Racing flags: Difference between revisions

'''Racing flags'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K68cilr3TnA | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/K68cilr3TnA| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Flags, The Key to Your Safety: Hooked On Driving |publisher=YouTube |date=2010-04-15 |access-date=2012-04-27}}{{cbignore}}</ref> are traditionally used in [[auto racing]] and similar motorsports to indicate track conditionconditions and to communicate important messages to drivers. Typically, the starter, sometimes the [[Grand Marshal|grand marshal]] of a race, waves the flags atop a flag stand near the start/-finish line. [[Track marshal]]s are also stationed at observation posts along the [[race track]] in order to communicate both local and course-wide conditions to drivers. Alternatively, some race tracks employ lights to supplement the primary flag at the start/-finish line.

While there is no universal system of racing flags across all of motorsports, most series have standardized them, with some flags carrying over between series. For example, the chequered flag is commonly used across all of motorsport to signify the end of a session (practice, qualifying, or race), while the penalty flags differ from series to series. [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]-sanctioned championship flags are the most commonly used internationally (outside of North America) as they cover championships such as [[Formula 1]], the [[FIA World Endurance Championship]] and [[World Touring Car Championship|WTCC]], and are adopted (and sometimes adapted) by many more motorsport governing bodies across the world such as, for example, the [[Motor Sports Association|MSA]].

! [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|FIA]]-sanctioned races<ref name="FIA">{{cite web|url= http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/understanding_f1_racing/5282.html|title=Flags|publisher=formula1.com|access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="F@">{{cite web |title=The beginner's guide to… Formula 1 flags {{!}} Formula 1® |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.the-beginners-guide-to-formula-1-flags.T5DqOqbWI6S4Va8Y5yMld.html |website=www.formula1.com |publisher=[[Formula One]] |access-date=12 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

! [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]]-sanctioned races<ref name="FIM">{{cite web|url=https://www.intentsgp.com/motogp-flags-the-ultimate-guide/#:~:text=MotoGP%20Flags%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Ultimate%20Guide%201%20Flags.,Red.%20...%2010%20White.%20...%20More%20items...%20|title=MotoGP Flags - The Ultimate Guide|publisher=intentsgp.com|last=Allison|first=Angela|date=17 April 2019 |access-date=27 October 2020}}</ref>

! [[IndyCar]]<ref name="IndyCar">{{cite web|url= http://www.indycar.com/Fan-Info/INDYCAR-101/Understanding-The-Sport/Flags|title= Fan Info - INDYCAR 101 - Understanding The Sport - Flags|publisher=Indycar.com|access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>

! [[NASCAR]]<ref name="NASCAR">{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/nascar-nation/nascar-edu/rules-guy/nascar-racing-flags.html|title=NASCAR RACING FLAGS|publisher=NASCAR|date=5 January 2015|access-date=26 January 2015|archive-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210173932/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series/nascar-nation/nascar-edu/rules-guy/nascar-racing-flags.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

![[Supercars Championship|Supercars]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2004-07-27|title=What does that flag stand for?|url=https://www.crash.net/v8/feature/104215/1/what-does-that-flag-stand-for|access-date=2021-11-30|website=Crash|language=en}}</ref>

| style="text-align: center;" colspan=4| Start of race/End of Cautioncaution/Pit Lanelane open

|End of Cautioncaution period/End of Cautioncaution section/Ready to start race

| style="text-align: center;" | Hazard on/ or near the track [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]<br />Hazard blocking the track [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]] [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]<br />[[Safety Carcar]] Deployeddeployed [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]] [[File:SC board.png|15px]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flagmarshal.com/fia-rules/|title="FIA" Rules|access-date= 5 December 2018}}</ref>

| style="text-align: center;" | Hazard on/ or near the track [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]<br />Hazard blocking the track [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]] [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]

| style="text-align: center;" colspan=2| Caution/Road Coursecourse Locallocal Cautioncaution [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]<br />Road Coursecourse Fullfull-Coursecourse Cautioncaution [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]] [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]

|Hazard on/ or near the track [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]]<br />[[Safety Carcar]] Deployeddeployed [[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|15px]] [[File:SC board.png|15px]]

| colspan="5" style="text-align: center;" | Debris/ or fluid on track (Roadroad courses only)

|Faster vehicles approaching /About to be lapped and; must allow car to passlap

| rowspan=2 style="text-align: center;"| End of practice/ or qualifying [[File:F1 red flag.svg|15px]] [[File:Auto Racing Black.svg|15px]]

| style="text-align: center;"|[[National Flagflag]]

