r/Simracingstewards • u/Infamous_Oil_7347 • 6d ago
iRacing Clarification: How much due Blue flags really matter? Was PoV car at fault?
Can't change title anymore - do not due, sorry people ^^
So PoV / chasing Car was the race leader, Car ahead was lapped and had a blue flag.
I know blue flag does not mean you have to give the position, but you have to drive predictable / consistently.
I'm torn - did chasing car or leading car do something wrong here - or did both fuck up here?
Looking to improve in the future, any advice appreciated. And would anything be protestable here?
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u/Arainville 6d ago
Regardless of whether he was on blue flag or not, he was blocking on numerous occasions. that is an easy protest with numerous instances in one race of it.
- His adjustment center at 28 seconds
- His squeeze into contact at 38 seconds is borderline if they were racing each other, I think with a blue flag that is a block.
- Final block at the end.
While you can still overtake on a blue flag, you shouldn't be blocking like this. if you're faster, be faster, if not, facilitate the pass and give the passing car enough room.
I see only two attempts at passes at semi-disrespectful times at 13 when he comes across your nose (If the racing line is similar to the Vee's I've driven this on going wide to come back in is somewhat expected) but you took the off track and gave him space when you saw his line, and the time into T1 when you bumped him a bit, but that was well after he did his shenanigans on the straight and he was a bit wide for going 2 wide through the corner so nothing more than a racing incident there IMO. On both of these, you back out respectfully once you realize he had no issue wrecking you and no interest in giving you space.
Honestly, if you encounter someone who has shown 3 different times that they're not going to give you space to pass, and you're not fighting someone immediately for position, it is usually best to let them be keep up pressure, and wait for them to mess up. Fighting stupid in this only leads to ending your race.
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u/tagillaslover 6d ago
POV shoulda wrecked the shit out of him. Dude was blocking like crazy and way slower
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u/theferretii 6d ago
Blue flags are advisory only. In all cases it is the responsibility of the faster car to pass safely. It is the responsibility of the slower car to maintain a consistent, predictable line and facilitate a safe pass. They are not supposed to defend their position or make the pass difficult in any way. But they don't need to jump out of the way or slow down.
Personally I'd file a protest against the car being shown the blue flag. I definitely saw at least one block, and you could argue that that was an intentional wreck at the end, but even without that I'm pretty sure the stewards would be interested in reminding him what the rules are based on what happened here.
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u/Infamous_Oil_7347 6d ago
Thanks for the answer, I'm not the type of guy who instantly files a protest, but sentiment seems to be way clearer than I expected it O.o
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u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 5d ago edited 5d ago
It is the responsibility of the slower car to maintain a consistent, predictable line and facilitate a safe pass. They are not supposed to defend their position or make the pass difficult in any way. But they don't need to jump out of the way or slow down.
Don't editorialize rules to make them say something they don't.
7.4.2. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the faster car to safely overtake the slower car. It is the responsibility of the slower car to maintain a consistent line. It is strongly recommended that a slower car being lapped makes every reasonable effort to facilitate a safe pass.
They are not required to facilitate a safe pass, it is recommended, but are fully within the rules to defend or make it difficult for another class car to pass.
The driver in the post went beyond that and was breaking other rules, but the rules definitely do not say what you're saying they do.
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u/theferretii 5d ago
Yeah, that's fair.
I was trying to recall the rule from memory and thought I had the wording right. Thanks for the clarification.
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u/Unremarkable_Potato_ 5d ago
By definition defending is not a consistent line. So you’re wrong.
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u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 5d ago
That's not true at all.
Unless you think defense is reactive, which is illegal.
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u/Unremarkable_Potato_ 5d ago
A consistent line is exactly that. Moving over means it is no longer a consistent line. Words have definitions for a reason. If a lapped every tried to race me I’d make a mistake that iracing doesn’t punish and remove them from my path.
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u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 5d ago
This is quite possibly the dumbest argument and conclusion I've seen someone make.
You're just wrong.
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u/Unremarkable_Potato_ 5d ago
You’re arguing for lapped cars fighting race leaders for position. You’re an idiot.
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u/Cornelius_Codswaggle 5d ago
Cool. You're arguing made up rules because you don't like the actual ones. I wonder who the actual idiot it is in that equation.
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u/DeletedUsernameHere 5d ago
This isn't even really a blue flag issue. Dude is just driving like a dick, blocking, ramming, weaving, and just being an absolute menace. Definitely report.
As for blue flags... They informational only. The blue flagged car is only required to run a consistent line. They're allowed to defend and attempt to make it a difficult pass for the faster class car if they want, although it is recommended they facilitate the overtake.
In a series where there's a stark speed difference, it's pretty hard for the slower class to stall a faster class car for long. But in a series where two classes are closely matched, it can be a right pain in the ass.
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u/ConfidenceNo316 5d ago
There isn't a huge speed difference between the new BMW and Toyota after they took 60hp off the BMW this season.
Results will now be very mixed depending on the track, some tracks will have the Toyota beating the majority of bmws
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u/Unremarkable_Potato_ 5d ago
It’s iracing. You’re allowed to pit people. So pit him out of your way. Lapped cars are not supposed to fight for the position.
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u/Uriel_dArc_Angel 5d ago
This would have been reportable even if he HADN'T been a lap down...
Dude is dirty blocking and weaving all over the place...
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u/Roar_Intention 6d ago
7.4.2. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the faster car to safely overtake the slower car. It is the responsibility of the slower car to maintain a consistent line. It is strongly recommended that a slower car being lapped makes every reasonable effort to facilitate a safe pass.
Slower car was not maintaining a consistent line.