AAA / AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION
The American Automobile Association (AAA – pronounced “Triple A”) is a federation of motor clubs throughout North America. “AAA” or “Triple-A” was founded on March 4, 1902, in Chicago, Illinois. AAA created an organization called the Racing Board, and later known as the Contest Board, in 1902 to officiate the Vanderbilt Cup international automobile race in Long Island, New York. The Racing Board sanctioned the Indianapolis 500 and awarded national racing championships in 1905, 1916, 1920–1941, and 1946–1955. Currently, AAA is a privately held not-for-profit national member association and service organization with over 58 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA provides services to its members, including roadside assistance and other services. Its national headquarters are in Heathrow, Florida.
AERO
Commonly used abbreviation when referring to the all-important science of aerodynamics.
AERODYNAMICS
The science of managing airflow over, under and around a car plays a major role in most upper tier race car design and tuning. Areas of high and low air pressure on and around the race car are carefully managed to maximize downforce (to help the tires grip the ground) while minimizing drag (to maximize speed). Two principal concepts are used to achieve these goals. Front and rear wings work like upside-down versions of an airplane wing, pressing the car downward to grip the track surface. Also, the bottom of the car features a special underbody that includes two large grooves (like funnels cut in half) called tunnels that suck the car down by creating a partial vacuum underneath – called ground effects. The use of wind tunnels for testing and tuning, play a key role in most race car aerodynamic design and evolution.
AEROFOIL or WING
A type of upside-down wing (as opposed to how a wing is used on an airplane) used to keep the car pushed down firmly on the track at high speed, by providing maximum aerodynamic downforce. (see aero/aerodynamics)
AIR (DIRTY OR CLEAN)
As a specialized aerodynamic device, a racecar must be designed and tuned to work well when conditions are not ideal. If a car is travelling around a track by itself (such as in oval track qualifying), the air is undisturbed and is considered “clean”. However, each car throws off a significant amount of turbulence in its wake, much like the waves and bubbles created by a moving boat on the surface of the water. If a car travelling behind another car is affected by this turbulence, the air is considered “dirty”. Careful attention must be paid to tuning the aerodynamics so that the car works well in both “clean” and “dirty” conditions.
AIR PRESSURE
Mechanics can adjust a car’s handling by raising or lowering air pressure in the tires. Flex in the sidewall of race tires acts like another spring in the suspension. Increasing the air pressure makes the overall spring rate stiffer, while lowering the pressure will make it softer. Air pressure can also effect ride height.
AIR WRENCH
This tool uses compressed air to quickly remove wheel nuts on contact. A crew member proficient with the air wrench can save a team valuable seconds on a Pit Stop. Also referred to as an air gun or impact gun.
ANGLE OF ATTACK
The angle of a race car wing. The angle is varied on each track to produce optimal downforce and minimize drag.
ANTI-ROLL BAR
A mechanical linkage, one each for the front and rear suspensions, that helps transfer more weight to the inside tires in the corners and helps keep all four tires gripping the track as equally as possible. In some advanced race cars the driver can adjust the anti-roll bars with levers in the cockpit. Also called a sway bar.
APEX
The point in a corner where a car is closest to the inside edge of the track. Drivers try to “hit” the apex to take the straightest line through the turn and thereby maintain maximum speed. The geometric inside center point of a corner. In racing, a driver will often use a “late apex, “turning into the corner a little later than normal in order to straighten out the last part of the turn. This allows the driver to accelerate earlier and harder, gaining maximum speed down the next straight. (See also early apex and late apex)
APRON
An apron is a border built to separate the racetrack from the infield.
ARMCO/ARMCO BARRIER
Steel material fitted at the sides of race tracks forming barriers (guard rails) designed to prevent vehicles from leaving the race track. These barriers are designed to absorb the impact of a car at high speed, similar to highway guard rails.
ATMOSPHERIC ENGINES, ATMO ENGINES
Engines which use natural (or atmospheric pressure) air flow as opposed to forced air induction.
BACK OUT
When a driver takes his foot off the gas pedal (all the way or part way), he “backs out” or “lifts off.”