[[File:Auto Racing Green.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|The green flag signals a clear track to race on and the start of the race.]]

The solid '''green flag''' is usually displayed by the starter to indicate the start of a race. During a race, it is displayed at the end of a caution period or a temporary delay to indicate that the race is restarting. The waving of a green flag is almost universally supplemented with the illumination of green lights (resembling [[traffic light]]s) at various intervals around the course, particularly on ovals.

If the race is not under caution or delayed, it is said to be ''"under green-flag conditions''". However, the flag itself is typically not continuously waved by the starter. No flag displayed at the starter's stand implies safe, green-flag conditions. At all times, however, the green lights remain lit.

*Since roughlyaround the 1990s, some races on occasion invite celebrity guests to wave the green flag at the start of the race.

*Before the use of starting lights in [[Formula One]] and most other FIA sanctioned or associated events, the national flag of the country in which a race is occurring, instead of a green flag, was used to signal its start. This practice is retained on occasion in the event of equipment failure, or simply as a tradition, such as at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]].

[[File:Auto Racing Yellow.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|The yellow flag means caution.]]

The solid '''yellow flag''', or '''caution flag''', universally requires drivers to slow down due to a hazard on the track, typically ana accidentcrash, a stopped car, debris or light rain. However, the procedures for displaying the yellow flag vary for different racing styles and sanctioning bodies.

[[File:F1 yellow flag and SC sign.jpg|thumb|left|A yellow flag with SC ([[safety car]]) sign is shown during the [[2006 United States Grand Prix]].]]

When there are circumstances where double-waved yellow flags are needed yet usage of the safety car is not warranted, then the race will be under a [[Virtualvirtual safety car|Virtual Safety Car]] period, during which all flag points will display a "VSC board" and all light panels on track will display the letters "''VSC"'' surrounded by a flashing yellow border. Under the VSC procedure, all drivers on the track must reduce their speed and stay above a minimum time set by race officials at least once in each marshalling sector. Overtaking is not permitted unless another driver enters the pit lane or if a car slows down due to an obvious problem. When deemed safe to end the VSC procedure, teams are notified via the official messaging system 10 to 15 seconds before green flags are waved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/championship/inside-f1/rules-regs/Safety_car_Virtual_Safety_Car_and_Suspending_and_resuming_a_race.html|title=The safety car and suspending a race|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

==== Full-Coursecourse Yellowyellow ====

Most races in the [[FIA World Endurance Championship]] may be under a '''Fullfull-Coursecourse Yellow'''yellow period upon discretion of the race director when deemed necessary for safety reasons. Once declared, all flag points will display aan "FCY board" and all cars on track must immediately slow down to {{convert|80|km/h|abbr=on}} and maintain their distance to the cars in front and behind. Overtaking is forbidden until green flags are waved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fiawec.com/en/race-full-course-yellow-fcy/125|title=Race- Full course yellow (FCY)|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

The FCY procedure was used during the 2019 [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] in response to Porsche's dominant GTE-Pro victory in 2018. Partial track '''Slow"slow Zones'''zones" are identified by track-side horizontal markings at both beginning and end, and "Nextnext Slowslow" boards in the preceding zone. Within the zone, all marshal posts will display double-waved yellow flags and "SLOWslow" boards, and all light panels will display the letters "''SZ"'' surrounded by a flashing yellow border. All cars within the zone must slow down to 80&nbsp;km/h until they are clear of the waved green flag at the end.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fiawec.com/en/race-slow-zone/126|title=Race - Slow zone|access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lemans.org/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-how-the-slow-zones-work/46782|title=24 Hours of Le Mans - How the Slow Zones work|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>

