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Glossary of Racing Terms
Apex - The area of a turn nearest its center.
Carbon fiber - A material that is used to produce components in race cars where strength and light weight are important. It is made by heating rayon and molding it into shape and hardening to provide strength and durability. Has a superior tensile strength than steel and weighs much less.
Downforce - The creation of force through aerodynamics, which helps the car stick to the track. High-speed movement of air underneath the car creates a vacuum, while the wings on the car force it to stay on the ground, acting in a manner opposite to the wings on a jet airplane.
Grip - How well the tires maintain traction on the racing surface. G-force - This is the force exerted upon drivers as they go through various areas of a race track. High speed corners cause more G-force on drivers than slower corners. One "G" is equal to the force of gravity. Open-wheel drivers often endure up to five "G"s."
Groove - The area of the track that provides the fastest way around the circuit. The groove can change during a race. One groove might become slick with oil and rubber, making another groove faster.
Ground effects - The result of designs which channel air under the car to create a low-pressure area or partial vacuum between race car and the race track. Tunnels under the car create downforce which is then measured in pounds and can be used to balance the handling of the race car by adjusting the front and rear wings. Handling - The way the car responds to a race track and track conditions. Changing a car's downforce, tires, wings, etc., can alter handling.
"Loose" - The rear of the car is unstable from lack of rear-grip caused by too much front downforce, or not enough downforce. Sometimes called "oversteer."
Marbles - Small bits of rubber that have broken off tires during a race. Most often found in corners, they are more likely to gather on the outside of the racing line. If a car drives over the pieces, it tends to lose control, as if it were on a bunch of marbles.
Nomex - Trade name of DuPont, a fire-resistant fabric used in the manufacturing of protective clothing.
Pole Position - The fastest qualifier for the race. This position starts first and has the best spot for the start of the race. Push - Also known as "understeer" and "tight." The car does not want to turn in the corners due to a lack of tire grip. Can be caused by a lack of downforce on the front of the car, or too much downforce on the rear of the car. Side pod - The bodywork on the side of the car that covers the radiators and engine exhaust. Aids in engine cooling, car aerodynamics and driver protection in the event of a side impact.
Stagger - Right front and/or right rear tire is larger in diameter that left-side tires in order to improve turning ability on ovals. For U.S.F3 road circuits, most cars will have all four equal. This is called a zero stagger.
Sticker Tires - Brand new tires used to qualify for the race and then to start the race. Sticker tires can provide precious tenths of a second when making a run for the pole position.
Telemetry - A radio device that relays data such as engine, tire, steering and throttle performance to team engineers in the pits. Teams can monitor both cars and drivers activity to evaluate performance. Allowing the team to notice any developing mechanical problem the driver cannot foresee.
Toe - Refers to the direction the front and rear tires are aligned. If the tires point inward, it is called toe-in. If the tires point outward, it is called toe-out. Incorrect toe settings can cause the car to lose quite a bit of grip.
Tow Drafting - As a car moves around the track, it literally splits the air, some of which goes over the car, and some of which goes beneath. This tack of air behind the car creates a vacuum, which a trailing car may use to be pulled, or "towed" by the lead car. |
