Jul 9, 8:16 am ET
Glossary
A-arms
A component of suspension, these metal rods connect the tires and wheels to the chassis.  They are usually shaped like an "A", with the point of the A connected to the wheel and the bottom two points of the A connected to the chassis.  There are usually two A-arms at each wheel, one top and bottom. Also called wishbones.
Aerodynamics
The science of managing airflow over, under and around a car plays a major role in Champ Car design and tuning. Areas of high and low pressure 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. 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 play a key role in Champ Car design and evolution.
Air (dirty or clean)
As a specialized aerodynamic device, a Champ Car 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. 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 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.
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. The driver adjusts the anti-roll bars with levers in the cockpit. Also called a sway bar.
Apex
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 corner. This allows the driver to accelerate earlier and harder, gaining maximum speed down the next straight.
Backmarker
A car running near the back of the field.
Balaclava
The 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.
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."
Bias
See brake bias
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" (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.
Blister
Tires subjected to excessive heat can form blisters on the surfact that contacts the pavement. In Champ Cars, 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.
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.
Bodywork
The exterior of the car. The bodywork is generally made from carbon fiber. The panels lift off in sections so mechanics can get to mechanical components easily and quickly. Bodywork is carefully sculpted to maximize aerodynamic efficiency.
Boost
The engine on a Champ Car gets added power from a turbo 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 and providing greater power output. Boost pressure is adjustable by the driver, who tries to maintain the maximum amount of intake pressure while not triggering the popoff valve causing a loss of power.
bottoming
This is when the chassis actually touches the ground as the suspension compresses from aerodynamic downforce, and from vertical G forces on oval track banking or over bumps in the pavement. Champ 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 from the four wheels to the bottom of the chassis. Drivers can usually feel bottoming and report it to the team, which also uses small mirrors to examine the underside of the chassis to look for scraped areas where the chassis is rubbing on the ground.
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 as fuel is burned off.
Brake fade
Brakes transform motion into heat. The heat in the cast-iron rotors of a Champ 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 properly.
Braking Zone
The area leading into a turn where drivers apply the brakes to set the car up for manoeuvring through the turn. Each driver’s braking point differs, depending on the car’s setup and the driver’s level of skill.
Bump
In shock absorbers, a bump adjustment is a change to the dampening of the shock on the compression stroke. As a car passes over a bump on the track, each wheel assembly rises up to pass over it. Without compression dampening, the momentum of the wheel assembly would cause it to continue to rise after the bump until the spring finally overcomes the inertia and pushes the wheel back down. Since a tire can't do any work while in the air, bump dampening stops the upward momentum and allows the tire to stay in constant contact with the pavement. Bump adjustments also affect how the weight of the car shifts around during braking, acceleration and cornering, known as "weight transfer."
Bump Steer
Refers to changes in wheel alignment (toe, camber and caster) as the wheel moves through the suspension range. Wheel alignment is set with the car stationary, so bump steer affects must be properly considered to ensure that suspension movement does not cause adverse changes in handling or grip.
Camber
An element of chassis tuning. Each tire can be tilted inward or outward depending on the track. 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 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. Equal temperatures across the surface of the tire indicate the tire is being used to its maximum capacity.
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber is lighter than aluminum, stronger than steel, and very expensive material. It's used to construct the chassis of a modern Champ Car. 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.
CART
The acronym for Championship Auto Racing Teams Inc. The organization sanctions the Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, the Toyota Atlantic Championship and the Barber Dodge Pro Series. CART is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MPH."
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
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.
Chassis
The basic structure of a car, including the driver tub, gearbox and suspension. Engines are provided separately. There are two chassis manufacturers in Champ Car, Reynard and Lola, both based in England.
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.
Checkered flag
This black-and-white checked flag is the most famous in racing, signifying the end of the session or race. 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 turns, usually intended to reduce straightaway speeds.
Chief steward
Any time cars are on the racing surface, the chief steward is in charge of the entire facility. He is stationed in race control with radio communications all around the circuit, and he also has at his disposal a full bank of television monitors that give him a view of the entire circuit.
Clean air
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. 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 key to fast lap times.
Cockpit
The area of the chassis where the driver sits.