In [[Formula E]], the FCY condition is used, but unlike any other racing series, the cars have an FCY speed limiter. When activated, the cars will slow down to {{convert|50|km/h|abbr=on}}. Overtaking under the FCY condition is not allowed, and could result in a penalty. This happened at the [[2019 Rome ePrix]], when [[Jean Eric Vergne]] overtook future [[Techeetah]] teammate [[António Félix da Costa]]. As a result, Vergne was given a 5five-second time penalty. For the [[2019-20 Formula E season]], activating attack mode during FCY was disallowed. Additionally, for every 1 minute under FCY, 1kWh of energy gets taken out of their energy allocation.

In both [[NASCAR]] and [[IndyCar]], a single yellow flag waved from the starter's stand places the race under caution. At this time, a [[pace car]] will enter the course and lead the field at a safe, predetermined, reduced speed. On oval tracks, yellow lights universally supplement the primary flag at the start/-finish line. These lights usually operate in a flashing manner, in order to quickly gain the attention of the drivers. The field is locked into place at the onset of caution periods and no one is allowed to pass another car without mutual consent (excluding crashed and immobile cars). In some races, though, cars may pass one another on [[pit stop|pit road]] during a caution period. When the starter shows a furled yellow flag, it indicates one lap to green.<ref name="NASCAR"/><ref name="IndyCar"/>

[[File:Auto_Racing_Code_60_flag.svg|upright=.5|thumb|ThisThe pink flag orders drivers to slow down to {{convert|60|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} and to not overtake until a green flag is waved.]] As an alternative to the full-course yellow and safety car periods used during other FIA-backed races, the [[24H Series]] uses a series of purple lights and flags to declare a "Code 60" period. Under "Code 60", overtaking is not allowed and all drivers must slow their cars down to a maximum of {{Convert|60|km/h|abbr=on}}. The race resumes immediately when green flags are waved and green lights are flashing at each marshal post. Yellow flags are still used to indicate local cautions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2013/07/31/time-to-take-a-closer-look-at-code-60.html|title=Time To Take A Closer Look At Code 60?|first=Graham|last=Goodwin|publisher=dailysportscar.com|access-date=27 October 2018}}</ref>

The point at which the caution period starts is a topic of controversy in oval racing. Traditionally, the cars were locked into their positions when they crossed the start/-finish line, but technological advancements have made it possible to lock them in at the instant that the caution is declared. This has effectively put an end to the "[[race back to the caution]]", in which drivers speed up during yellow flag periods to beat the leader to the flag. This practice, while giving lapped drivers a better chance to make their lap back, was at times highly dangerous in that it encouraged drivers to engage in pitched battles with major safety hazards on track. Safety workers were not able to respond to accidents until the cars were under control of the pace car, which markedly slowed their response times to potentially injured drivers. To compensate for the elimination of the race back to the caution, NASCAR and some other motorsports series, both road racing and short oval, have implemented the ''beneficiary rule'', which allows the highest-placed car that is a full lap or more behind the race leader to complete an extra lap during the caution period in order to make up a lap.

[[File:Auto Racing Oil.svg|right|upright=.5|thumb|The "surface flag" indicates a slippery track surface ahead.]]

The '''red and yellow striped flag''' or '''surface flag''' is displayed stationary at local flag stations to indicate that track conditions have changed due to substances on the track which could reduce grip or cause a car to lose control. Generally oil, coolant, small pieces of debris or sand are the hazards. Many organizations will display this flag for only two laps, after which the changed surface is considered to merely be part of the track. This flag is generally not used anymore; during conditions that would warrant this flag to be waved, the race enters [[Virtualvirtual Safetysafety Car]]car.

[[File:F1 red flag.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|The red flag signals the suspension of the current session.]]

