When a white flag is shown, what is likely happening on the track?

When a white flag is shown during motorsport events, it indicates that a vehicle on the track is moving significantly slower than the rest of the competitors. This signal serves as a warning to drivers that they may need to exercise caution and be prepared to navigate around the slower vehicle. The use of the white flag helps maintain safety by alerting drivers to potential hazards without the need for a full caution period or more drastic signals.

In this context, the other choices represent scenarios that would be indicated by different flags: a collision generally prompts the use of yellow flags, which signal caution due to an incident on the track; the completion of a race is indicated by the checkered flag, and the pace car being on the track would be shown with a yellow flag. Understanding flag meanings is critical for ensuring safety and maintaining competitiveness during a race, as well as for drivers' awareness of track conditions.