BACKMARKER
A car running near the back of the field.
BALACLAVA
The soft, fireproof hood drivers wear under their helmets to avoid burns to the face and neck.
BALANCE
Condition where there is no understeer or oversteer, which allows a car to move at the highest possible speed through corners.
BALLAST
Weights fixed on the cars to maximize its balance and bring it up to the minimum weight rules’ requirements.
BANKING
On oval tracks, the corners are often tilted inward to provide faster speeds. On some road courses, certain turns may actually be banked outward, a very difficult type of corner known as “off-camber.”
BARGEBOARD
A piece of bodywork on the car that is mounted vertically between the front wheels and the side pods to help smooth the airflow around the sides of the car and make it more aerodynamically efficient.
BITE
The amount of traction that a race car has at the rear wheels. Tuning adjustments can be made to the car that puts more “bite” into the rear tires by adding weight and /or distribution of the cars’ weight, or “wedge” to the car or even adjusting the aerodynamics.
BLACK BOX
Unlike those which store recording devices in airplanes, a race car’s black box contains high tech electrical systems which control most engine functions. More technically referred to as the ECU, Engine Electronic Controls, the Engine Control Unit or the Engine Management System. (see ECU)
BLACK FLAG
This flag is waved by the starter to signal a driver that he or she must immediately report to the pits for consultation related to a dangerous mechanical condition or a driving infraction. Failure to heed the flag can result in exclusion from the final results of the event. This flag may also be displayed in a ‘furled’ , or rolled-up, manner as a warning. Corner workers may also display a black flag if the session has been halted by the display of a red flag by the starter.
BLACK FLAG with orange circle
This flag accompanied by a car number warns a driver that he has a mechanical problem and must return to his pit.
BLISTER
Tires subjected to excessive heat can form blisters on the tires’ surface that contacts the pavement. This can occur when a car’s handling is not quite right, resulting in excessive wear on one or more tires. A blister is caused when the rubber tread compound exceeds its maximum operating temperature and melts, greatly reducing the tire’s ability to grip the pavement. Drivers can often detect the problem by the resulting vibrations they cause and risk more serious damage if they choose not to pit for new tires.
BLOCKING
Racing term for a driver changing position on the track to prevent drivers behind from passing. Blocking is usually accepted if a car is defending it’s position in the running order but considered unsportsmanlike if a lapped car holds up more competitive racers.
BLUE FLAG, BLUE LIGHTS, n.
A blue flag warns the driver that he is about to be lapped and to let the faster car overtake him. If a driver passes three blue flags, without complying, then the driver risks being penalized. Blue lights are also displayed at the end of the pit lane, when the pit exit is open and a car on track is approaching.
BLUE FLAG WITH DIAGONAL YELLOW STRIPE
This flag is displayed by corner workers around the track to signal to a driver that a faster car is either approaching (steady flag) or attempting a pass (waved flag). The driver being flagged has no obligation to do anything other than be alert, maintain the racing line and avoid intentionally obstructing the faster car.
BOOST
The amount of pressure generated by a turbocharger or supercharger as it forces the air/fuel mixture into a forced induction engine. The engine on certain types of race cars get added power from a turbocharger attached to the engine. The turbo provides boost to the intake manifold pressure, increasing the amount of fuel and air that get packed into the cylinders, providing greater power output. In some types of race cars boost pressure is adjustable by the driver.
BOTTOMING
When a car’s chassis hits the track surface, sometimes making sparks fly. This occurs when the chassis, at high speed, actually touches the ground as the suspension compresses from aerodynamic or G-force weight induced compression. G forces on oval track banking or over bumps in the pavement on road and street courses can also cause this effect. The top race cars are very sensitive to ride height adjustments which affects the efficiency of the downforce generated by ground effects, so a careful balance needs to be achieved between running the car too high and losing ground effect downforce, or running the car too low and experiencing bottoming. Bottoming can cause reduction in speed from the friction generated as the car drags on the ground, and can cause a loss of control as weight is transferred from the four wheels to the bottom of the chassis. Drivers can usually feel bottoming and report it to their engineers.
