With
the advent of radial tires with stiffer sidewalls, changing air pressure in the
tires is used as another setup tool that is akin to adjusting spring rates in
the vehicle's suspension. An increase in air pressure raises the "spring
rate" in the tire itself and changes the vehicle's handling
characteristics. If his race vehicle was "tight" coming off a corner,
a driver might request a slight air pressure increase in the right rear tire to
"loosen it up."
A car
running off the pace near the rear of the field.
When a
car doesn't tend to oversteer or understeer, but goes around the racetrack as
if its on rails, it's said to be in balance.
The
sloping of a racetrack, particularly at a curve or a corner, from the apron to
the outside wall. Degree of banking refers to the height of a racetrack's slope
at the outside edge.
Camber
addresses the angle at which a tire makes contact with the track surface.
"Positive camber" indicates the angle of the tire is tilted away from
the vehicle's centerline while "negative camber" indicates the tire
is tilted toward the centerline. A typical oval track setup would have positive
camber in the left front and negative camber in the right front to help the vehicle
make left-hand turns.
A
rotating shaft within the engine that opens and closes the intake and exhaust
valves in the engine.
The
combination of a car's floorboard, interior and roll cage.
The
up-and-down movement caused when a car travels around corners at high speeds.
The side of the car facing the turn becomes lighter while the extra weight goes
toward the outside of the turn.
At a
restart after a stoppage, all cars will roll around in single file and No passing
will be done until the green flag is shown and the Cars have passed the cone.
To go under the cone or to hit the cone is an immediate black flag
The
part of the tire that's actually touching the road.
The air
pressure traveling over the surfaces of a race vehicle creates
"downforce" or weight on that area. In order to increase corner
speeds teams strive to create downforce that increases tire grip. The tradeoff
for increased corner speeds derived from greater downforce is increased drag
that slows straightaway speeds.
DUMMY GRID
A set
area in the pits where the cars line up in the order they will start in.
The
resistance a car experiences when passing through air at high speeds. A resisting
force exerted on a car parallel to its air stream and opposite in direction to
its motion.
An iron
casting from the manufacturer that envelopes the crankshaft, connecting rods
and pistons.
A solid
metal plate that separates the engine compartment from the driver's compartment
of a race car.
The
front-most part of the race car, starting with the firewall.
A
holding tank for a race car's supply of gasoline. Consists of a metal box that
contains a flexible, tear-resistant bladder and foam baffling. A product of
aerospace technology, it's designed to eliminate or minimize fuel spillage.
Slang
term for the best route around a racetrack; the most efficient or quickest way
around the track for a particular driver. The "high groove" takes a
car closer to the outside wall for most of a lap, while the "Low
groove" takes a car closer to the apron than the outside wall. Road racers
use the term "line." Drivers search for a fast groove, and that has
been known to change depending on track and weather conditions. .
Generally,
a race car's performance while racing, qualifying or practicing. How a car
"Handles" is determined by its tires, suspension geometry,
aerodynamics and other factors.
HOLDING
YOUR LINE
This
generally refers to a car that's been lapped or passed in that the Driver must
continue on the same "LINE" trajectory that they were on, eg: if
running high they are to stay high till the car has over taken them.
Cars
that have completed at least one full lap less than the race leader.
(Also
referred to as "free" or "oversteer.") A condition created
when the back end of the vehicle wants to overtake the front end when it is
either entering or exiting a turn. In qualifying mode teams walk a fine line
creating a setup that "frees the vehicle up" as much as possible
without causing the driver to lose control.
This is
when a driver shall just bump or push the car in front hard enough to let the driver
know they are there, Its used to try and force the car in front to make an
error.
A term
drivers use when referring to how their car is handling. When a car is neither
loose nor pushing (tight).
See Loose
The
area where pit crews service the cars.
Slang
term for the foremost position on the starting grid,.
This is
a black flag with a white diagonal stripe, which when shown to a driver means
the steward is not happy with the conduct or style of the driver , and that the
driver shall report to the steward before they leave the race track, penalties
may apply
(Also
referred to as "tight" or "understeer.") "Push"
is a condition that occurs when the front tires of a vehicle will not turn
crisply in a corner. When this condition occurs, the driver must get out of the
throttle until the front tires grip the race track again.
The
sheet metal on both sides of the car from the C-post to the rear bumper below
the deck lid and above the wheel well.
The
section of a race car that begins at the base of the rear windshield and
extends to the rear bumper. Contains the car's fuel cell and rear suspension
components. .
Slang
term for a way of making chassis adjustments utilizing the race car's springs.
A wrench is inserted in a jack bolt attached to the springs, and is used to
tighten or loosen the amount of play in the spring. This in turn can loosen or
tighten the handling of a race car.
Slang
term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car's suspension before and
during a race.
Slang
for the period that begins during the latter part of the current season,
wherein some teams announce driver, crew and/or sponsor changes.
(Also
referred to as a "blade.") The spoiler is a strip of aluminum that
stretches across the width of a race vehicle's rear decklid. It is designed to
create downforce on the rear of the vehicle, thereby increasing traction.
However, the tradeoff, again, is that more downforce equals more aerodynamic
drag, so teams attempt, particularly on qualifying runs, to lay the spoiler at
as low an angle as possible to "free up" their vehicles for more
straightaway speed.
Stagger
is a concept that has largely been eliminated with the use of radial tires. It
refers to the difference in tire circumference between the left- and right-side
tires on the vehicle. Typically, the left-side tires would be a smaller
circumference than the right-side tires to "help" the vehicle make
left-hand turns.
Slang
term used for tire traction.
Sometimes
called an "antiroll bar." Bar used to resist or counteract the
rolling force of the car body through the turns.
TEAR OFFS
A clear
plastic film that goes across the visor of the helmet that it "torn"
off to give the Driver clear visibility again, there are also roll tear offs
and electric systems
Also
known as "understeer." A car is said to be tight if the front wheels
lose traction before the rear wheels do. A tight race car doesn't seem able to
steer sharply enough through the turns. Instead, the front end continues
through the wall.
Looking
at the car from the front, the amount the tires are turned in or out. If you
imagine your feet to be the two front tires of a race car, standing with your
toes together would represent toe-in. Standing with your heels together would
represent toe-out.
(Also
referred to as a "Panhard bar.") This bar locates the vehicle's rear
end housing from left-to-right under it. In calibrating the vehicle's
"suspension geometry," raising or lowering the track bar changes the
rear roll center and determines how well it will travel through the corners.
During races, this adjustment is done through the rear window using an extended
ratchet. Typically, lowering the track bar will "tighten" the vehicle
and raising the track bar will "loosen" it.
A rear
suspension piece holding the rear axle firmly fore and aft, yet allowing it to
travel up and down.
See Tight
Refers
to the relationship from corner-to-corner of the weight of the race vehicle.
Increasing the weight on any corner of the vehicle affects the weight of the
other three corners in direct proportion. Weight adjustments are made by
turning "weight jacking screws" mounted on each corner with a
ratchet. A typical adjustment for a "loose" car would be to increase
the weight of the left rear corner of the vehicle, which decreases the weight
of the left front and right rear corners and increases the weight of the right
front. A typical adjustment for a "tight" vehicle would be to
increase the weight of the right rear corner, which decreases the weight of the
right front and left rear and increases the weight of the left front.
The
practice of shifting a car's weight to favor certain wheels.
