Lap Cars

[wuss]

I've always wondered why lap cars are not placed in between lead cars when a yellow flag comes out for restarts. Doesn't it seem fair that the lead cars that had already had to deal with this traffic had to figure out how to get by them, so why wouldn't the rest of the field? Now if a lapped driver felt like they were unsafe starting up front, couldn't they elect to go to the back?
Then is the question...how would a lapped car have any chance to get their lap back when they're restarting on the tail and expected to pass cars that never actually passed them. (I know once lapped cars get passed by leaders that it is rare that they ever pass them back).
Waws always curious about this

[84wedge]

Then is the question...how would a lapped car have any chance to get their lap back when they're restarting on the tail and expected to pass cars that never actually passed them. (I know once lapped cars get passed by leaders that it is rare that they ever pass them back).
Waws always curious about this

The Lucky Dog rule, that's about it.

[TheJet-09]

I was just talking about this with my wife. I distinctly remember 25-30 years ago, the lapped cars stayed "in line" on a restart (citing what you said about each car having to lap them, not just the leaders). This was also before the double file restarts we do today, so maybe that's when it changed. I'm not ashamed to admit I'm a back-marker the majority of the races I'm in. I've had a number of features now where once I get lapped, the caution comes out before another car gets lapped. The problem then is I cannot "race" my way any further forward in the finishing order (minus cars in front of me falling out of the race). I might as well pull off as a result, which is not what I like to do.

I would love a lucky dog rule to be implemented.

[EvelB7]

Yes, quite a few series would leave the lapped cars in order back in the day. I agree with the thought of making everyone have to deal with them, however I very much understand most lapped cars do not wish to be put into the middle of the mix. I personally would always fall to the tail in that situation, and with the double file restarts the problem is compounded.

Some series do have a lucky dog and it seems to work fine.

[Pennsboro32]

I was very young but I can vaguely remember a few races like this.

[84wedge]

This was probably back when heat races were a lot longer too.

[Henry Every]

Single file with lappers in order sounds interesting... Been around since 86' but never remember seeing this done in person only on video of some big event. Now we did use to do restarts midway down the back straight, instead of off turn 4. Food for thought.

[IL LM Fan]

My old Home Track Santa Fe Speedway (closed in 1995) used to do this. I know at least on the quarter mile. Not sure and don't think they did on the half mile special events.
The drivers of course wanted to tag the tail. Imagine cautions with Human scorers trying to get every lapped car back in place before restart. 😁

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Pretty much all the big shows kept lap cars in line at one time, from what I remember. Was even done at my local track.

[jog49]

"I would love a lucky dog rule to be implemented."

As with NASCAR and the same applying here "why give someone something they didn't earn?" Look what it's done to the United States of America.

[Jking24]

I believe this was stopped because of how many wrecks during restarts that were typically caused by the lapped cars had a major influence on the outcome of the race