Test your NASCAR skills
By Liz Allison, Turner Sports Interactive
January 23, 2002
9:57 AM EST (1457 GMT)
COMMENTARY
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Liz Allison
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I know you are in the doom and gloom of what seems to be an everlasting off-season. So let's get some adrenaline pumping and test your NASCAR skills.
You think you know your NASCAR? How many flags are there? Do you know all the meanings? Test yourself and check your answers at the bottom. Let me know how you do.
1. This flag means the race must halt, regardless of the position of cars on the track. This is waved when NASCAR feels the conditions are not conducive to allow the event to continue. No laps are counted and the crews are not allowed to work on the cars.
2. This is the passing flag or move over flag. It is thrown to the cars running one or more laps down as a reminder to show courtesy to the lead lap cars.
3. This flag simply means one thing. The driver has not responded to the black flag and is being notified that laps will no longer be counted until he takes his car to the pits.
4. When this flag waves, the race is over. This is the flag that every driver strives to cross under first.
5. This flag signifies the start of the race. It means "go." This flag is also thrown at the restart after a caution.
6. This flag appears when there is only one lap left in the race.
7. If this flag is waved at a car, it means it has to report to the pit immediately. This could be from a problem with the car such as smoke, water leaking, etc. or it could be from a penalty given by NASCAR officials for a variety of different reasons. The drivers hate this flag.
8. This flag means take caution and proceed carefully.
Bonus Question: How does NASCAR signify the halfway point of a race?
Answers:
1. Red flag
2. Blue flag with diagonal orange stripe
3. Black flag with white cross.
4. Checkered flag
5. Green Flag
6. White flag
7. Black flag
8. Yellow flag
9. Bonus: The starter crosses any two flags and displays them to the field
Check your performance level: Add your correct answers and find out where you rank.
* 8 correct: You have got it bad! You eat, sleep and breathe NASCAR.
* 5-7 correct: You still know your NASCAR. You just don't get the diehard fan award.
* 1-5 correct: You care nothing about the rules, you just like to watch the race.
* 0 correct: Go back to bed!
* If you answered the bonus question correctly then give yourself a pat on the back.
NOTE: Liz Allison's column appears every Wednesday on NASCAR.com and the opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer. To reach Liz, you can contact her at alli65@aol.com.
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