Motorsport Terms
Aeropush: When a car trails another car too closely, the airflow from the car that is leading causes the car that is trailing to handle turns poorly due to a decrease in the downforce. Cars experiencing aero push tend to push up the banking toward the outside wall. Slowing down the car can prevent aero push.
Aerodynamic Drag: Also known as air resistance, aerodynamic drag is a number that is calculated using several key factors to determine how much resistance a vehicle will have while travelling through the air.
Air Dam: An extension under the front grill (a front spoiler) that is shaped in such a way so as to reduce the airflow under the car. It helps to stabilize the vehicle and provide downforce.
Air Pressure: Often refers to the pressure in the tires. The tyres are a key indicator of the car's performance and can be the difference between winning and losing. Monitoring and changing of the tire pressure must be done meticulously.
Appearance: When a driver shows up at an event to sign autographs and conduct interviews with the Press.
Apron: The part of the race track separating the Infield from the racing surface.
Associate Sponsor: Not as publicized as a primary sponsor, associate sponsors receive moderate and predetermined branding exposure.
Back Marker: A participating race car that is running off the pace at the back of the race.
Banking: The sloping of the track from the apron to the outside wall.
Battling for Position: When 2 participating race cars are vying for the same position.
Camber: The angle at which a tyre makes contact with the surface of the track.
Camshaft: A part of the engine that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves
Carburettor: A part of the engine where air and fuel are mixed together before travelling to the combustion engine.
Catch Can Man: The member of the pit crew who collects the excess gasoline that overflows from the gas tank when it is filled during a pit stop.
Caution Flag: The yellow flag that the flagman waves during a race to signal a potential or existing problem on the track. Drivers are cautioned to slow down when this flag is waved.
Chassis: The frame that holds the body and motor of the race car. It is supported on springs and attached to the axles.
Chassis Dynamometer: A device that measures the amount of power translated from the wheels to the racing surface.
Contact Patch: The part of the tyre that touches the road surface.
Crew Chief: The boss of a race team. His responsibilities include overseeing the building of and modifications to a race car and determining what strategies the driver should apply while racing.
Deck Lid: The cover over the boot of the race car which provides access to the fuel cell.
Displacement: The size of a race car engine in cubic inches.
Dirty Air: The air dispelled by a car in the lead.
Downforce: The air pressure travelling over the surface of a race car that creates weight on that area.
Drafting: The air dispelled by a race car in the lead will automatically pull along a car that is travelling immediately behind it (nose to tail).
Drag: The resistance a car experiences while travelling through the air at high speeds.
Engine Block: A manufacturer made iron casting that houses the crankshaft, pistons, and connecting rods.
FIA: Federation Internationale de l`Automobile. The motor racing sport`s governing body.
Fabricator: The member of the race team who is responsible for creating the sheet metal body of the race car.
Firewall: Located at the front clip, the firewall is the metal plate that separates the driver's compartment from the engine.
Front Clip: The immediate front of the car beginning with the firewall.
Fuel Cell: A rubber container used to hold the race car's gasoline supply.
Gas and Go: A pit stop where only gasoline is supplied. Nothing else is done to the race car during a Gas and Go.
Gas Man: The member of the race team who is responsible for filling the car with gas at a pit stop.
Groove: The fastest way around a track. The groove varies from driver to driver and from race car to race car.
Happy Hour: The last official track run held before an event.
Handling: The performance of a race car during practice and racing laps.
Hat Dance: The winning team dons sponsor hats and is photographed. Photos are sent to sponsors or sold.
Head Protectors: A precautionary device built into the car to prevent the driver's head from moving during a crash.
Increase the Lock: The race car's steering lock is increased in order for the driver to take tight hairpin turns more easily.
Lapped Traffic: Participating race cars that have completed at least one full lap less than the lead race car.
Lead Lap: A participating race car that has completed the same number of laps as the lead car.
Marbles: Bits of rubber from the car tyres and dirt and gravel comprise marbles which are often blamed for a driver's loss of control of the car when racing under high speeds.
NASCAR: National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, organization that sanctions American stock-car races.
Outbrake: When a driver brakes too late or very late in a corner.
Oversteer: When the rear end of the car loses grip. This can cause the car to spin out of control.
Pit Road: The area along the front straightaway where the pit crew services the race car.
Plank: A plank that runs down the underside of all F1 cars to reduce downforce and speed around corners. The plank is 10 mm in length.
Points System: In F1, points are awarded for completing a Grand Prix as follows: 1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 6 pts, 3rd = 4 pts, 4th = 3 pts, 5th = 2 pts, and 6th = 1 pt.
Pole Position: The fastest qualifier is awarded with a Pole Position, which is the first position on the starting grid.
Rear Clip: The part of the race car that houses the fuel cell and rear suspension components.
Restrictor Plate: The Restrictor Plate reduces the air flow and fuel into the engine's combustion chamber. It is a plate made of aluminium with four holes drilled into it. It is strategically placed between the base of the carburettor and the engine's intake manifold.
Runoff Track: A section of the track close to a dangerous area where a driver may use if something goes wrong with him or the race car. It is an escape route.
Setup: During and before an event, the race car team will setup (tune and adjust) a race car's suspension.
Shunt: When the car behinds you hits you.
Spoiler: A device placed across the rear decklid of the race car. It increases air flow and thus increases fuel efficiency and improves handling.
Stop 'N' Go: A penalty for a driver where he is stopped for a full second in the pit stall before returning to the track. This is accompanied by the waving of a black flag. This type of penalty is usually caused when a driver speeds in the pit stop.
Superspeedways: Race tracks of one mile or more in distance.
Telemetry system: In F1, it is the performance indicator for both car and driver.
Torque: The amount of thrust driving through from the engine to the wheels.
Traction: When the rear tyres grip the surface of the track, this causes traction and allows the car to accelerate.
Turbulence: The air that trails behind a race car that can cause problems for the cars behind it.
Turn In: The part of the track where the driver begins to steer the car to turn into a corner.
Tyre Blankets: Special electric blankets used to keep the tyres at racing temperature. Tyre blankets are used before a race.
Understeer: When the front end of the car loses grip. This causes the race car to travel straight on through a corner.
Valance: This is also referred to as the Front Air Dam and is the panel that extends below the front bumper.
Weight Jacking: The shifting of a car's weight to favour specific wheels.
Wind Tunnel: A machine that determines the aerodynamic efficiency of a race car
Wings: Devices on the front and rear of the race car which produce aerodynamic downforce.
Winner's Circle: The section of the infield of a race track where the winner celebrates his victory.