The solid '''red flag''' is displayed when conditions are too dangerous to continue the session. Depending on the series and the circumstances, the cars are typically directed to proceed immediately to pit road, or to stop at a specific spot on the track. In some severe cases the cars might be required to stop immediately where they are. During red flag conditions, repair work in the pits, the garage area, or on the track is typically prohibited, except in non-points paying races.

There are numerous hazards that might cause a need to halt or prematurely end a session. Many hazards, such as rain, lightning, darkness, a blocked course (due to debris, water, or safety vehicles), a car on fire, a severely demolished car (where parts are dropped on the track, like the engine), a serious accident where a driver was seriously injured or killed (only if death is officially announced) or a multi-car crash (especially one that results in serious injuries, extensive time to clean up or one that results in damage to walls, fences or the surface itself which require repairs) might prompt series officials to call for the red flag.

[[File:Auto Racing White.svg|right|thumb|upright=.5|The white flag signals that a slow moving vehicle ahead in FIA-sanctioned races, or the start of the final lap in NASCAR and IndyCar.]]

In Formula One, the '''white flag''' is waved on the last corner and the pit straight at the end of free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, indicating to drivers that there are drivers doing practice starts on the pit straight. Drivers are permitted to do one practice start at the end of each free practice session.

In most American forms of motorsports – including NASCAR, IndyCar, and North American motorcycle road racing<ref>[http://amaproracing.cdn.racersites.com/assets/AMAPro-RR-2013-Rulebook.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517231237/http://amaproracing.cdn.racersites.com/assets/AMAPro-RR-2013-Rulebook.pdf |date=2013-05-17 }} p.22</ref> – a waved white flag displayed at the starter's stand indicates the start of the final lap of the race.

In [[MotoGP]], a white flag is used to inform riders that they are allowed to change machine. The Racerace Directiondirection has deemed that the track is wet enough to justify the change of bikes and the Grand Prix becomes a wet race, having originally been declared a '"dry race'" at the start.

Prior to the adoption of starting lights, the Supercars series and its forerunners would useused a green flag to start the race. Following the adoption of lights as the routine starting device, if the starting lights were unavailable a race wouldwas started by lowering the national flag of whichever country the race iswas held in.<ref name=":1" /> Typically this would indicate the Australian flag but races in the series are, with the notable exception of 2020 and 2021 [[COVID-19 pandemic]] disruptions, regularly held in [[New Zealand]] and occasionally are held in other countries such as [[Bahrain]], [[China]] and the [[United States of America]]. The French flag is used at the start of 24 Hours of Le Mans.

[[File:Auto Racing Black.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|The black flag indicates a driver is disqualified in an FIA-sanctioned race, or orders a driver to the pits in NASCAR and IndyCar.]]

The solid '''black flag''' is used to summon a driver to the pits. It is usually associated with a penalty imposed on the driver for disobeying the rules, but may also be used when a car is suffering a mechanical failure, leaking fluid, exhibiting damage such as loose bodywork, loose hood, dragging bumper, or any other damage that could potentially become a hazard to the driver or other competitors. In some cases, the black flag may be used to call a driver to the pits when their radio is not working, though this is not common.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/143608/haas-explains-creative-blackflagging-of-its-drivers|title=Haas explains "creative" black flag for drivers in Monaco practice|first=Stuart Codling and Adam|last=Cooper|website=Autosport.com|date=23 May 2019 }}</ref>

In Supercars races, infringements such as exceeding the pit lane speed limit, violating a restart after a safety car period, or causing an accident will result in a drive through pit penalty that must be taken in reasonable time. Rarely, due to the short amount of time in which the driver has to complete the penalty, such a penalty may be rescinded such as in Racerace 28 of the 2021 season when, upon receiving a penalty for passing before the control line after a safety car period, [[Shane van Gisbergen]] protested over his radio that the lead driver had suddenly reduced throttle forcing van Gisbergen to pass, and throttle telemetry supported this. The sudden 42% reduction in throttle itself could have led to a drive through penalty for race leader [[Anton de Pasquale]], but the very wet conditions and possible loss of traction and safety issues were mitigating circumstances.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why van Gisbergen and De Pasquale escaped penalty in Sydney|url=https://www.autosport.com/supercars/news/why-van-gisbergen-and-de-pasquale-escaped-penalty-in-sydney/6758945/|access-date=2021-11-30|website=www.autosport.com|date=8 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Auto Racing Orange Circle.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|This flag is used in FIA-sanctioned races to order a damaged car to the pits for repairs.]]

