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Presented as you leave pit lane or after a warm up lap. Go have FUN! Just because the green flag is offered as you leave the pit lane does not mean that your tires have magically achieved operating temperatures. It does not mean your car is warmed up. It does not mean that your brain has warmed up. You would do yourself well to perform a personal warm up lap. Warning: Don't be surprised if you get passed on the first lap out of the pits when the green flag has been offered. This is legal. People often make the mistake of thinking that every first lap is a restricted passing lap. Not so if the green flag is displayed.
Presented when danger is ahead. Do not pass. Reduce speed and gain car control. This typically indicates that a car has spun or gone off track ahead. You may not pass under a yellow flag and you are to drive at a safe controlled speed. You must remain in yellow flag mode until you pass a staffed flagger station that does NOT display the yellow flag any longer.
Presented when surface has changed and traction may be affected. This flag is shown when some one has gone off and then back on dragging dirt and gravel on to the track surface. It may indicate that someone has dropped oil or anti-freeze on the track. Typically only shown for 2-3 laps. Then the warning is taking down. Don't assume that the track condition has returned to normal just because the flagger has taken down their debris flag. They take down the flag after a couple laps in case a new problem develops in that same corner.
Presented to you when you have been bad. If it is furled and pointing at you then you are being warned. Stop doing what you did! You know what it was! If you don't then come in to the pit lane and ask the track steward what you did. If it is furled and your car number is displayed then you have been very bad and they want to give you an attitude adjustment. Make your way to pit lane and humbly talk to the track steward for a good tongue lashing. Suggestion: Do not become argumentative unless you want your day to end early with no refund! Your entry fee has given you the privilege to participate it has not given you the right to be on track
If this flag is shown at all flagger stations then the track session has been terminated for everyone. Go back to the pit lane with all the other cars and wait for instructions. They may have wanted all the cars off the track to clear a disabled car and then they plan to send everyone back out.
This is considered a courtesy flag or informative flag. This flag does not require you to do anything. It is information only. It is presented to you when you have faster traffic behind you that may want to pass or they may be passing. Do not abruptly react to this flag. Look in the mirror and determine the safe thing to do based on who and what is behind you. You should not make any abrupt line changes. You may consider waving the passing car to the right or the left and then lift on the throttle as they pass to insure the pass is made safely and quickly. Do not get on the brakes to let someone pass. This action may alter the shape of your rear bumper.
During racing events this flag is used to indicate the last lap. However, opentracking is not racing so the white flag is typically used as a safety vehicle warning. This flag will be presented when a safety vehicle (tow truck) is on the track. The tow truck may have gone out to pull someone off the track and they are going to do this while the track stays green. This risk by the safety crew is being taken so you can continue to enjoy your track time. So show them your respect. Give the safety crew plenty of room and slow the car down when in their zone.
It is never a good thing when this flag is presented. It means there is serious trouble somewhere on the track and they want all track motion to come to a safe and controlled stop. If you see this flag you should immediately evaluate the position of traffic behind you and come to a swift yet safe stop. Do not just slam on the brakes in a panic. Hopefully you are not the type to panic since you are driving your car on a race track. You would do best to pull safely and calmly to the side of the track surface but do not pull off the track surface. No need to start a grass fire or to embed some gravel into the depths of your expensive hot track tires. Do not proceed further unless you are given specific instruction to do so. Stay in your car and in your position until the emergency has been handled by the track staff.
This flag is shown at the start finish line to indicate the end of the session. Drive around the track in a reduced speed and consider it a "cool" down lap. Don't slow to a crawl. Continue around at about 60% of what you were doing. Most organizers don't want you to pass. But stay alert. I have seen many yahoo's pass on the cool down lap. Cool the car down, cool your body down, check out your gauges. Some organizers will display this flag at the start finish line and at flag station about half lap. This technique clears the track quicker and allows the next session to get out on the track. The main thing to remember is you should go in to the pits immediately after seeing the checker flag.
The Checker flag or Finish flag has one other very important meaning. It also means that you have survived another opentracking session and that you and your car are in one piece and ready to enjoy another opentracking experience!
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Green
Flag
Caution
Flag
Debris
Flag
Black
Flag
Passing
Flag
Safety
Vehicle Flag
Stop
Flag
Finish
Flag
Play Safe!