Series Guide
The four series we tag on the news feed, in plain English, and how to follow each one. Calendars and results change every year, so check the official sites below.
Formula 1
The FIA Formula One World Championship, run since 1950, is the top level of single-seater, open-wheel racing. Ten teams each enter two cars and race at Grand Prix weekends around the world. Points from every race count toward two titles: the Drivers' Championship and the Constructors' (team) Championship.
- Weekend format: practice, qualifying to set the grid, then the Grand Prix. Some weekends add a shorter Sprint race.
- Why watch: the fastest road-course cars in the world and engineering battles between teams.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
North America's top sports-car series. Several classes of cars share the track at once, from the GTP prototypes at the front to the GT cars based on road-going models. That means constant traffic and overtaking all race long. Its biggest races are endurance classics: the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January, the 12 Hours of Sebring in March, and Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in the fall.
- Classes: GTP (top prototypes), LMP2, GTD PRO and GTD (GT cars).
- Why watch, and camp: long races, open paddocks, fan walks on the grid, and infield camping. It's the series I've seen the most in person.
NASCAR Cup Series
America's premier stock-car championship. Big, heavy cars race mostly on oval tracks, from short tracks to superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, plus a few road courses. The season ends with a playoff format that decides the champion.
- Supporting series: the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Xfinity) and the Truck Series often race the same weekend.
- Why watch: pack racing, tight finishes, and huge camping crowds at many tracks.
NTT IndyCar Series
America's top open-wheel series. It races on ovals, permanent road courses and temporary street circuits, a mix few series in the world match. Its crown jewel is the Indianapolis 500 each May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, first run in 1911.
- Cars: every team uses a common chassis, with engines from Honda or Chevrolet, so racing is close.
- Why watch: 220+ mph oval racing and a lot of passing.
Why "Full Course Yellow"?
A full course yellow (FCY) is a caution called for the whole track, usually after a crash or debris. Drivers must slow down and can't overtake while marshals clear the track. In endurance racing, a well-timed FCY can swing the whole race through pit strategy. It's also when fans in the stands catch their breath. Seemed like the right name for a blog written from the grandstands and the campground.
Exact caution procedures vary by series and event; see each series' rulebook.