Monday, March 1, 2010

NASCAR adjusts green finish rules

NASCAR adjusts green finish rules

NASCAR will now make three attempts to finish each race under green flag conditions, in a revision of its 'green-white-chequer' rule.

The change has been implemented immediately, starting from yesterday's Gatorade Duels at Daytona, and will apply across the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck series.

Under the previous rule, if a caution was required in the final laps, the race was halted and then restarted for a green flag lap, a white flag lap, and then a final racing lap to try and ensure that the races did not end under yellow.

Before 2010, if another caution was called during the green-white-chequer procedure, cars would remain under yellow to the finish. But from this year three attempts will be made to finish each race under green. As before, if a yellow is called after the leader has already taken the white flag, the race will not be resumed.

"We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions - the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition.

"We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy."

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