Flag History Talk - The Checkered Flag
The checkered flag is used at the start and the finish of a race. As the winning driver passes the checkered flag first it is often associated with the win of the race. It also means for the following drivers to slow for safety reasons. There are no special regulations for the design of the checkered Flag but it is almost always designed in black and white squares or rectangles in that special pattern. Size and form varies and the flag can be displayed with or without a sponsor logo. There is not much available on the history of the checkered flag. Opinions are wide spread but not proven. There are photos available from the checkered flag being used to end a race dating back to the early 1900th in Long Island, New York and others from bicycle races in France.