BOW TIE
Nickname attributed to Chevrolet based on the likeness of its logo.
BRAKE BIAS
In most cars, including street cars, pressing on the brake pedal applies a little more force to the front brakes than the rear. This is designed to take advantage of the fact that under braking, weight transfers to the front of the car. With lots of weight on the front tires, the brakes can be applied very hard without completely stopping the wheels from rotating (“locking the wheels”). At the same time, the rear of the car tends to get lighter, so the rear brakes must be engaged less than the fronts to avoid locking the rear wheels and possibly losing control. In a racecar, brake bias is adjustable by the driver to compensate for changing conditions, such as on a wet track where there is less weight transfer to the front of the car under braking, or to adjust for a changing center of gravity or vehicle weight, as fuel is burned off.
BRAKE FADE
Brakes transform motion into heat. The heat in the cast-iron break rotors of a race car can reach 5,000 degrees F. When the fluid in the brake system exceeds its boiling point due to hard use, bubbles can form in the brake lines and calipers. Since these bubbles can be squeezed smaller by pressure from the brake pedal, the pedal tends to “go soft” and may even go to the floorboard without the brakes working or engaging properly.
BRAKING ZONE
The area leading into a turn where drivers apply the brakes to set the car up for turning through the turn. Each driver’s braking point differs, depending on the car’s setup and the driver’s level of skill.
BRICKYARD
Nickname given to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) which, although paved now, used to have a brick surface. The track hosts the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 among other events. In recent years a series of vintage auto-racing events have become very popular.
BURN OFF
Burning fuel during the course of a race. As fuel is burned, the car becomes lighter and its handling characteristics can change, challenging the driver and crew to make adjustments to achieve balance. Usually the lap times get better as a race progresses, as a well setup race car gets lighter during various segments of a race and handling improves.
CAMBER
This is an element of chassis tuning. The angle that wheels are tilted inward or outward from vertical. Each tire can be tilted inward or outward depending on the track. If the top of the wheel is tilted inward, the camber is negative. The usual idea is to tilt the top of the tire inward (negative camber) so that under cornering loads, the entire surface of the tread is being used to the maximum. On oval tracks, because the car only turns left, the left-side tires may be tilted outward (positive camber). Teams usually adjust the camber setting based on reading tire temperatures across the surface of the tread, with the goal of having equal temperatures on the inside, middle and outside edges.
CAMSHAFT
A camshaft is a rotating shaft that regulates the engine’s intake and outtake valves.
CARBON FIBER
Carbon fiber is a construction material used extensively on upper level race cars. Carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum, stronger than steel, and very expensive. It’s used to construct the chassis and body parts of a modern race cars. Sheets of carbon fiber cloth are “laid up” like fiberglass by an expert fabricator using a mold, and then heated and reheated for days in an autoclave, a large, high-tech oven.
C.A.R.T. /CCWS
The Champ Car World Series was an international open-wheel auto-racing championship based in North America formerly known as Championship Auto Racing Teams, or CART. Under the CART organization the series was officially known as the CART PPG IndyCar World Series, then the CART FedEx Championship Series, and, in the organization’s final year, the Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered By Ford. CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) was known as the Champ Car World Series from 2004-2007. It merged into the IndyCar Series prior to the 2008 season. CART was founded in 1979 by United States Auto Club Championship Division team owners who disagreed with the direction and leadership of USAC, with the then-novel idea of car owners sanctioning and promoting their own series collectively instead of relying on a neutral governing body to do so. Through the 1980s, the Indy Car World Series became the pre-eminent open-wheel auto racing series in North America, featuring street circuits, road courses, and oval track racing. CART drivers continued to compete at the USAC-sanctioned Indianapolis 500.
CASTER
Another measure of chassis tuning related to the front wheels. The front wheels are attached to the suspension at the top and bottom of the wheel assembly. The top attachment is typically set a little farther back than the lower attachment, creating caster. The more caster used, the more the wheel resists turning forces, providing stability. Too much caster makes it very difficult to steer, and causes the tire camber to change significantly as the wheel is turned. Not enough caster results in the front end “wandering,” or trying to turn on its own.
