Sender: Michael E. Carver <mcarver@user1.teleport.com>
From: "Michael E. Carver" mcarver@teleport.com
Subject: Re: GPL online question
Newsgroups: rec.autos.simulators
References: <19990115181406.14480.00001216@ng-fx1.aol.com> <36A3357D.7ECC6F61@uni-mb.si> <01be4330$bd5afaa0$9fe89cd1@packardbell>
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Under practice sessions, the blue flag is an indication that someone is
indeed following closely.  Based on how quickly they came up on you to
cause the blue flag, would indicate as to whether they are faster than
you.

In race conditions, it is an indication that a driver is about to lap
you.  However, on rare occasions (usually on the first lap), GPL
sometimes mistakenly has the steward show the blue flag during the race.
Using common sense should tell you to ignore the flag.  However, as you
progress in the race, you should be aware of who you are doing battle
with (in front and behind you) and their distance.  Then if you are
indeed driving slower than the leaders, it should be evident that a fast
approaching car in your mirrors and a blue flag in front indicates that
you are about to be lapped. [One more time that GPL may display an
errant blue flag:  When the checkered flag is shown, corner workers do
display various colored flags and on occasion, you may see a blue
flag.]

From the readme.txt file:  Blue: The blue flag means that a car is
approaching you from behind and may wish to pass.  This is an advisory
flag only.  You are not required to let the car pass.  In races, the
blue flag is only displayed if the car behind is one or more laps ahead
of you.  This usually means that it is a faster car, so pay more
attention to it in races.

Common race driver "courtesy" is that under race situations (and even
practice -- unless you are on that "hot lap"), one honors the blue 
flag as soon as it is "convinient" and "safe" to do so.  In other 
words, if you are indeed hotly contesting a position with the driver in
front of you continue, your battle.  However, do not "race" with the car
behind you.  If they attempt to pass, don't go out of your way to block
them or drag with them down a straight.  Usually within a lap or two,
you should be able to find a "safe" spot to allow them to pass.  

Again, it is just a "courtesy" and hopefully one that will be returned
to you in the near future.

On 19 Jan 1999 04:13:18 GMT DAVID <ROBINSONFAMILY@prodigy.net> wrote:

% Good advice on the practising offline to get used to the game.  I do have a
% question on the blue flag.  To me it is too warn me when someone is
% following closely.  Sometimes I do not know if the person behind me is
% someone trying to lap me or if they are racing for a postion.  GPL does not
% define that till I would cross the start finish and find that the guy who
% has the postion behind me is father back then the guy behind me.  Should I
% give up a psotion due to the fact a driver is behind me close enough to get
% the corner crews to show me the blue flag.  Addtionaly I have seen in SCCA
% racing where the blue flag was shown and a driver broke off a challenge to
% a car infront of him to let a faster driver thru.  Should have have given
% up his possible pass to let someone else thru.  My personal opinion on the
% blue flag is it for information and also its the responsiblity of the
% passer to make a clean pass whether you are lapping a car or passing for
% postion.  I don't think this is done very much online in any series. 

% Dave

-- 
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.
         mcarver@teleport.com   http://www.teleport.com/~mcarver
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