In NASCAR, during yellow flag, what does it mean when they say a certain car gets a "free pass"?
550416
The free pass rule, also known as the "Lucky Dog" rule, states that when a caution flag flies, the first driver who is one or more laps down gets a lap back.\n\nNASCAR implemented this rule in late 2003 as a safety measure to prevent drivers from racing back to the yellow (the start finish-line) to allow safety vehicles quicker and safer access to the incident.\n\nUntil then, drivers were allowed to race back to the yellow because the caution period did not formally begin until the leader crossed the start-finish line. Often, a driver with a big lead would slow his car on the way to the line to allow lapped cars to make up a lap. This was known as the “Gentleman’s Agreement.” To compensate for the elimination of this tactic, NASCAR implemented the free pass rule which immediately became known as the "Lucky Dog" rule.\n\nThe rule further states that if the driver who is designated to receive the "Lucky Dog" brings out the yellow, then that driver does not get a lap back nor does anyone else.
405589
The only impact it might have is shortened races. Back during the last gas crisis (the one Jimmy Carter created), NASCAR shortened a few races. I beleive it was done more to impact public opinion than to actually help the situation. The gas tanks on cars in the NASCAR series are smaller than the gas tank on most cars.
575088
This is complicated but I will try to explain it. Their are four ways to get in to the All-Star Challenge: The first is to earn a pole the previous year, the second is to be a past winner of the event, the third is to win the Nextel Open which was the first two segments last night where it seemed to be only rookies, the last way is to be voted in by the fans. The actual challenge is run in three segments 40 laps and two twenty lap segments after the 40 lap segment they invert then field. Which means they reverse the order for a certain number of cars the catch is the number of cars the be reversed isn't known until after the segment when the number is revealed. The number is chosen by the fans (last night I think it was eleven). Between each segment they show a yellow flag and the teams are allowed to work on the cars. At some point they are required to make a pit stop during green flag racing. \nI think the reason they do it that way is to add excitement, the race is not worth anything in the points standings so it is more for fun  and money. If you win it can add momentum to your team. During the week there are competitions for the pit crews and other fun events. It is a good chance for the teams to get a feel of the Charlotte track before the 600 the following week.
452338
A NASCAR official watches every pit stop in every race.  He watches to assure safety on the track.  If he notices that a tire changer didn't put all of the lug nuts on, NASCAR will call that driver back in to the pits to fix the problem.  Sometimes the tire changer will get all of the lug nuts on, but he doesn't tighten them all of the way.  In that case the driver will feel a "vibration".  That's when the car just doesn't feel right.  At that point the driver has to drive and diagnose the problem as a loose lug nut, tire loosing air pressure, or if it was a bad adjustment.  NASCAR doesn't know if a tire is loose, that's the drivers problem.  NASCAR only catches it when the tire changer doesn't get all of the lug nuts are on.
653238
I dont think that should be allowed.  Other race car drivers look forward to at least attempt to make the race, especially when its a one car team.  Micheal Waltrip should have sucked it up and left.
753838
You can find some good information on Nascar's history here:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR
568425
Nascar racing? Honking their horn?
1110982
IT'S THE SUNOCO DECAL, EVERY CAR HAS IT. IT'S THE GAS NASCAR USES.
117462
In reality, all joking aside, you must have a NASCAR license which can not be attained until the age of 18. NASCAR stands for: National, Association, Stock, Car, Auto, Racing, it does not stand for: Non, Athletic, Sport, Centered, Around, Rednecks, Wich previous statements indicates.