CAUTION PERIOD (Yellow Flags)
When the track is unsafe because of an accident, debris or a sudden downpour, the officials may put the track under caution by waving yellow flags at the starter stand and around the track. This brings out the pace car to gather the field and lead them around at reduced speed until the track is safe for a restart.
CENTER OF GRAVITY
The area of the car that could balance both the car’s weight in the front and the back if it were suspended.
CHAMP CAR
Champ Car was the trade name for Open Wheel Racing Series Inc., a sanctioning body for American open-wheel car racing that operated from 2004 to 2008. It was the successor to Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), which sanctioned the Indy Car World Series from 1979 until dissolving after the 2003 season.
CHASSIS
The basic structure of a car, including the driver tub, gearbox and suspension. The basic structure of a race car to which all other components are attached. Engines are considered separately, though they may be an integral part of the overall structure of the car. F1 and Indy cars have carbon-fiber monocoque “tubs” while a NASCAR stock car has a steel tube frame chassis.
CHASSIS ROLL
As a car goes through a corner, G-forces cause the chassis to want to continue going straight. Since the tires are gripping the pavement at the very lowest point on the car, the upper part of the car tends to lean outwards in the corner. The way chassis roll affects handling can be adjusted by making changes to the suspension, raising or lowering the roll center front and rear. Tire size and construction is also very important as the tire’s sidewall can stiffen or soften the effect on chassis roll to a large extent.
CHECKERED FLAG, (also CHEQUERED FLAG)
A checkered black and white checkerboard style flag indicates to the drivers that the race has ended. This flag is the most famous in racing, often symbolizing success and excellence in auto-racing. At the end of a race, the first car to receive the checkered flag at the finish line is the winner.
CHICANE
A quick succession of sharp, slow-speed turns forming an “S” like track configuration generally designed on a fast portion of a track. Usually inserted into a circuit to slow down the cars, often just before a high-speed corner or in the middle of a long straightaway. (Also referred to as “esses” or, when extreme, a “switchback.”)
CHIEF STEWARD
Any time cars are on the racing surface, a chief steward is in charge of the entire facility. He is usually stationed in race control headquarters with radio communications all around the circuit. Often he also has a full bank of television monitors that give him a views of the entire circuit.
CIRCUIT
Any race track. Also refers to the entire slate of races on a season schedule.
CIRCULATING
Driving around a track with a damaged and/or slow car to accumulate laps and, more importantly, points and prize money.
CLEAN AIR
Air without turbulence created in the wake of other race cars. When a car is running by itself on the track, it’s in “clean air” because the air is not being disturbed by other cars. During a race “Clean Air” is usually found at the very front of the field. (see Dirty Air)
CLIPPING POINT
The place in a corner where the car comes closes to the inside edge of the track. Note that this is different than the apex of the corner, which is the geometric center of the inside edge. A driver may choose a clipping point that is before or after the apex of the corner, depending on the characteristics of the entry into and the exit out of the turn. Usually, the clipping point is after the geometric apex (generally called a “late apex”) in order to get the car pointed down the track as soon as possible for maximum acceleration down the subsequent straight. Race tracks generally consist of more straights than turns, so maximum possible speed down the straights, rather than speed throughout the corner, is usually key to fast lap times.
COLD PITS
When the pits a deemed ‘cold’ there is no racing activity on the track and the pits are open to people, media and activities other than team members and racing officials.
COMPOUND
The rubber blend for tires. Tires are extremely important in racing, with many tire manufacturers providing the rubber for auto-racing worldwide. Compound refers to the chemical composition of the rubber in racing tires. A softer compound tire provides better traction but wears out much faster than a harder compound tire which doesn’t provide as much grip but may last many more laps than other softer compounds.
CONTACT PATCH
The term given to the small portion of the tire that makes contact with the racing surface. This is one of the more important elements of a driver’s success. Different modifications to the car’s suspension, aero and tires can help the driver get a good contact patch.
