2008 US Indoor Kart Championship
Rules, Regulations & General Information:
Events
Six Total Races:
Four 1/4 Mile Qualifier - 30 minutes. One 1/2 Mile Qualifier - one hour. One 1/2 Mile Grand Prix Final - 1 1/2 hr . (Grand Prix final requires Driver to make Top 20 Driver final cut)
Practice Sessions - Optional:
Drivers may purchase practice sessions, as needed. The 1/2 mile track is available for practice every Monday. Optional practice is also available daily on the two 1/4 mile tracks prior to the USIKC weekend.
USIKC Qualifier Rounds:
Each racer draws their kart, and a 3 lap qualifier will be run to determine the grid based on the fastest lap. Karts will be determined by a random draw before each round, and no one will be allowed to have the same kart twice during the Championship. Drivers race in the kart they qualify in. There are five rounds of qualifier races. Four qualifier races will be 30 minutes in length. Each 1/4 mile track will be raced clockwise and counterclockwise. There will be a single one hour qualifier on the 1/2 mile GP track. Start: single file grid, with rolling start. Each driver must perform 1 pit-stop during each race.
One & 1/2 Hour USIKC Grand Prix Final:
The race will take place on the 1/2 mile track and will go in the opposite direction as the preceding 1/2 mile qualifier race. The top 20 drivers in points after all qualifier rounds are completed will qualify for the final one and a half hour Grand Prix Final. The grid will be determined by a qualifier as in the previous races. Ties are broken by points standings then best race finishes, and if needed, best laps. Start: rolling start. One pit stop will be required during the race.
Age Requirements For Participation
Driver minimal age without Parent or Legal Guardian waiver is 18 years of age. Those drivers who are 16 - 17 years of age may participate with a waiver form completed by His / Her Parent or Legal Guardian. Drivers between the age of 13- 15 years of age may be cleared for participation by submitting their entry fee, a Notarized waiver form and a brief resume' of their racing experience that would qualify them for the USIKC. Personal Letters of Recommendation from recognized leaders in the indoor karting business may also be considered.
Championships
Driver Championship: Consists of individual "driver" points accumulated by every driver during all qualifier rounds and the Grand Prix Final.
Team Championship: Consists of individual "team" points accumulated by the best three out of four drivers of each team during all qualifier rounds and the Grand Prix Final. There will be a maximum of four drivers per team. Only a team's best three driver's results from each round will count for the Team Championship. (Ex-1: Team XX has four drivers, named A, B, C, D. During Round 1, drivers A and B are racing in the same group while drivers C and D are racing in another group. Driver A finishes in 5th, driver B in second in their group, driver C also comes in 2nd in his group and driver D comes in 4th in his group.. With these results, Team XX scored points for 2nd,2nd, and 4th place in Round 1.) Teammates work together to obtain the best points result for the team, but at the same time are also after the best points result for themselves, as teammates are also direct rivals for the Driver's Championship.
Points
Each of the team's drivers is competing directly against all other drivers in the Driver Championship. The Driver Championship points are individually assigned to each driver and count independently from the Team points.
Driver's Championship: All races count for points. Drivers score points in all races based on the points scale below. An additional point will be scored for fastest lap of the race.
To minimize the burden of possible bad luck on kart selection, positions 14 through 20 will score the same number of points (12 pts.).
Team Championship: All races count for points. Best three positions obtained by a team's drivers will count as the team's result in a given round. An additional team point will be scored for best lap in all races. Same point structure as shown above will apply.
Racing Equipment
Race suits and full face helmet are required. Gloves are recommended. Race suits and helmets are available at the F1 Race Factory track free of charge for anyone who may not have their own.
Race Start
Drivers will be lined up single file on the grid before beginning a "rolling start". There will be 1 or 2 pace laps. Race start will be signaled by a waving GREEN flag at the start-finish line, no driver may pass another kart before passing the green flag. Race will end when the CHECKERED flag is waved at the start-finish line.