770486
This link describes the flags in NASCAR:\nhttp://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/nascar_101/12/03/flags/
476705
A driver is said to be in the “lucky dog” postition during a NASCAR race when they are the first driver on the track one lap behind the leader. One might wonder: why would that person be called "lucky?" \n\nThey are considered “lucky” because when the next caution flag flies they will be allowed by NASCAR officials to go all the way around the track and be the last car on the lead lap. This means they get their lap back but only if they did not cause the caution. \n\nNASCAR decided last season that when a caution occurs the field will be “frozen.” During the caution, officials review their video from around the track and line the cars up for restart according to that film. This was done because of driver safety. There were some dangerous wrecks when one driver would slow down for a caution but someone behind him would speed up to gain a position or get a lap back. Giving the “lucky dog” pass is supposed to eliminate this. One must assume that everyone is paying attention when the caution comes out so they will slow down when everyone else does. \n\n“Racing back to the caution” was the norm for more than 40 years but all things NASCAR must change. \n\nThe drivers seem to like the “lucky dog” rule when it falls in their favor. Of course, fans like it when it falls in their driver’s favor. \n\nSometimes a driver is really, really lucky. For instance, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was the “lucky dog” three times during the Bristol race on Saturday night. Eventhough, he went a lap down three times, the cautions fell at the right time so that he would get his lap back each time. He wound up finishing with a top ten and moved up one place in the Nextel cup points.
1147681
Yellow is just another shade of green!!!!\n\nJK - yellow means slow down, and stop if possible to me.  Not sure how the driver's manual technically defines it, but you could look it there.\n\nP.S. Your mom was right.....she stopped because she had the ability to.
682719
Restrictor plates are devices installed between the carborator and intake manifold that restrict the amount of air and fuel entering the engine's combustion chamber. Nascar currently uses restrictor plates at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.\nCars were going to fast as these tracks(212mph) so Nascar Had to limit the power of the engines that teams used.  The restrictor plate is what they came up with.
846143
hey skip,\nin fact they do!!!\nThere are 2 road courses in Nascar\nInfineon in CA   and Watkins Glen in NY\nthey are road courses, run in the opposite direction to what the drivers are used to, so, in theory these tracks are run with more right turns than left.\n\nHope this helps, check the links\n\nHave a good one, dude
89130
the try to skirt around the grey areas in the NASCAR rulebook to give their driver an advantage i.e. bigger fuel lines that will hold more so they will have that extra little bit of gas, having smaller drivers strap metal to their bodies so when they weigh the driver and car it meets the minium weight and then take it off for race day so there car is lighter and faster and the glass is to give them an aerodynamic advantage for the draft and better sticking ability or downforce for turns.
292042
Yes. With the "Race to the Cup" for the top ten for one thing. When one position in points can mean hundreds of thousands of $, I feel sorry for the guy in eleventh place. Under the old rule 11Th place could possibly move up a couple of spots to 8Th or 9Th, maybe. And what are all these penalties for "non-approved" parts. These parts aren't illegal, just not from a supplier that has sucked up (payed off?) to NASCAR. Used to be you could run any part that conformed with the rules. It didn't matter if you built it yourself or bought it. And these young drivers, used to be that a driver had a few years of experience before moving up to NASCAR's big league. These new drivers are good, but inexperienced. And the new drivers all seem to fit the cookie cutter corporate image. They are good looking and articulate. A short guy like Cale Yarbourgh, or a driver that spoke like his mouth was full of marbles like Buddy Baker, or an ex-convict like Junior Johnson, wouldn't make it in today's corporate racing world. I think NASCAR should stop being such a glamor sport and go back to basics, go fast, turn left, and may the best driver/car win. I'm curious as to how many of these race fans are really fans. A lot of these people only watch racing on the TV or maybe attend a couple of NASCAR races a year. How many go to their local short track? Almost everyone in the contiental U.S. is within an hour's drive to a local track. These tracks offer about 4 hours or more of entertainment for under $15 on most nights. Whether the track is paved or dirt, running late models, open wheeled sprint cars or modifieds, you will probaly see some exciting racing. As I said before, let's get back to basics.
906802
No fines.  According to Newman, both incidents were accidental.\n\nNewman said that his spin with 21 laps to go was all his fault with no help from Montoya, who was beside him when it happened. \n\nConcerning Montoya's crash, Newman said, "We were basically going for the same piece of real estate.  His bumper went across my nose and it spun him out. This was nobody but racing's fault, in my opinion. I felt bad for the situation because obviously it looked like I was retaliating and that wasn't the case, and that's what we talked about in there."\n\nThe Rocket's clean.