CORNER WEIGHTS
This refers to the team’s race set-up’s distribution of a car’s weight among the four wheels.
CORNER WORKERS
Recognized by their normally white clothing, corner workers are mostly volunteers who staff corners and other track areas, to notify drivers of any dangerous situations in the area and provide safety and rescue services.
COSWORTH
Engine manufacturing company which has cooperatively developed racing motors with Ford for many years. Named after co-founders Mike Costain and Keith Duckworth.
CRANKSHAFT
The crankshaft is a rotating shaft that is powered by the up-and-down motion of the pistons. The crankshaft is housed in the crankcase of the engine.
CROSS-WEIGHT
An important component of corner weights, cross-weight refers to the relative corner weights on the X-axis of a car, such as the amount of weight on the left front wheel compared to the right rear wheel, or the right front and the left rear. This is a critical consideration for good handling. In many race cars cross-weight can be adjusted on-the-go by a driver using his ‘weight jacker’ control in the cockpit.
DAMPER
The damper is a device which reduces the car’s suspension vibration.
DATA ACQUISITION
Teams use sophisticated sensors, transmitters, computers and software to provide information on what the car and the driver are doing. Everything from engine stress to the driver’s heartbeat can be monitored. The information is analyzed to improve handling, performance and even driver technique. Data can be acquired by connecting a computer to the car or by wireless telemetry.
DIALING IN
This refers to the driver and crew making setup adjustments to achieve the car’s optimum handling characteristics for an individual driver at a given track.
DIFFUSER
The bodywork at the rear underside, or undertray, of the car that controls underbody airflow as it exits the back of the car. The design and efficiency of the diffuser is important, as it controls the speed at which the air exits and thus changes the aerodynamic airflow at the bottom and rear of the car. The faster the exit, the lower the air pressure beneath the car and the more downforce the car generates – creating more grip for breaking, turning and accelerating. A good diffuser generates significant downforce.
DIRTY AIR
The turbulence created in the wake of other race cars. The rear wing of the car in front tends to push the air higher, creating a very turbulent low-pressure area directly behind the car. At high speeds, downforce can be disrupted by one car following closely behind another car. A racer following closely often will suffer understeer as a result of being in this “dirty air.” (see Clean Air)
DISPLACEMENT
This is a general automotive term describing the sum of the volume of the cylinders of the engine. Displacement is generally described in cubic inches (USA) or cubic liters (UK/Europe) of volume.
DNF
Did not finish.
DNS
Did not start.
DNQ
Did not qualify.
DONUT
A crowd-pleasing victory celebration in which the winning driver floors the gas pedal and spins the car in place, sending up a cloud of tire smoke and leaving donut shaped tire tracks.
DOWNFORCE
The forces of air passing over, through and even under a moving race car can be used to push the car downward, creating more pressure on the contact patches of the tires and thus producing more grip. In addition, the actual curb weight of the race car produces ‘downforce’. Consequently, wings on a racing car are positioned upside down compared to an airplane wing. Instead of lifting the car, they press the car harder downward onto the track, providing increased traction for braking, acceleration and cornering. Downforce is also provided by the ground-effects tunnels underneath the car, creating a vacuum that sucks the car to the track. A modern F1 or IndyCar provides so much downforce, more than the total weight of the car, that it could actually stick to the ceiling at just over 100 miles per hour and theoretically run upside down. Increased downforce also results in increased drag, which slows a car down, so it’s a tradeoff. On modern top race cars, downforce is an essential component to a great car.
DRAFT/DRAFTING
Airflow creates a low-pressure air pocket (or draft) behind moving objects. In some situations, drivers try to follow leading opponents closely enough to enter their draft and produce a “towing” effect. A car following behind can sometimes take advantage of this low air pressure as it actually sucks the car along faster, known as “being in the slipstream.” The car creating the draft actually pulls the pursuing driver, who can either use the draft to pass, or ease off the throttle and conserve fuel.