A mechanical black flag is a '''black flag with an orange disc''' in its center which indicates that a vehicle is being summoned to the pits due to serious mechanical problems or loose bodywork that presents a risk to other competitors. At some road racing events, it is used to summon the vehicle to the pits to inform the driver of violation "maximum sound levels". Also known as the 'Meatball'"meatball" flag.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flagmarshal.com/drivers/black-orange/|title=Black & Orange &#124; Flag Marshal}}</ref>

====Per-bend black/-white flag ====

[[File:Auto Racing Black White.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|This flag is used to indicate unsportsmanlike conduct in FIA-sanctioned races.]]

A '''diagonally divided black-and-white flag''' is displayed with a car number to indicate a warning for [[unsportsmanlike conduct]]. This flag can be displayed if a car tries to intentionally drive another car off the course, or if a driver gets out of their car and initiates an altercation with another driver. The black and white diagonal flag can also mean a warning to a driver for exceeding track limits.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.motorsportuk.org/assets/tracklimitsguidance-3.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-07-23 |archive-date=2019-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723082257/https://www.motorsportuk.org/assets/tracklimitsguidance-3.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> For example, [[Charles Leclerc]] was shown this flag for "bad sportsmanship" while defending from [[Lewis Hamilton]] during the [[2019 Italian Grand Prix]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.fia-explain-use-of-f1s-yellow-card-for-leclerc-at-monza.43RcYITisZtxgpPhXn1Gye.html|title=Italian Grand Prix 2019: FIA explain use of F1's 'yellow card' for Leclerc at Monza &#124; Formula 1®|website=www.formula1Formula1.com}}</ref>

[[File:Auto Racing White Cross.svg|thumb|right|upright=.5|In NASCAR and IndyCar, this flag indicates a driver is disqualified.]]

Some leagues use a '''black flag with a white [[saltire]]'''. This is displayed with a car number if a driver ignores the other black flags for an extended period and also it indicates that that car is no longer being scored. In NASCAR, the car is not scored again until it pays attention to the black flag by pitting once this flag is displayed. However, in IndyCar, they are no longer scored indefinitely (disqualified).

[[File:Auto Racing Plain Blue.svg|right|thumb|upright=.5|The solid blue flag orders [[wikt:backmarker|backmarkers]] to give way to faster cars.]]

[[File:Auto Racing Blue.svg|right|thumb|upright=.5|In NASCAR and IndyCar, this flag orders [[wikt:backmarker|backmarkers]] to give way to faster cars.]]

A '''light blue flag''', sometimes with a diagonal yellow, orange, or red stripe, informs a driver that a faster car is approaching and that the driver should move aside to allow one or more faster cars to pass. During a race, this would only be usually shown to a driver who is getting lapped but during practice or qualifying sessions, it could be shown to any driver. In most series, the blue flag is not mandatory—drivers obey it only as a courtesy to their fellow racers. As such, it is often referred to as the '''"courtesy flag'''". In other series, drivers get severely penalized for not yielding or for interfering with the leaders, including getting sent to the pits for the rest of the race. In Formula One, if the driver about to be lapped ignores three waved blue flags in a row, he is required to serve a [[List of motorsport terminology#D|drive-through penalty]]. The blue flag may also be used to warn a driver that another car on the same lap is going to attempt to overtake them.

The '''chequered flag''' (or '''checkered flag''') is displayed at the start/-finish line to indicate that the race is officially finished. At some circuits, the first flag point will display a repeat chequered flag (usually on the opposite side of the circuit). The flag is commonly associated with the winner of a race, as they are the first driver to "take" (in other words, drive past) the chequered flag.

