lessermeister t1_j9buu4a wrote on February 20, 2023 at 7:59 PM

Absolutely moronic way to call a winner. Let them race to the effing checkered flag at least.

Obi_Uno t1_j9c0wey wrote on February 20, 2023 at 8:39 PM

Didn’t they previously race to the checkered flag (and more widely raced back to the caution flag) but it led to really dangerous situations?

Ex: cars going full speed near disabled vehicles with a driver still on board

jwk90 t1_j9cjy6m wrote on February 20, 2023 at 10:46 PM

Correct, they changed the rule in 2003. They used to do that until a car was stopped right next to the start finish line and nearly got hit at full speed while racing back to the line.

Also track workers were out on hold until the track was clear, or put in danger if they entered the track while racing back to the yellow.

lessermeister t1_j9cv415 wrote on February 21, 2023 at 12:06 AM

I don’t remember how it used to be but if the crash is behind and the white flag has flown then there shouldn’t be any wrecked cars to the checkered.

EddieGrant t1_j9d30tc wrote on February 21, 2023 at 1:05 AM

But the issue then have is the cars behind the wrecked cars would have to slow down, and unlike F1 or other race series, there's no sector flags, just full course cautions, so it's either slow the whole field down, or none at all.

gamedemon24 OP t1_j9d2ir7 wrote on February 21, 2023 at 1:01 AM

It used to be a LOT easier to end under caution than it is now. The rules have changed multiple times to give them the most opportunities to end under green. But here’s the reason why a caution on the last lap ending it makes sense: during last year’s All-Star Race they did away with it and experimented with being able to line them back up no matter how last second the wreck was. Ryan Blaney was literally ten yards from the checkered flag when the caution came out. He crossed the line literally less than a second after the caution waved, and (understandably) had no clue it even happened and thought he won. He unfastened his window net to celebrate and prepare to exit the car…only to be told he had to restart again. So now you’ve got a car with an undone safety device who has to race more.

Would that exact situation happen every time? Probably not. But you can see how last last moment cautions lead to clusterfucks. There’s gotta be a cutoff somewhere and the last lap is a pretty generous place to put it.