "no passing" restriction), this rule gives the field an attempt to finish the race under a green-flag, "racing" condition. Instead of ending the race when the stated distance has been covered, it continues until the green flag is given (signalling the end of the caution condition), at which time the drivers resume the race with two laps remaining -- regardless of the actual number of laps covered to that point. They then get the white flag, signaling the final lap, and then take the checkered flag, signaling the end of the race.
Depending on the series' sanctioning body, there may be a number of possible variants cited in the application of this rule.
In 2007, FOX began referring to the green-white-checkered finish as "Overdrive," an allusion to the term "overtime" used in many timed sports.
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[edit] ARCA
In the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Re/Max Series, there is a two-stage version of the rule.
When the green flag is waved on the restart, there are two laps remaining in the race. If the yellow flag comes out at any time during the first lap, each subsequent restart will be a two-lap restart.
Once the white flag is waved to signal the final lap, the race will not end if a the yellow flag is waved unless the checkered flag has waved. If the yellow flag waves at any time during the final lap, the race returns to yellow immediately. Upon the ensuing restart, a green and white flag are waved to signal one lap is remaining in the race. Should a yellow flag wave before the leader crosses the finish line, the race will continue under yellow until the restart, which again is one lap.
In the ARCA Re/Max Series race at Gateway International Raceway in July 28, 2006, 22 laps (27.5 miles) of racing added to the 150-mile (120 lap) distance.
This version, or a similar variant with no green/white rule, is used in most short tracks.
[edit] NASCAR
[edit] Regional Series
The Camping World East and West Series use a rule similar to the ARCA rule with an unlimited number of attempts. In April 2005, two green-white-checkered attempts were used at Phoenix International Raceway for an Camping World West race.
[edit] Craftsman Truck Series (1995-2004)
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series adopted a green-white-checkered flag rule initially during nationally televised 200-lap exhibition races at Tucson Raceway Park in Arizona.
When the green flag is waved on the restart, there are two laps remaining in the race. If the yellow flag comes out at any time during the restart, each subsequent restart will be a two-lap restart. (From 1995 until mid-1998, racing back to the caution was prohibited in the series.)
However, if on the restart, there will be just one scheduled lap remaining, there is a green and white flag restart for the lap. That rule was implemented a few times.
In the middle of the 1998 season, however, a rule change by NASCAR affected the rule; if the yellow flag comes out during the final lap of the race, the trucks would race to the finish. (In the middle of the 1998 season, as NASCAR eliminated the two-segment races, NASCAR permitted the trucks to race to the caution.) That rule was eliminated in September 2003 as a result of the ban on racing back to the caution.
In a July 2004 race at Gateway International Raceway, multiple green-white-checkered restarts resulted in a 160-lap race going 14 additional laps. After that race, the rule was changed to standardise the rule with NASCAR's other national series, which also adopted the rule.
[edit] National Series (July 25, 2004-present)
In the late 1990's, NASCAR's other two national series, the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series, had set a loose precedent that allowed for a red flag to be displayed during a late-race caution flag. At the time, races on the other two national circuits were prohibited from being extended beyond the advertised distance. The action would temporarily halt the race, allowing safety crews to clear the track, and allow for a full restart, without the field having burned up the remaining laps under yellow. Initially, the rule was used only on short tracks, but eventually spread to all races. The implementation, however, was widely inconsistent, and inevitably would lead to controversy.
At the 2002 Pepsi 400, a late-race caution came out, and participants and spectators expected a red flag. NASCAR chose not to halt the race, citing too few laps remaining, and fans plummeted the circuit with cans and other debris as it finished under yellow. The decision not to go back to green was based on two similar situations at restrictor plate tracks. In the 1993 Winston 500, the field went back to green with two laps to go. Through the dogleg towards the finish line, the tightly-bunched field led to a violent crash by Rusty Wallace, who was hospitalized. In the 1997 Pepsi 400, a restart with one lap to go caused a multi-car crash, which injured Mark Martin.
For 2003 and 2004, the red flag rules were clarified somewhat to standardise the use, with a specific lap, usually five laps remaining, being the lap designated as the "last red flag lap." Television would mention such a lap during the race specifics on broadcasts. In late 2003, NASCAR, in an unrelated move, added the "Lucky dog" (or "Free Pass") rule and prohibited drivers from racing back to the start/finish line when yellow flags were displayed. The field was frozen at the onset of the yellow. The unforeseen combination of the two new rules created unexpected problems.
