are the wave around rules the same as the free pass or can you get the wave around if you are the caution?

The free pass can only be taken if they were not involved in the caution, but the wave around can be taken by any car a lap or more down, as long as it is in front of the leader with 1 to go before the restart.

The other guys answered the question. I would just add I hate the rule. Why doesn't Nascar just put the whole damn field on the lead lap at each caution? I don't think they're gonna stop adding dumb rules until this is the case.

KIA: Well, I'm not stupid if that's what you're suggesting. Yes, I remember how it was done. But Dale Jarrett almost got hit on the front stretch at New Hampshire, blah, blah, blah. And I'm an unhappy person because I disagree with some Nascar rules?! Because a truly happy person would sit here and perpetually blow sunshine up Nascar's ***? But do I get frustrated because Nascar is constantly dumbing down our great sport one stupid rule after another? -Yes.

Difference is back then, the leader had that option. It was his prerogative either way. And the fact is, the driver DID in actuality get the lap back. Now it's mandated. And I think 20 is a huge overstatement. Sorry I hate lucky dog rule, and sorry I hate double wide restarts, and sorry I hate the wave around. They just need to keep every car on the lead lap all day long and do 43 wide restarts and take as many green-white-checker finishes as it takes to have the greatest finish ever because I don't think they'll stop until they accomplish this.

MBL: have you forgotten what used to happen before these rules were in place, back when they used to race back to the start/finish line every caution? the leader would slow down and allow everyone to pass him to get their laps back. so you're saying that was ok then, huh? geez, some people are not gonna be happy no matter what the rules are. i think some people are just happy being unhappy

no, not calling you stupid, just asking how a car slowing down and letting 20 cars pass him to get their laps back was any better or different than NASCAR letting 20 cars take the wave around? the only difference between the 2 was that back in the day, those 20 cars were allowed to pit with the leaders, as opposed to being forced to stay out on the track on old tires and no fuel as the wave around cars are

i'm just saying you're acting as though cars being given their lap back without earning it is something new, and it's not

the driver STILL in actuality gets his lap back, the same way he got it back in the old days, by having it GIVEN to him. and it may have been the leaders prerogative, but every single driver did it on every single caution. it was a rule, albeit an unwritten one.

and whether it was 20 or not doesn't matter, the fact is the exact same drivers who would be in position to take the wave around under today's rules would have been in position to have their laps given back to them by the leader under the old rules.

Theoretically, you could get the wave around if you bring out a caution.

However, to be able to take a wave around you cannot pit during the caution, and if you were the one who brought out the caution you'd pretty much have to pit, so realistically you wouldn't see the driver who brought out the caution take a wave around.