Just curious what the rules are for rolling starts as far as hanging back and things like that. I was watching a race and it seems like the last place guy, or anybody in the pack really since nobody would be allowed to pass, could easily hang back and gun it early as long as he doesn't pass anybody before the green drops. Is this allowed because I've never noticed anybody doing it.

Just a question for my viewing pleasure

 

If the grid isn't fully formed, or somebody hangs back to take a run, the flagger at the start/finish line has the option to not throw the green flag. It happens often in professional races if they think somebody would have an unfair advantage. Now if the grid is large enough that the flagger at start/finish can't see the back of the grid, it could be done. Hypothetically that is.


Matt

 

Although it might seem like an effective way to pass the field at the start, in reality it really doesn't work, and is risky/dangerous.

Cars in rolling starts or standing starts tend to spread out, sometimes three wide. There is not a whole lot of room for the closely gridded cars to maneuver, much less a guy laying low and trying to blow by everyone.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Although it might seem like an effective way to pass the field at the start, in reality it really doesn't work, and is risky/dangerous.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It can work...

 

I see it all the time on dirt track racing. If the starter sees someone trying it, or if the pack isn't tight, they don't throw the green flag. but i've definatly seen it work at the dirt track.

 

Having previously run the slowest car in any IT group in the Northwest, I can tell you that the banzai start can and does work - most of the time. The grids were long enough at Seattle and Portland that the leaders were getting the green while I was still in the last corner coming onto the straight. The set up for the passes started several hundred yards earlier in my mind and it wasn't unusual for me to be ahead of 15 cars or more by the time we got to T1.

My strategy was to always be on what would become the inside of the first turn, to avoid getting gobbled up in others' issues that slid wide. This left me on driver's right at PIR passing a long string of cars to my left on time, at which point I encountered the walled-off entry to the Indy pits right in my way. I literally had to STOP and wait for the whole string to pass me... OOPS.

K

 

Depending on where you are in the field and how attentive the flagger is then it can be done if you get the timing right. It also depends on how far you mean by hanging back too.

Back when I was racing the ITA Corvair, it was generally a slug mired in the back half of the field. In a big pack at a track like Mid-Ohio where the field will be wrapping out of the turn and not tightly together on the straight, you can do it easier as the starter is watching a lot of other things. My best chance at really racing with the 'Vair was to get a good start and pass some cars before the pack spreads out. If you have cars behind you, they get mad as well. So you try to optimize your run, gearing, timing, etc. but you'll never get a real chance to get a huge charge on people. If your timing is wrong though and the flag is late, then you hit the brakes or lift just as the flag pops and you are slowing down and out of the power band and screwed. The best bet is to optimize your timing, throttle and gearing and give yourself some nose and maneuvering room.

Rolling starts are all I have ever done, it'll be interesting to try a standing start with HC.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cars in rolling starts or standing starts tend to spread out, sometimes three wide. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Or four wide.... I got an inadvertant run at VIR 2 weeks ago because of a VERY fast warm up lap but ended up having to brake and wasting it because cars were 4 wide and there wasn't anywhere to go.

edit: sorry for the run-on

 

when youre all the way in the back, youre not going to be even in the starters view and holding back and trying to get an early gun is an EXCELLENT tactic. be cautios tho, others may not see you coming and dart out to the side in your lane once they react. but also, you do run the risk of being black flagged if the starter does see you and doesnt like it, but doesnt want to restart just for you.

actually every good driver, even in those up front should have this mentality, how much and what you can get away with just depends on your starting position, but you should try your best to get the earliest start on your competitors.


btw, heres a thread i started a while ago about rolling starts. really good advice.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=200789


Modified by Tyson at 1:30 PM 8/13/2003