blue flags?

What's up with the blue flag in GPL? I just started racing with the AI and I'm always getting blue flagged. This is supposed to mean a faster car is behind me? If so, what am I supposed to do, pull off the line and let him by? My initial gut reactions is, "pffft..." heh. But seriously, does everyone do that? If not with the AI, is it what you're supposed to do in, say, an on-line race. Haven't tried on-line, but I might so it would be good to know what's customary. But back to the blue flag in GPL against the AI. I've seen it where I'm struggling to get past someone who is going slow but the blue flags don't come out. Then when I finally get around I'll see the blue flags come out until I can put some distance between myself and the people I just passed. What's up with that? Is that how it's supposed to work. Sorry if this is a really newbie question. I've only been playing it for a few months now. Thanks!

Blue flags had a different meaning in '67 than they do now in F1. In 67 a stationary blue flag indicated that another car was close to you. A waved blue flag indicated that someone was attempting to pass you. There was no requirement to allow the car behind you to pass when shown the blue flag, it was only a warning. Currently in F1, (note other categories have different rules for the blue flag) the blue flag is only shown to cars being lapped and they are required to let the lapping car to pass. If they ignore three (I think?) consecutive blue flags they are given a stop-go penalty. When racing the AI fight them all the way and never give an inch ,except for Surtees :-). Online is a different matter, if you are being lapped give them an easy passage. If you are fighting for position then carry on the fight as far as possible but there is no point in being punted off the track by someone who is desperate to get past. A skilfull faster driver will be able to pass you cleanly as long as you stay on your line. Hope this clears up your confusion. Jeff On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 23:00:01 -0700, "Tim Elhajj" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>What's up with the blue flag in GPL? I just started racing with the AI and >I'm always getting blue flagged. This is supposed to mean a faster car is >behind me? If so, what am I supposed to do, pull off the line and let him >by? > >My initial gut reactions is, "pffft..." heh. But seriously, does everyone do >that? If not with the AI, is it what you're supposed to do in, say, an >on-line race. Haven't tried on-line, but I might so it would be good to know >what's customary. > >But back to the blue flag in GPL against the AI. I've seen it where I'm >struggling to get past someone who is going slow but the blue flags don't >come out. Then when I finally get around I'll see the blue flags come out >until I can put some distance between myself and the people I just passed. >What's up with that? Is that how it's supposed to work. > >Sorry if this is a really newbie question. I've only been playing it for a >few months now. > >Thanks! > > >

Thanks Jeff. That clears it up. I actually have been fighting with the AI for position, regardless of the flag. It just seemed silly to jump off my line. My feeling is if they're that fast, they can go around. Good to hear that it sounds like exactly what the developers intended. Appreciate your help. "Jeff Sharpe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> Blue flags had a different meaning in '67 than they do now in F1. In > 67 a stationary blue flag indicated that another car was close to you. > A waved blue flag indicated that someone was attempting to pass you. > There was no requirement to allow the car behind you to pass when > shown the blue flag, it was only a warning. > > Currently in F1, (note other categories have different rules for the > blue flag) the blue flag is only shown to cars being lapped and they > are required to let the lapping car to pass. If they ignore three (I > think?) consecutive blue flags they are given a stop-go penalty. > > When racing the AI fight them all the way and never give an inch > ,except for Surtees :-). Online is a different matter, if you are > being lapped give them an easy passage. If you are fighting for > position then carry on the fight as far as possible but there is no > point in being punted off the track by someone who is desperate to get > past. A skilfull faster driver will be able to pass you cleanly as > long as you stay on your line. > > Hope this clears up your confusion. > > Jeff > > On Sat, 7 Apr 2001 23:00:01 -0700, "Tim Elhajj" <[email hidden]> > wrote: > > >What's up with the blue flag in GPL? I just started racing with the AI

and > >I'm always getting blue flagged. This is supposed to mean a faster car is > >behind me? If so, what am I supposed to do, pull off the line and let him > >by? > > > >My initial gut reactions is, "pffft..." heh. But seriously, does everyonedo > >that? If not with the AI, is it what you're supposed to do in, say, an > >on-line race. Haven't tried on-line, but I might so it would be good toknow > >what's customary. > > > >But back to the blue flag in GPL against the AI. I've seen it where I'm > >struggling to get past someone who is going slow but the blue flags don't > >come out. Then when I finally get around I'll see the blue flags come out > >until I can put some distance between myself and the people I justpassed. > >What's up with that? Is that how it's supposed to work. > > > >Sorry if this is a really newbie question. I've only been playing it fora

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> >few months now. > > > >Thanks! > > > > > > >

Tim, You will notice that in practice (what we now call qualifying), you will see the blue flag waved at you whenever a car is on your tail. In online racing it is common courtesy to let that car by if you are not on a hot lap of your own (for example, if you are on your out lap or if you have already made a mistake that has ruined your lap). If you are on a hot lap, you are under no obligation to ruin your lap by slowing to let the driver by. During the actual race, you will only be shown the blue flag if you are about to be lapped. Again it is common courtesy to let the driver lapping you by. You will not be shown the blue flag if someone is right behind you when you are racing for position (i.e., you are on the same lap). In this case, you are under no obligation to let the trailing car by. Also, when you see a flag, you can be sure it is meant for you. Even if you are about to lap a car, you will not see the blue flag waved at the car in front of you. This is to avoid confusion. The driver in that car, however, will see the blue flag and know to respond accordingly. Hope this helps, Dave Ewing Tim Elhajj wrote:

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> What's up with the blue flag in GPL? I just started racing with the AI and > I'm always getting blue flagged. This is supposed to mean a faster car is > behind me? If so, what am I supposed to do, pull off the line and let him > by? > > My initial gut reactions is, "pffft..." heh. But seriously, does everyone do > that? If not with the AI, is it what you're supposed to do in, say, an > on-line race. Haven't tried on-line, but I might so it would be good to know > what's customary. > > But back to the blue flag in GPL against the AI. I've seen it where I'm > struggling to get past someone who is going slow but the blue flags don't > come out. Then when I finally get around I'll see the blue flags come out > until I can put some distance between myself and the people I just passed. > What's up with that? Is that how it's supposed to work.

-- ***************************************************** David A. Ewing Xilinx Boulder [email hidden] *****************************************************