[steveegg]

Summary of the caution/pit road rules changes (from NASCAR clarifies caution rules):

• Once the yellow flag is waved, all drivers must immediately reduce speed to a "cautious pace" and get in a single-file line behind the leader.
• Simple track position at the moment the flag flies will determine scoring ("6 inches or 6 car-lengths").
• Drivers who pass while reducing speed will be given the chance to return to their original position immediately. If they do not, "NASCAR will intervene."
• If NASCAR can't sort it out (this is expected to add a lap or 2 to the caution), they will revert to the last green-flag lap scoring.
• Drivers who do not "maintain a reasonable speed" during the yellow will lose their track position.
• Any driver who was in the incident that caused the caution will restart in the position they are able to return to the race without advancing their position.
• The first car that is scored at least one lap down when the caution flies (not necessarily the car closest to the leader) will, after being allowed to pit with the lapped cars, be moved around the pace car to the tail end of the lead-lap line before the green flies. Clarifying quote from John Darby, Winston Cup Series Director - "Everybody needs to understand that it's the highest scored position not on the lead lap. It won't be the car closest to the leader. If there's 21 cars on the lead lap, the competitor that'll be affected by receiving that lap back will be the 22nd on the scoreboard. That competitor may be two laps down, may be four laps down. It'll be the first car not on the lead lap."
• As for a car battling to get back on the lead lap as the flag flies, more Darby - "If a competitor has a fender on the leader at the time the caution's displayed, then, yes, he will be judged as having his lap back at that point. We'll review it, we'll make a call on it -- end of story." (presumably, this means that he'll get to finish the pass on the leader before the pace car picks him up)
• All cars will be required to come on to pit road single-file, and any passing must be made to the right. Passing to the left would result in a penalty of restarting at the end of the longest line for a caution penalty or a pass-through on pit road for a green penalty.

[Gabz]

No one can possibly imagine just how happy I am to no longer live in Dover.

[NormsRevenge]

Have at it! I will be AWOL for a bit.

I have been reminded that I have to go to a breakfast brunch or I'll be in the doghouse for the foreseeable future. ;-) (We don;t have a doghouse, btw, but my wife said it ,, and I believe it.)

I should be here for most of the race but will miss at least the first 100 laps or so, or the first 29 commercial breaks and cautions , which ever comes first. :-)

Thanks

[AGreatPer]

"If a competitor has a fender on the leader at the time the caution's displayed, then, yes, he will be judged as having his lap back at that point. We'll review it, we'll make a call on it -- end of story." (presumably, this means that he'll get to finish the pass on the leader before the pace car picks him up)"

"I'm still confused," Gordon continued. "I heard everybody talking as they left the driver's meeting, trying to figure out who, exactly, is getting their laps back."

Winston Cup director John Darby explained the rule, as such: "Everyone needs to understand it's the highest scored position, not on the lead lap. It won't be the car closest to the leader. In other words, if there's 21 cars on the lead lap, the competitor that will be affected by receiving that lap back will be the 22nd (driver) on the scoreboard

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Its going to be interisting to listen to the announcers try and explain just what happened. Also, the running positions on the rolling screen are gonna be screwed up.

Single file into the pitts is also gonna be good.

Ya gotta love it.

[tubebender]

I do believe these rules will bite the multi-car teams in the A$$. Imagine J Gordon leading and JJ is behind him but a lap down???