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How to Follow Safety Cars in Iracing
New to iRacing? Learn how to follow safety cars in iRacing with a calm, step‑by‑step guide. Avoid penalties, line up correctly, and nail restarts with confidence.
Yellow flies, the field slows, and suddenly your screen fills with commands. Do you pass? Pit? Where do you line up? If this feels stressful, you’re normal. Let’s turn that chaos into a calm routine you can trust. Below is how to follow safety cars in iracing without penalties or panic.
Quick Answer: how to follow safety cars in iracing
In iRacing, following the safety car means: slow predictably, catch the pace car when instructed, hold your assigned order, pit only when pits open for your group, and line up single/double file as directed. Keep a steady gap, don’t pass unless told, and be ready for a clean restart.
Why This Matters for Beginners
For iRacing beginners, yellows can feel like information overload. Instructions change fast (catch, pass, pit, wave-by), and one mistake can earn a penalty or damage your Safety Rating. Understanding how iRacing works under cautions keeps you calm, protects your SR, and sets you up for strong restarts.
Simple Step-by-Step Guide
Stabilize and catch up
When the caution drops, lift smoothly and hold your line. No sudden braking. Watch the spotter and on‑screen text: you’ll be told to “Catch the pace car” or “Stay behind car #X.”Confirm your place
Use the Relative box (F3) to see who’s ahead/behind. Maintain 2–3 car lengths. Do not pass under yellow unless you’re explicitly told to by the sim (arrow/message).Handle wave-bys/Lucky Dog
If you get “Pass the pace car” or “You are the Lucky Dog,” overtake safely (usually outside) and rejoin at the tail as instructed. Don’t race the field while doing this—be smooth.Pit only when open for you
Wait for “Pit road is open” (often lead-lap cars first, then others). Enter cleanly, don’t speed, and leave in order. If it’s closed for you, stay out—pitting early is a penalty.Prepare for restart
On “One to green,” close gaps, hold your lane, and match the leader’s pace. No jumping the start or passing before the line. Be predictable through Turn 1.
Common Mistakes
Passing under yellow without permission
Fix: Only pass when the sim tells you—watch for the green arrow/text.Pitting when closed or for the wrong group
Fix: Listen for “Pit road is open” and note whether it says “lead-lap cars” or “lapped cars.”Closing up too aggressively
Fix: Brake early, keep a steady 2–3 car length gap, and avoid weaving.
Quick Pro Tips
- Turn up spotter audio and bind keys for Relative (F3) and Black Box navigation.
- Practice a caution scenario with AI to rehearse the flow.
- Keep steering and throttle smooth to avoid accordion effects.
- If unsure, hold position—iRacing will update the instruction.
- Small iRacing tips: glance at the flag box, keep chat muted under yellow, breathe.
When to Ask for Help
If you’re new to iRacing and still unsure after a few sessions, ask in series-specific iRacing Discord communities. Post a short replay clip of the caution; veterans can quickly spot what to do next time.
FAQs
Q: What does “Pass the pace car” mean?
A: You’re ahead of the race leader after a shuffle. Safely pass the pace car, circle the track, and join the tail as instructed.
Q: What is the Lucky Dog?
A: The first car one lap down gets a free pass around the field under caution. Follow the prompt, rejoin at the tail, then pit when it’s open for you.
Q: Can I overtake under yellow?
A: Only if the sim tells you to pass a specific car or the pace car. Otherwise, hold position.
Q: When do pits open?
A: After the field forms up. Usually lead-lap cars first, then lapped cars. Wait for the exact on‑screen call.
Final Takeaways
Cautions are routine. Trust the spotter, watch the messages, keep position, and only pass or pit when told. Next session, run a 10‑lap AI race and purposely trigger a yellow to practice the full procedure—confidence comes fast.