Karts
Karts are made available by the USIKC. All karts are new SodiKart RX-7, Honda GX 270cc, 9hp. Only F1 Race Factory staff may do any work on karts. Spare parts, lubricants, and any type of work on the karts by driver or team members is forbidden, including tire pressure adjustments. No chemical, thermal or mechanical enhancing methods allowed on the tires.
Ballast: Drivers will be equalized at a base weight of 200 lbs without racing gear. Please note however, that there is a maximum of 60 lbs that can be added to a kart. Any additional weight required by a driver would need to come from an approved weight vest to be worn by the driver during the competition, weight vest would have to be checked before and after each race by the Race Director or the Track Marshal. Weight ballast (supplied by organizers) will be added to kart to meet minimum weight. Ballast must be taken to new kart in case of a kart switch during races. Weigh in will be done before the competition starts at the official weigh in drivers meeting, all drivers will be weighed in shorts, t-shirt and racing shoes only! Drivers may be weighed randomly after the race to ensure 200 lbs weight. Drivers weighing less than 200 lbs after the race will be disqualified. After each race, the top five drivers must remain on the track in their karts until weights are checked for accuracy.
Kart Assignments: Kart assignments will be determined by a random draw. Kart picking will not be allowed. Drivers will be called one by one to pick a kart number before their race. No driver will be allowed to draw the same kart twice during the Championship; a re-draw will be required in that instance. Should the re-draw be required by the last driver to pick, then the previous driver who picked will switch karts with the first re-draw driver. Should the same situation face the previous driver, the switch shall continue up the order of draw until the problem is resolved, unless spare karts have been provided for just such a situation.
Kart Changes: All drivers must be aware that good luck and bad luck are part of racing, and that individual kart performance may vary. All drivers are subject to the luck of the draw as to which karts they will be assigned. Mechanical breakdowns are rare, but happen on occasion. If needed, a driver may make a pit-stop to switch karts (based on there being spares available at the time). The race will not stop for a kart switch, and the driver will lose the time taken to make the switch. If a switch is made during qualifying or warm-up laps, the driver will lose his original start position and start at the back of the grid. All kart switches are subject to actual spare kart availability at that given time. It is the driver and his team's responsibility to let race control know that there is a kart switch. Ballast must be taken to new kart in case of a switch. If the race starts and the driver is still in the pits, the driver will join the race when ready, but will lose the time spent in the pits.
In Qualifying And Warm-Up: If a driver determines his kart has a problem in qualifying or warm-up, the driver may switch karts for the race (if there are extra karts available), but will lose the grid position. The new kart used must be the first in line in pit-lane (kart picking not allowed). Qualifying will not stop. The driver will lose any qualifying lap, and will rejoin the grid at the back, for the start. If the race starts and the driver is still in the pits, the driver will simply rejoin the race whenever he can and will be running behind whatever length of time or number of laps lost.
In The Race: If driver determines his kart develops a problem during the race, the driver may pit and switch karts (if there are any spare karts available). The new kart used must be the first in line in pit-lane (kart picking not allowed). The race will not stop. To minimize any advantage a heavier driver would gain from having to transfer less (or no) ballast to a new kart, a kart switch during a race must take a minimum of 30 seconds (starting from when the driver stops in the pits), and will count as a required pit-stop.
Note: All drivers must be aware that kart switching is always a costly gamble, and should always be a last resort, as precious time will certainly be lost. The new kart's performance may not be better than the current kart, and a switch will certainly cost in track positions. A kart-switch is much slower than a regular pit-stop, as all the weight ballast must be transferred to the new kart. A driver will be disqualified if he/she fails to transfer the ballast weights to the new kart. Sometimes it may be best to continue in a problematic kart than to waste time with a switch. Heavy setbacks for switching karts are to ensure no unnecessary switching or kart picking. The points system accounts for possible kart problems by allocating same amount of points from position 14 and on.
Pit-Stops
Minimum 1.
Every driver must perform a minimum of one pit-stop during each race. Pit-stop must be made during the race (between the green flag and the checkered flag). Any pit-stops made before the start of a race do not count as a required race pit-stop.