A controversial finish to the 2004 Nextel Cup Aaron's 499 occurred as Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. were racing for the lead with five laps remaining. The field was working Lap 184 of 188, beyond the point of when a red flag could halt the race (the last red flag lap was 184). As Earnhardt, Jr. was passing Gordon for the lead, Brian Vickers spun in turn three. When the caution was displayed, freezing the field, it was determined that Gordon's car was just ahead of Earnhardt's, and Gordon was scored as the leader, and thus, the winner. On the final lap, some angry fans again threw debris (seat cushions, alcoholic beverage bottles) on the track at Gordon, which angered many observers, including FOX commentators Chris Myers and Jeff Hammond.
In the wake of the controversies, in mid-July 2004, all three touring series, adopted a new, revised green-white-checkered rule. The revised format handles late-race cautions in a standardized manner.
[edit] Caution after the white flag has been shown
The race is over. The field is frozen at the moment of the yellow flag, and the scoring is official as cars cross the finish line.
There is a notable exception to this rule. If there is an incident during the final lap behind the leaders, and the run to the finish line is clear for the leaders, NASCAR may delay the caution until the checkered flag is shown, allowing the leaders to race for the win. In such cases track safety workers may arrive at the scene of the incident. This exception was used during the 2007 Daytona 500.
[edit] Caution before the white flag has been shown
If a late-race caution occurs with at least one more lap to go, and the caution is expected to continue beyond the scheduled race distance, NASCAR allows one attempt to finish the race under green flag conditions.
When it is determined that the track is clear for racing, the green flag is shown, indicating the restart. As the leader completes the first lap, the white flag is shown, signaling the final lap. As the leader completes the second lap, the checkered flag is shown, signaling the conclusion of the race.
If the caution flag comes out at any time during the green-white-checkered finish, the race is over. The field is frozen at the moment of the yellow flag, and the scoring is official as cars cross the finish line.
In the event of a race ending due to caution, video evidence is used in addition to scoring loops to determine the official order of finish.
A green-white-checkered finish will extend the race beyond its advertised distance, and competitors were not allowed to pit for fuel without losing positions. Teams are responsible for considering the extended distance in their fuel strategies. However, if the cleanup is expected to take considerable time, NASCAR may red flag the race with the cars on the track, so that cars don't consume all their fuel under caution.
[edit] Past green-white-checkered races
- The first race the rule was in place was for the Siemens 300 weekend at the New Hampshire International Speedway for the race on July 25, 2004.
- When the new rule was first used on July 31, 2004, at Michigan International Speedway for the Craftsman Truck Series, the race ended under caution as the caution was waved during the final lap, under the new rule.
- The first time the green-white-checkered finish was used in the then-Nextel Cup was on August 8, 2004 at the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 160-lap event was extended to 161 laps after Brian Vickers crashed on lap 156. The ensuing restart took place on Lap 160, which meant by rule, the finish would end on the 161st lap.
- The first time the green-white-checkered finish was used in then-Busch Series was on August 27, 2004 at the Food City 250 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The 250-lap event was extended to 256 laps after Jay Sauter and Tony Raines made contact with three laps to go.
- On February 18, 2007 at the Daytona 500, Mark Martin was leading on the last lap of "overtime" when several cars began crashing behind him in turn four. Rather than throwing a caution and freezing the field at that point, NASCAR let the race continue, allowing Kevin Harvick to pass Martin before he crossed the finish line.
- As of May 11, 2008, the most recent Sprint Cup race to finish under green-white-checkered was the 2008 Crown Royal Presents the Dan Lowry 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
- As of May 11, 2007, there have been 26 green-white-checkered finishes in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history. In five of those races, the leader has lost the lead on those final two laps.[1]
- In three instances a crash has taken place during the first lap of the final restart.
- The Green-White-Checkered Finish does not take place when a race is shortened because of darkness or lateness. The most recent example of a Race ending due to darkness was the 2007 LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway. NASCAR announced during the race that it would end at Lap 225 then due to wrecks it would then end at lap 210 of 267 originally scheduled laps. The race ended up going under caution due in the late laps and the race ended right at lap 210 under caution due to darkness despite Green-White-Checker rule.
