Did I take the chequered flag?

[BertBert]

So if the leader is lapping me on his (or her) final lap across the line, the flag is waved, how do I know if I've finished or need to do another lap?

Obviously the best thing for me to do is to have slowed to get the leader past, but if we go across the line together, what do I do? How do I know whether to do another lap at race speed or not?

Cheers
Bert

[mad4amanda]

depends who was first to the timing line if you were ahead you would need to complete a full lap?

[BertBert]

Yes indeed, but a hard judgement to make.

[Jerry Can]

the following was said to all Jim Russell Racing School students back in the day.....

"if you see the chequered flag waving at you.... congratulations you've won the race, if you see it twice, ....congratulations you've won a bking!"

stills stands today.

[BertBert]

Can you elucidate what that means then in practice please?

Jerry Can said:

the following was said to all Jim Russell Racing School students back in the day.....

"if you see the chequered flag waving at you.... congratulations you've won the race, if you see it twice, ....congratulations you've won a bking!"

stills stands today.

[Drumroll]

If it is that close that you are not sure if you or the actual winner took the chequered flag then carry on racing.

[covboy]

Jerry Can said:

the following was said to all Jim Russell Racing School students back in the day.....

"if you see the chequered flag waving at you.... congratulations you've won the race, if you see it twice, ....congratulations you've won a bking!"

stills stands today.

Good old Don Truman

[227bhp]

There once was a case where they waved the chequered flag at the penultimate lap, everyone stopped apart from some guy way down the pack who had been counting the laps, he went on to win.

[Gc285]

surely you cannot be over taken, as anyone behind would come by after. The only thing is if you are chasing down for an overtake then that opportunity would go if you slow.

[geeks]

227bhp said:

There once was a case where they waved the chequered flag at the penultimate lap, everyone stopped apart from some guy way down the pack who had been counting the laps, he went on to win.

No there wasn't!

[BertBert]

Yes, I think if you are going to do the 'extra' aka last lap, you should do it at racing speed. The thing that goes wrong is when you come into the pitlane effectively a lap early and then get a DNF!

Gc285 said:

surely you cannot be over taken, as anyone behind would come by after. The only thing is if you are chasing down for an overtake then that opportunity would go if you slow.

[88racing]

Friend of mine recently landed a DNF due to flag confusion. Lost championship points as a result, even after lengthy discussions with the series clerk, senior clerk and "someone" at the MSA.

[BertBert]

Yes, fortunately, on this occasion, no championship implications!

[jeremyc]

Surely you carry on at race pace, just to be sure.

There is little danger because everyone ahead of you will still be at race pace completing their last lap.

[BertBert]

Yes indeed. The only risk is whether you get into trouble going past the pit entrance again to take the flag. But obviously if you've not taken the flag, then you have to go round and take it!

[BertBert]

And apparently, going past the start/finish line in the pitlane doesn't count any more. I didn't know that!

[Mr_Thyroid]

jeremyc said:

Surely you carry on at race pace, just to be sure.

There is little danger because everyone ahead of you will still be at race pace completing their last lap.

Surely you slow, just to be sure

There is no chance of losing a position, so unless you have a reasonable chance of gaining one, take it easy.

[BertBert]

The race organisers are not going to be super keen on two slow laps in a busy race schedule!

[spyder dryver]

On a related note, don't stop racing until you have seen the chequered flag!
Many moons ago at Pembrey we managed to throw away our first race win.
Eight lap race. Tr Register Championship. My chum in our TR7V8 had a "ding-dong" battle with a TR4
and came over the line after eight laps punching the air!
Only thing was it was a ten lap race! D'oh!

[Thurbs]

Our races get flagged early all the time. Doesn't matter what time it is or how many laps there are, obey the flags.

To answer the OP's point, if you are unsure, complete the lap at racing speeds and don't dawdle on the slow down lap.