I would like to think that any track that is thinking of eliminating the flagger, would be better served to put the energy and effort into making the area where the flagger is safer, rather than doing away with them altogether. Same goes for tracks that have corner flaggers. It is part of the show and although they have been somewhat neutered by race control in the tower, the flagger is still part of the information that the fan can count on to have some idea of what is happening. (Race is going green next lap... or not... The initial green, yellow, how many laps left, and even the ocassional blag flag., etc.) It could all be done with large light panels I guess, but as frustrated as we sometimes get when watching a flagger and maybe expecting a race to go green sooner.... or maybe a start needs to be called back, I think it'd be 10X worse looking at light panels, and waiting for them to change. I've seen some sketchy flag stands when watching Flo, so improvement can always be made, and should be made, and I'd like to think that the flagger should have a very loud voice in that discussion. (I forget what track I was watching on Flo,but the flagger had kind of a complete rollcage around him which caught my eye.) There's danger getting a car ready to race... Danger in getting the car in and out of the trailer... Danger in driving to the track.... Danger in getting cars in and out of the pits.... Danger in working on racecars in the pits.... Danger in working on the track surface.... Danger in responding to accidents/towing damaged cars off the track.... Danger in watching races to a certain extent.... Danger walking up the bleachers..... And oh yea... almost forgot, there's danger in racing. Each year/each decade I am amazed and grateful for the improvements made in safety. But if we're going to eliminate things in racing just because either they can be replaced by technology, or because there is some element of danger, then we should all just say home and watch simulated racing.
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