Pit- Stop: The pit-stop may be performed at any time after the start, and driver cannot pit until they have passed the green flag. The pit-stop consists of two full stops. The stop must be performed in the two appropriate indicated areas in the pit-lane. Drivers may not block the way of other karts or be subject to a 30 second penalty.
If for any reason the pit lane must be closed, the pit entrance will be clearly blocked by an orange cone indicating that the pits are closed or a Track Marshal shall wave the red flag at the entrance to the pit.
Pit-Stop Procedure: There is no set limit of how many karts can pit at one time, but the Race Director may decide to close the pit lane if an unsafe limit of karts in the pit is reached. A kart that requires an emergency pit-stop when pits are closed will have to go around another lap, or wait at the pit entrance until pit-lane re-opens. If waiting, the waiting kart's team/crew may not go to the driver and no work may be done on kart while in waiting to enter the pits. However, crew may verbally communicate with the driver from the pit area. Driver's crew or teammates may not help driver perform pit-stop, as this will result in too many people in pit lane.
Kart Switch/Pit-Stop: Driver must pull over in the specified "Kart Switch Area" and be attentive not block other competitors. Drivers must also remember to carry their weight ballast to the new kart when making a switch, and that it is their responsibility (or the team's) to be sure that race control is aware of the kart switch, who must be made aware so they can properly adjust the switch to the scoring system. Driver's crew or teammates may not assist driver during kart switch, driver must perform kart switch alone.
Pit Lane Speed Limit: There is no set speed limit in the pits. However, pit speed will be controlled by a "2-stop" system. Driver may enter the entrance to pit-road at any speed, but will need to come to a complete and controlled stop in the "Full Stop Area", then wait to be released by a "Lollipop" man. Driver may then proceed to pit-stop area at any speed, and perform the pit-stop or serve a penalty stop. Coming into the pits too fast and causing a crash at pit entrance may result in a penalty or even disqualification.
A situation may occur where multiple drivers may decide to come into the pits at once, creating a traffic jam situation at the "Full Stop Area". If a pit entry traffic jam causes the last drivers entering the pits to have to stop before reaching the designated "Full Stop Area", that stop serves as the required speed-control stop. In this case, there is no need to come to another complete stop at the cones before entering the pit area.
There is no penalty for not coming to a stop with all 4 wheels inside the "Full Stop Area".
The main requirement at this station is that the kart does come to a COMPLETE STOP (and that means the front wheels need to come to a complete stop).
Note: It is wise to make sure that a complete stop is achieved rather than an ultra fast (and questionable) stop & go maneuver. The difference between in time gained would be miniscule, while the risk of a penalty could result in a 30 second loss due to a penalty on an incomplete stop.
Passing In The Pits: Passing in the pits is permitted. However, drivers must use extra caution, as the pit area will suffer even stricter scrutiny from race officials.
Pit Stop Penalties:
Be aware any kart-to-person or kart-to-kart contact in the pits is subject to penalty.
Failure to come to a complete stop in "Full Stop Area": 30 second penalty.
Failure to stop at the correct pit areas: 30 second penalty.
Kart-to-person contact: 30 second penalty or disqualification (light or hard).
Kart-to-kart contact in pits: 30 second penalty or disqualification. (light or hard)
Crash in pits: 30 second penalty or possible disqualification.
Timing System
The timing system used at F1 Race Factory and for the USIKC competition is Oskar Systems.
If there is a total timing failure during a race, a new race (of half the original time) will be restarted if the race was less than 75% completed. If over 75% was completed, a new race will not be restarted. If results or scoring cannot be made available due to a total timing malfunction, qualifying/start order will count as race result.
If a partial timing glitch happens, on-track results will remain unofficial. Organizers will attempt to calculate proper finishing order and announce official results later. If results or scoring can not be unscrambled, qualifying/start order will count as race result.
Flags
Yellow (local): A "local" yellow flag may be displayed at a specific section of the track. It means there is an incident ahead, people on the track, a stopped kart, or something that will require extra attention. Be prepared to slow down. Passing is not allowed. If a driver passes another under yellow by mistake, the passing driver may give the position back and not suffer a penalty. Passes under yellow flag are subject to a 30 second penalty.
