by Kassandra Garcia

Created on: April 20, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

NASCAR One of the most watch sports programmings on television. Many people watch the races and don't really know why there is a pace car or understand why it is needed. This a nessecity to a race to ensure the safety of all the drivers on the track. Here is the basic information on the "track police."

While watching a NASCAR you may notice a car that leads when a caution flag is waved. Also at the beginning of the race there are usually a few laps that are led by this car. This car is called a pace car or a safety car. This is important because it limits how fast the competing cars can go on the track. These cars are well identified with decals and a light bar to indicate that they are the "police" on the track. No car is allowed to pass the pace car. This is to ensure that everyone is safe while the caution is out. While a yellow caution is out, drivers may pit is pit road is open. With a yellow, work may continue in the gargage and in the pit stalls. Once the caution has been waved off, the pace car will exit the track onto pit road. The cars will then continue around the track back to the start/finish line and a green race flag is waved.

If there is a red caution flag out, the pace car will drive off of pit road to get in front of the leaders. Then he will stop. A red flag is for whether delays, a big wreck, or something that is dangerous for the other cars on the track. When a red flag is out drivers and mechanics must stop what they are doing. There is no working on any cars and no driving. This is to prevent a team from getting the upper hand over the other teams in the field.

Ford will be unveiling three new NASCAR pace cars at the Ford Championship weekend races at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. There will be the Ford Edge, Ford F-150, and the Ford Shelby GT500. The Shelby GT500 is the most powerful Ford Mustang ever, and will be leading the pack for the Ford 400 event.The GT500 has 500 horsepower, 5.4 liter supercharged, with a muscular and classic design. The three new pace cars are equipped with a special decal package and light bars to meet all the requirements of being pace cars.

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