DRAG
The air resistance a car experiences as it moves forward. Drag is air pressure that builds up in front of a moving object, resisting the force of forward motion. With advanced race cars, much design effort is put forth to minimize drag while maximizing downforce. Basically, the goal is to channel any necessary drag toward the contact patches on the tires (and maybe even add a bunch more ‘drag’ as ‘downforce’). Many hours are spent fine tuning the shape of the wings, underbody, tunnels and bodywork to achieve these goals. The less aerodynamic drag a race car has, the more straight-line-speed it generates from a given amount of horsepower.
DRY WEIGHT
A car’s weight without any liquids such as gas and oil.
DROP THE HAMMER
Means a driver puts the ‘pedal to the metal’. Pushing the gas pedal as far forward to the floor as possible, producing the car’s maximum acceleration.
DYNO
A contraction of “Dynamometer,” an engine-testing device used in the shop that measures power and simulates the loads and environment of a racing engine.
ECU – ENGINE CONTROL UNIT
The engine control unit in a race car is a more sophisticated version of the computer in a street car, controlling functions such as traction control, RPM limits, ignition timing and fuel metering.
F1 (Formula 1)
Abbreviation for Formula One, one of the world’s premier international race series.
FIA
Federation Internationale de l’Automobile. This is the governing body for most auto racing around the world, based in Switzerland. FIA was established in June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organizations and automobile users. Generally the FIA is primarily known as the governing body for many auto racing events. This includes the licensing and sanctioning of Formula One, World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship and various forms of sports car and touring car racing. The FIA also certifies land speed record attempts. The FIA also promotes road safety around the world.
FIRE SUIT
Fire-resistant clothing which is required apparel for drivers as well as crew members, officials, media and anyone else in the pits during a race or during other ‘hot pit’ situations.
FLAG TO FLAG
A term that refers to leading a race from start to finish. A driver who starts the race from pole position and is never passed is credited with winning “flag to flag”, from the Green Flag at the start to the Checkered Flag at the finish. (see Wire to Wire)
FLAGMAN
The person standing on the tower above the Start/Finish Line who controls the race with a series of flags.
FLAGS
Flags signal drivers of race events or conditions. Green, white, white/red, black, checkered, blue, yellow, red and red/yellow flags each have a different meaning. (see each individual color for an explanation of what each flag means).
FLAT SPOT
If a tire stops spinning and drags along the pavement, it can rub off an excess amount of rubber in that spot and cause a flat spot. A flat spot on the tire effects the cars handling, often causing severe vibration and in many cases forces the driver to go to the pits to change tires. Flat spots can happen from locking the brakes or from sliding sideways during a spin with one or more wheels not turning.
FRESH RUBBER
A new set of tires at the start of a race or acquired during a pit stop during the race.
G FORCE
The inertial force exerted upon drivers as the car changes direction. One “G” is equal to the normal force of gravity at sea level. There are six directions of G Force: left/right, front/back and up/down. Indy Car drivers often endure up to five “G”s, or five times the force of gravity, created by braking, acceleration and rises or drops in the pavement. G-forces during crashes can exceed 100 Gs for brief moments
GAS MAN
The person on a pit crew with the job of filling the car with fuel from either a can (example- NASCAR) or from a filler hose (example-IndyCar).
GRAVEL TRAP
An area of deep gravel on the outside of corners which is designed to slow or stop cars when they leave the track’s racing surface usually due to spins or crashes.
GREEN FLAG
The green flag is used by the starter to signal drivers that the race is under way. When a driver has passed a danger point on the track and prohibitions imposed by yellow flags have been lifted, green flags are used by corner workers to let drivers know that they have passed beyond a yellow flag area and may resume racing.
GRID
The starting order of cars, as determined by qualifying position.
GRIP
Grip is the cars ability to grab hold of the pavement with it’s tires during a turn and while accelerating or braking. The amount of grip available is a function of the composition of the pavement, the composition of the tires, suspension, aerodynamic downforce and mechanical issues.
GROOVE
This is the area that is the fastest and most efficient path around the track, also known as ‘The Racing Line’. You can often see a darker surface on a track that describes ‘the groove’. The pavement is usually darker because of a build-up of tire rubber on the racing surface.
(see Line or Racing line)
