On CMT: FeaturedCopy

Crash Course in Racing

THE CHALLENGE
Becoming a successful racecar driver is the most challenging, expensive and dangerous ventures in all of sports. In the NFL, each of the 32 teams has approximately 50 players that suit up each week. Major League Baseball has more than 750 players. On any given Sunday in a NASCAR Nextel Cup race (the highest level of racing), 43 drivers compete.

FUNDING
The biggest obstacle to a successful career is a constant theme for our drivers: money. If you do not have it, you do not race.

SPONSORSHIP
There are four major �players� to each race team:
� the driver
� the crew chief
� the car owner
� the sponsor

The less sponsorship money attached to a team results in more out-of-pocket cash that the team must have to be able to race. Also adding to the pressure is the need to line up sponsorship deals to be able to race the following season. Frequently, the sponsorship deals are for one season only.

THE FLAGS OF AUTO RACING

Green Flag
GO! Waving a GREEN FLAG in auto racing means �go!� Green signifies the beginning of a race, qualifying or practice session. The green flag also means the course is clear of any obstacles or debris. Green is waved after a caution to specify the race has restarted.

Yellow Flag
CAUTION! The YELLOW FLAG is the signal for drivers to use caution on the track and prepare to fall in behind the pace car after the start-finish line. To alert drivers about track accidents, excess debris or oil on the track, the yellow flag is used. A yellow flag also indicates to the drivers that they are allowed to race for position back to the start - finish line and be prepared to stop.

Red Flag
STOP! The RED FLAG means �stop driving immediately.� There is a dangerous situation on or near the track. After everyone stops, the pace car positions in front of the race leader and brings the cars to a stop at a place deemed safe. A red flag indicates the track is blocked by an accident or debris, and there is no safe route through the problem.

White Flag
LAST LAP! The WHITE FLAG means the last lap of practice, qualifying or a race by the driver. It is waved continuously to all cars following the leader until the leader approaches the finish line.

Black Flag
INFRACTION! BLACK is displayed along with a pit board listing the driver's car number indicating a driver must return to the pits because of a rule infraction or disqualification. Waving a black flag also communicates to the driver that the car is unsafe and requires inspection. When displayed, the driver must bring the car to the pits on the next lap. Drivers sometimes ignore a black flag but doing so can result in severe penalties, including disqualification or loss of points.

Blue Flag
PASSING � OVERTAKING! When a car is close to overtaking another car, the BLUE or PASSING FLAG is waved at the slower car. Sometimes drivers resist moving over for the faster car because the driver is racing for position.

Yellow-Red Flag
TRACK PROBLEM! A YELLOW-RED FLAG means "oil flag,� indicating a problem with, or change in, the surface ahead. Yellow-red is used when water, oil, or another substance causes a change in the racing surface and the need for caution.

Checkered Flag
FINISH LINE! The CHECKERED FLAG, the most popular flag in racing, indicates a winning driver and that the race is over for all drivers. Drivers know to slow to a safe speed and return to the pits.