Just watched Ferrari Challenge Road Atlanta- have a question

Hunter,
at VIR last year (or year before maybe?) there was a car that had some rear contact. The lower rear bumper progressively came off. For at least 2 laps, it was swinging in the breeze, maybe three feet of composite material flapping around. Finally it let go and went sailing in the air. No flags, no nothing.
But there was a LOT of damage done in that race. Never seen so much carnage.
-J.

 

Usually....

If Grand Am doesn't flag you to come in, you don't. If you were flagged in, you could then tape the car, but you can not cover any seams.

If you are missing parts before a race, you can not race. If you lose parts during a race, you can stay out.

If you are in heavy traffic and have a part waving around, Gran Am will flag the car. I think the car has to complete a lap to try and lose the piece. If it stays then the car should come in for a "rip off" then go right back out.

 

Another thing..

Sometimes it is left to the discretion of the crew chief to call the car in. This happens in conjunction with a Gran Am marshal.

 

A lot of times the rules of the series won't allow you to touch a car during a blag flag situation. This is probably the case with the car in question. They couldn't touch it because if they did then they would either be DQ'd or moved to the back.

As for if the bumper flapping is a dangerous situation or not that is up to the discretion of the Cheif Steward of the event. THey make the calls about what the flaggers around the track are doing. If they think the bumper flapping or coming off is dangerous then they will black flag that car only. Most of the time though the bumper cover flapping or flying off really doesn't pose that much of a threat.

 

some valuable information from the other responses.....but the race you are speaking of was not a black flag situation, it was a RED FLAG situation....all cars came in, no one could touch their cars, including the cars with dangling participles....