In case there is a dangerous situation such as a stopped car on the course, or when it is judged that the racing car cannot run safely due to heavy rain, the safety car will be deployed.
During the safety car deployment, overtaking is prohibited throughout the course, and it must drive in a row with the safety car at the top. After that, the race will resume when the danger on the course is removed, such as when the removal work stopped car is completed or the weather is restored. In this chapter, It explains the procedure of the safety car ending.
Race control determines the safety car ending
After removing the danger on the course, the race control determines the restart of the race. Even if it is determines to end the safety car, it is necessary to form the line of the cars and run while the safety car’s rotating roof light is on as in the safety car deployment.
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Turns the safety car’s orange light off
The safety car turns off the orange light for the safety car ending. This signal means that the safety car will pit in at the end of this lap and the race will resume on the next lap. At the same time, “SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP” will be displayed on the timing monitor and TV, allowing the team and spectators to know that the safety car will be ended.
After the orange light of the safety car turns off, the speed of the cars can be controlled by the leading car. Since it is not necessary to drive behind the safety car, the leading car usually runs slowly and is well separated from the safety car. The safety car runs at high speed to pull the cars apart.
The reason for keeping a distance from the safety car is to avoid overtaking the safety car before pitting when accelerating for a restart after this.
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The safety car pits in
After the safety car pits in, yellow flag and SC board are removed at all observation posts, then green flag is waved and the race resumes.
By confirming that the green flag is waved, the leading car can know that the safety car has entered the pit. After the green flag is waved, no matter how much speed the leading car increase to racing speed, It will not overtake the safety car.
The judgment of whether or not the safety car has entered the pit is whether or not it has crossed the “the safety car line 1” drawn at the entrance of the pit road. The green flag will be waved when the safety car crosses the safety car line 1.
What’s “Safety car line” ?
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Resume the race
(It is prohibited overtaking until passing the control line)
The safety car is ended when the safety car pits in and the green flag is waved. However, even if the green flag is waved, overtaking is prohibited until the control line is crossed.
The leading car accelerates to racing speed at its own timing in order to widen the gap with the behind cars. Watching the movement of the leading car, the following cars will also accelerate to the racing speed. After crossing the control line, the race will be resumed.
When all cars have passed the control line, the green flag waving at the observation post will be removed.
出典：youtube.com
If an accident occurs after the safety car has entered the pit
If a big accident occurs after the safety car has entered the pit, the safety car may be redeployed.
In this case, the yellow flag and SC board will be displayed at all observation posts shortly after the safety car is ended and the race resumes. In this way, the procedure for deployment of the safety car will be performed again.
Regulations of Safety Car Operation