Compound
Tires are extremely important in racing, with Bridgestone providing the rubber for Champ Car. Compound refers to the chemical composition of the rubber tread, which requires a balance between the conflicting goals of traction (soft compound) and durability (hard compound).
Corner weights
This refers to the distribution of a car's weight among the four wheels. Management of corner weights is very important to handling. This weight is usually adjusted through raising and lowering each corner by rotating a threaded spring perch on each shock absorber or at some other point in the suspension linkage.
Corner workers
Recognized by their white clothing, these volunteer workers will travel across the country at their own expense, eating peanut butter sandwiches and sleeping in tents to provide flagging and marshalling duties around the track. Their expertise is key to the tremendous safety record enjoyed by Champ Car, and the drivers waving to the corner workers at the end of an event is their acknowledgement of the contribution these great people make. If you are interested in getting involved, volunteering for training at club racing events around the country is a great way to get immersed in the action. Contact the Sports Car Club of America at (303) 694-7222 for more information.
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 critical stuff for good handling on an oval track, where everything is biased to make the car turn left as fast as possible with no regard to turning right. Cross-weight can be adjusted by a driver using his steering wheel mounted weight jacker control.
DAG
Acronym for "Data Acquisition Geek," a computer expert who maintains a team's Data Acquisition system and analyzes the data.
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.
Diagnostic
A computerized analysis of a car’s performance and operating condition.
Diffuser
The bodywork at the rear underside of the car that controls underbody airflow as it exits the back of the car. A good diffuser generates significant downforce.
Dirty air
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 following closely behind another car. A car 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. The displacement of a Champ Car engine is 2.65 liters, allocated equally among 8 cylinders.
Donut
A crowd-pleasing victory celebration in which the driver mashes the gas pedal and spins the car in place, sending up a cloud of tire smoke
Downforce
Wings on a racing car are upside down compared to an airplane wing. Instead of lifting the car, they press the car harder 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 Champ Car provides so much downforce that it could actually stick to the ceiling at just over 100 miles per hour. Increased downforce also results in increased drag, which slows a car down, so it's a tradeoff.
Drafting
A fast-moving car creates a low-pressure area behind it, causing the air to try to move with the car. A car following behind can take advantage of this low pressure as it actually sucks the car along faster, known as "being in the slipstream." A savvy driver can either use the draft to pass, or to lift off the gas slightly and conserve fuel.
Drag
Drag is air pressure that builds up in front of a moving object, resisting the force of motion. The less drag a race car has, the more speed it generates from a given amount of horsepower. With Champ Cars, much effort is put forth to minimize drag while maximizing downforce. Many hours are spent in wind tunnel testing,fine tuning the shape of the wings, underbody, tunnels and bodywork.
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 Champ Car is a more sophisticated version of the computer in a street car, controlling functions such as ignition timing and fuel metering. In a Champ Car, the functions include traction control and driver-controlled fuel adjustment., and can be set up so that the engine will run at different maximum RPM limits or traction control settings depending on which gear the car is in or even location on a race track. An ECU can be easily reprogrammed by connecting a laptop computer to a plug on the side of the car.
End Plate
Vertical panels used on the ends of the front and rear wings to retain air pressure within the wing surface and not let it spill out the sides, improving aerodynamic efficiency.
Engine
Champ Cars use Ford engines prepared and tuned by Cosworth. These tiny engines are 2.65-liter overhead-cam turbocharged V-8s producing approximately 750 horsepower, running on methanol fuel.
Flag to flag
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.
Flags
Flags signal drivers of 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. This can happen from locking the brakes or from sliding sideways with one or more wheels not turning, and usually causes a severe vibration in the car at speed.
Formula car
Formula cars must fit within a specific set of design rules or "formula." The formulas are usually quite complex, but basic issues include minimum weight, engine displacement, vehicle dimensions, wing sizes and placement, ground-effects tunnel size and configuration, tire and wheel size, and safety considerations.
Fuel
The fuel that powers the turbo engine used in a Champ Car is methanol, a type of alcohol typically made from corn, rather than gasoline made from petroleum. One of the principle reasons for using methanol is safety; burning methanol can be easily extinguished with plain water. A fire of burning gasoline, on the other hand, is extremely difficult to put out. The methanol fuel is carried in a sophisticated fuel cell for further safety.