There is no standard design for the chequered flag. Although it nearly always consists of alternating black and white [[Square (geometry)|squares]] or [[rectangles]] arranged in a [[checkerboard|chequerboard]] [[pattern]], the [[number]], [[area|size]], and [[length|length-width]] [[proportionality (mathematics)|proportion]]sproportions of the rectangles vary from one flag to another. Also, the chequered flag typically has a black rectangle at the corner of the flag closest to the top of the flagpole. There have been instances of the black and white squares being painted onto a wooden board and simply held up for drivers to observe at the finish line. Sometimes a sponsor's logo is emblazoned in the center of the chequered flag. In NASCAR and F1 events, a single chequered flag is waved to signal the completion of a race. In IndyCar, two chequered flags are waved together, a tradition dating to the [[1980 Indianapolis 500]], but only if the race is under green conditions. (The starter will wave both a chequered and yellow flag if safety car conditions occur at the end of the race, in a yellow-chequer finish.)

In 1980, [[United States Auto Club|USAC]] starter Duane Sweeney started a tradition at the [[Indianapolis 500]] by waving twin chequered flags at the end of the race. Previous starters had only used a single flag. Sweeney also marked the first use of twin green flags at the start of the race.<ref>1980 Indianapolis 500 Telecast, ABC-TV</ref><ref>1980 Indianapolis 500 Radio Broadcast, IMS Radio Network</ref>

InAt many short tracks, the [[Motorsport marshal|flagman]] gives the chequered flag to the winner of the race, but a variety of other celebratory traditions, such as the [[Burnout (vehicle)|burnout]], the [[Polish victory lap]] and the victory lane or victory circle celebration, sometimes overshadow the chequered flag tradition.

The chequered, red, yellow, white, and green flags are used identically to how they are used in auto racing. The yellow and red striped flag is used to indicate debris on the track. Other flags used include:

* A white flag with a saltire red cross indicates precipitation and is used instead of the yellow/-red striped slippery surface flag in rain conditions only.

*A white flag with a black 'SUN', to indicate glare from the sun ahead. Used at the [[Isle of Man TT]] festival.

Historically, the only means for race officials to communicate to drivers was through the usage of flags. With the advent of [[two-way radio|two-way]] or [[full-duplex]] radios, this is not necessarily the case. Most drivers racing on paved short track oval courses do not rely on flags; rather, they are informed of track conditions by their [[pit stop|crew chief]]s and [[spotter (auto racing)|spotter]]s or by yellow /and red [[traffic light|flashing lights]] found on most oval tracks. Occasionally, though, some drivers must rely on the use of flags for information when they experience radio malfunctions. Flags are still used to tell the crowd of spectators what is happening. Dirt track and lower-level racers are less likely to have radios than their paved track counterparts.

In contrast to smaller circuits, road racing drivers rely heavily on the use of flags. As it is impractical to have spotters covering all segments of a winding race track, the first indication to drivers of local hazards almost always comes from marshals stationed at various flag stations around the course. Missing or disregarding a flag can have critical consequences, as [[Mario Andretti|Mario]] and [[Michael Andretti]] discovered during a 1991 [[Champ Car|CART]] race in [[Detroit, Michigan]]. Michael came around a blind corner at high speed, without heeding the yellow flag being displayed—and plowed into the back of a CART safety truck tending to another disabled car. Fifteen seconds later, his father Mario disregarded the same madly waving yellows and crashed into the car the safety vehicle was trying to assist.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fittipaldi takes Detroit Grand Prix Mario and Michael Andretti crash during caution period|url=httphttps://articleswww.baltimoresun.com/1991-/06-/17/sports/1991168006_1_michaelfittipaldi-andrettitakes-detroit-grand-prix-mario-rahaland-michael-andretti-crash-during-caution-period/|access-date=7 November 2017|publisher=Baltimore Sun|date=17 June 1991|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025111259/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-06-17/sports/1991168006_1_michael-andretti-mario-rahal|archive-date=25 October 2015}}</ref>

* Martin, Mark & Tuschaktuschak, Beth (2005). ''NASCAR For Dummies'' (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Wiley Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7645-7681-X}}.