Yellow (full course): During a "full course" yellow flag situation, all corner stations will be displaying the yellow flag. It means that something has happened which requires drivers to stop racing and continue to drive at a slow pace behind the leader. Drivers may not pass during the yellow. Any passing that occurred at the moment the full course yellow came out may be reversed with no penalty.
A full course yellow flag is also displayed during the warm-up laps, which precede the start of each race. Passing is not allowed during warm-up.
Blue: A blue flag means leaders are approaching from behind. Passing is not imminent and giving way is not yet required.
Blue (waved with hand signal): A blue flag together with a hand signal means the leaders are about to lap the driver who is being shown the flag. The flag will be displayed accompanied by a hand signal pointing to the driver that needs to let the leaders by.
The driver being lapped must give way in a maximum of 2 laps or suffer a 30 second pit-stop penalty in the penalty box. Track marshals will also use the hand signal to show the driver being lapped the number of karts that they must let by. Karts that are not lapping the front driver and who are in racing alignment shall not use the lapping karts to gain position by following them through and taking advantage of the blue flagged driver.
Red: A red flag means the race has been stopped due to a serious accident or some other major problem. Drivers must gradually slow down and come to a full stop on the track. Drivers must maintain their positions and be aware not to pass or be passed by any others while coming to a full stop. Race will re-start after a 1 lap (or more) warm-up under yellow flag conditions. Karts will line up single file behind the race leader for the green flag in same order as when the race was stopped.
Rolled Black: Warning. A rolled black flag pointed to a driver indicates to him he is being observed for overaggressive driving, and may receive a penalty next.
1st BLACK: Penalty flag. Means the driver committed an infringement of one or more rules or there is a kart problem that needs attention. Bring the kart into the pits and come to a full stop in the penalty box. Serve the required time penalty and wait for the "Lollipop" man's release to rejoin the race.
2nd BLACK: Bring the kart into the pits. Driver is disqualified or there is a kart problem that needs attention.
Penalty Box
The penalty box is clearly marked in the pit area. Drivers who are shown the black flag have been found to have broken one or more rules and must serve a 30 second time penalty. Drivers must come to a complete stop with all 4 wheels in the marked penalty box, or suffer an additional 10 second penalty. Proper control of the karts in the pits will be strictly enforced.
A penalty pit-stop does not count as a required pit-stop. However, a driver may serve his penalty at the penalty box, and then proceed to make the required pit stop (or vice-versa depending on direction of track).
Driver Conduct
Kart-to-kart contact during the USIKC is not allowed. However, within the tight confines of indoor kart racing, the occasional unintentional bumping and rubbing may be inevitable. Be respectful of your fellow drivers on and off the track. During a race, penalties may happen, karts may experience mechanical trouble, and any number of other upsetting unexpected situations may arise. In such situations, participants MUST remain level headed at all times and refrain from any overaggressive behavior on or off the track.
Race officials will be on site to interpret what is acceptable close racing from actions that may deserve reprimand or penalty, and will enforce penalties accordingly. Bumping resulting from over-aggressive or irate driving (at official's discretion) may first result in a rolled black or orange flag warning, which if not acknowledged, will result in a penalty, or even driver disqualification if necessary. A penalty may also be given with no previous rolled black flag warning. A disqualified driver may be cleared to race the in next event, but will be under observation.
Though there is normally no crash damage liability during the championship, participants will be financially responsible for any damage they may cause to karts, equipment or areas of the racetrack facility as result of anger, rage, or irresponsible behavior.
Drivers should also be aware that unforeseen situations and circumstances may arise which will require on-the-spot rule interpretation and decisions. In such cases, officials reserve the right to decide on which course of action to take. Drivers may present argument, but must accept organizer's decision as final. Decisions will be based on common sense, promoting fairness, and preserving the smooth flow of the racing schedule.
Note: Disqualifications as deemed by officials are final. Please be aware that agitated or upset drivers risk further penalties if there is irate behavior in response to a penalty call.
May the best driver WIN!!