Fuel Adjustment
In a Champ Car, each driver has a knob on the steering wheel that can be used to change the fuel metering for the engine. More fuel means more power but less fuel mileage, while a lower fuel setting means the car can go further between pit stops but has less power available.
Fuel Bladders
See Fuel Cell.
Fuel Cell
A bladder-like container to hold methanol, the fuel used by Champ Cars. It is designed to be virtually puncture-proof, thus reducing the change of a fire during crashes.
G Force
The inertial force exerted upon drivers as the car changes direction. One "G" is equal to the force of gravity. Inertia causes a moving object to try and keep the same speed and direction of travel. As a Champ Car races around the track, any change in direction creates some amount of G Force. There are six directions of G Force: left/right, front/back and up/down. High-speed corners exert more G force on drivers than do very slow corners due to the additional grip provided by downforce as speeds increase, but braking, acceleration and rises or drops in the pavement also create "G"s. Champ Car drivers often endure up to five "G"s, or five times the force of gravity, particularly on high-speed oval tracks where banking in the turns create a combination of lateral (left/right) and vertical (up/down) G forces.
Gearbox
The transmission attached to the rear of the engine. Champ Cars have "sequential" shift patterns, which is more like a motorcycle gear change than the traditional "H" pattern on most street cars.
Green flag
The green flag is used by the starter to signal drivers that the race is under way, either at the start of the event or at the conclusion of a full-course yellow flag condition. Green flags are used by corner workers on road courses to let drivers know that they have passed beyond a yellow flag area and may resume passing.
Grid
The starting order of cars, as determined by qualifying position.
Grip
Grip is the cars ability to hold the pavement in 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, aerodynamic downforce and mechanical issues such as roll centers, spring rate, shock dampening, third springs, tire pressure, camber and caster. It is also important to balance the relative grip at the front and rear of the car.
Groove
see Line.
Ground effects
In airplanes, this refers to a cushion of air that builds up as a plane nears the ground. In racecars, this refers to artificially generated low-pressure areas underneath the car that help it adhere to the ground. This is done by "tunnels" on each side of the bottom of the car, which start off small near the front and gradually get bigger towards the rear, creating a vacuum as the car moves forward using the ground as the fourth side of the tunnel. The specifications of these ground effects tunnels are carefully monitored by Champ Car. Rules specify the dimensions of the tunnels and how high the outside edge of each tunnel must be from the ground. The greater the gap between the tunnel side and the ground, the more air escapes and the less downforce is generated.
Gurney flap
On the front and rear wings there are often small vertical strips along the trailing edges of the wings, set at 90 degrees to the plane of the wing. Because these strips greatly reduce turbulent air behind the wing, they can add significant downforce with a minimal amount of drag. On the rear wing, it can be easily exchanged for a different size during a pit stop. American racing legend Dan Gurney is generally credited with creating this device, which is also known as a "wickerbill."
Hairpin
A sharp, 180-degree turn.
Handford Device
Mark Handford, an aerodynamic engineer, created this rear wing addition for use on superspeedway ovals such as California Speedway in Fontana to help keep top speeds in check. The device consists of a vertical panel that drops from the rear edge of the rear wing to create drag that helps reduce top speeds. It has the added effect of creating significant drafting opportunities.
Handling
The performance of a car while racing. The response characteristics of a race car or “how it handles” are determined by its tires, chassis, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and other factors.
HANS Device
Acronym for Head and Neck Support. A yoke-collar safety device designed to reduce extreme head motions and neck loads during high-speed impacts. Mandated by Champ Car in 2001 for all oval-track testing and races, and is mandatory for all events and testing in 2002, including road and street circuits.
Hat Dance
The ritual of photos taken after a race, with the top three drivers changing sponsors hats for each photo.
Heat cycle
A tire that has been heated up through use and then cooled down has experienced one heat cycle. This often results in a slight hardening of the tire compound, which can make the tire perform at a high level for a longer period of time. See Scrubbed Tires.
Horsepower
A measure of an engine's maximum output in terms of torque over a period of time. Champ Car engines produce around 900hp while Toyota Atlantic and Barber Dodge Pro Series engines produce in the neighborhood of 250hp.
Hustling the Car
A driver pushing the car to the limit, often one that is not handling well.
In the Fence
When a driver hits the wall and crashes.
Infield
By its nature, a race track is an enclosed loop of pavement, beginning and ending in the same spot. Anything inside this loop is considered the infield, and it usually must be accessed by tunnels or bridges so vehicle and foot traffic do not interfere with the racing surface.
Jumping the start
At the start of the race, or at restarts during the race, the cars line up and approach the starting line at moderate speed. The leader is responsible for setting the pace and bringing the field together. If the leader accelerates to full speed too soon, or if one or more cars in the field accelerate out of position prematurely, they are considered to have "jumped the start" and the starter may choose to wave the yellow flag rather than the green flag. Or, the starter may wave the green flag and the field will start racing, but race officials may determine that drivers deemed to have jumped the start can be subjected to one or more penalties.
KART
Many drivers in the Champ Car field began their racing careers in karts, and use them to keep their reflexes sharp and their bodies toned between races and in the off-season. The phrase "go-karts" is usually reserved for basic karts with very low-powered motors that are rented to the general public. Racing karts, however, are extremely quick and physical to drive, serving as a low-cost way to go racing with a high-level experience. It's also a great place for families, with special classes and karts just for kids.
Kevlar®
A brand name for a certain type of composite material, used in everything from driver's helmets to bodywork to bulletproof vests used by police. A very strong, expensive and lightweight material.
Kitty litter
This term describes two things: the absorbent powder used to soak up fluid spills on the track (often real kitty litter) and the gravel runoff areas on the outside of many road course turns that help slow cars that go off the track.
Lift
To partially or completely release the throttle pedal, reducing engine RPM and speed. May also be referred to as "breathing" the throttle.
Line
This is the quickest way around a race circuit, taking advantage of braking, cornering and acceleration. For example, the line for a typical right-handed corner would begin by lining up on the left side of the approaching straight, braking hard, turning in all the way across the track to the inside curb, and then unwinding the steering wheel on the exit to release the friction of the turn, which takes the car back across the track to the outside again. The idea is to use the maximum amount of arc possible to maintain the greatest speed through the corner. The line is often visible due to the rubber laid down by cars, and interestingly is not the shortest way around the track, just the fastest.
Livery
A term describing the graphic design on a race car, including color schemes and sponsor branding.
Locking the Brakes
Engaging the brakes so hard that one or more wheels stops turning completely. This can cause a loss of steering if the front brakes are locked, or a spin if the rear brakes are locked. Locking the brakes can be a minor incident with no bad effects, or cause a driver to lose control, or flat spot one or more tires, creating a bad vibration in the car. A driver can adjust how his brakes perform by using the brake bias adjustment in the cockpit.
Loose
Same as Oversteer. Typically describes a cornering condition where the rear tires lose adhesion before the front tires, resulting in a car that feels like it wants to spin easily. This is one of the most unpleasant sensations for a driver on the superspeedways because once the car goes, it's almost impossible to catch. Solutions include adjustments to tire pressure, increasing the angle of the rear wing for more rear downforce, adjusting the rear anti-roll bar setting or spring rates in order to provide more grip, and reducing grip at the front by reducing the front wing angle or stiffening the front anti-roll bar setting or spring rates. Here is an easy way to remember whether a car is loose (oversteer) or tight (understeer): If the front end hits the wall, it was understeer. If the rear end hits the wall, it was oversteer.
Marbles
Bits of rubber scrubbed off of racing slicks while cornering. These small balls collect on the outside of the turn, and if a car goes wide (into the marbles, or "the gray", referring to the lighter appearance of an area covered with marbles), then much adhesion is lost. In addition, this rubber debris will stick to the hot tires and cause poor traction for the next few corners until they are rubbed off the tire. Champ Car uses a jet engine mounted on the back of a truck to blast marbles off the track.
Methanol
Racing fuel. It is not a fossil fuel. It is commercially manufactured by heating hydrogen and carbon monoxide under pressure. It requires less oxygen to burn than gasoline and can be made from many materials including wood and garbage.
Mirrors Full
Means a driver sees someone trying to pass him on the track.
No man's land
A roughly 10 to 20 foot wide strip between the track and the spectators where only CART officials and media personnel with credentials issued by Champ Car may stand while the cars are on the track. Usually it's between fences and behind barriers, but it varies from track to track and at different sections of the track.
Nomex®
A fire- and heat-resistant material used to make driving suits, gloves, shoes, helmet liners, balaclavas and underwear. Divers wear four or five layers of Nomex, including long underwear for complete fire protection. When combined with fuel bladders that are resistant to breaking open in a crash, the risk of fire has been greatly reduced over the last 20 years. Much of this technology was developed for the military.
Off-camber
Some turns on road and street courses are actually banked outward, which can make them very tricky to negotiate. This is known as an off-camber turn.
Open wheel
Refers to any type of racecar that does not have enclosed wheels. Champ Car, Formula Atlantic and Barber Dodge are open-wheel cars, as are the sprint cars, midgets and modifieds that run at local Saturday night tracks all over North America. Stock cars and sports cars are typically based more closely on production cars, with the wheels enclosed within fenders.
Oversteer
See Loose.
Pace Car
Pace cars lead the race cars around the circuit at the start of an event and during cautions. Drivers are not permitted to pass a pace car when it is on the circuit. The first pace car was used at the 1911 Indianapolis 500.
Paddock
The area where the team transporters are parked, and where the teams work on cars between on-track sessions. In Champ Car, this area is usually accessible to the general public.
Pick Up
Small materials such as stones, ”marbles” or pieces of carbon fiber adhering to racing tires. Also used in reference to a racing engine’s fuel management system. If a car has a fuel pick up problem, it isn’t receiving and adequate amount of fuel to ensure maximum engine efficiency and, therefore, power.
Pit Board
Each driver will have a crew member standing in no-man's land between the pit lane and the track (or sometimes at some other point around the circuit) with a large board used to communicate basic messages to the driver. Although each team has two-way communications with the drivers via on-board radios, sometimes these radios can fail and communication must come from the pit board and hand signals from the driver. Pit board information usually includes laps to go, position, gap to the car in front and/or behind, and instructions on when to make pit stops for fuel and tires.
Pit Crew
Each team has a number of personnel that work in specific areas of team operations, from accountants to engineers. One elite group of team members travels to each event and serve as the pit crew, servicing the car during pit stops for fuel and tires and managing the race from the pits, including race strategy and communications.
Pit row
An area adjacent to the track where cars pull in to be refuelled or serviced before and during a race. There is always a maximum speed limit along pit row, usually 50 mph.
Pit Stop
To stop in the pits.
Pits
The area where cars come in for fuel, tires, adjustments and repairs during on-track sessions. The name originated from early racetracks, where the mechanics actually stood in a shallow pit where they could duck if an out-of-control car came their way. Today, mechanics are protected by concrete walls, and the pit lane is segregated from the actual racing surface.
Podium
The top three finishers in an event stand on a podium (or stage) to be recognized after the race. The winner is usually in the middle on a higher pedestal, flanked by the second and third-place-finishers.
Pole
This historic term refers to the driver who starts at the front of the field on the inside of the front row by virtue of the fastest qualifying time. The term originated at horse tracks, where many of the original Champ Car races were held on dirt. The finish and distance markers of a horse track are marked by poles set on the inside edge of the track.
Pop-off valve
Champ Car engines are currently turbocharged providing additional horsepower and torque by injecting air and fuel into the engine’s intake manifold under pressure. Champ Car limits the amount of pressure, or “boost”, which can be used in order to help keep horsepower within reasonable limits. To keep the playing field even (and the manifold pressures within the rules), Champ Car provides each team with a manifold pressure relief, or pop-off valve, to put on top of their intake manifold. It's called a pop-off valve because it makes a loud pop when it lets off excess pressure. The effect is a sudden drop in horsepower. Champ Car jealously guards these valves, and goes to great lengths to make sure they are both accurate and consistent. Each day of practice, qualifying and racing, Champ Car officials pass out the pop-off valves to the teams and collect them in the evening.
Push
Same as Understeer or Tight. Typically describes a cornering condition where the front tires lose adhesion before the rear tires, resulting in a car that feels like it wants to go straight. Solutions include adjustments to tire pressure; increasing the angle of the front wings to press the tires harder to the ground; softening the front anti-roll bar setting or spring rates in order to provide more grip; or by making changes to reduce grip at the rear. such as reducing the rear wing angle or stiffening the rear anti-roll bar setting or spring rates. Here is an easy way to remember whether a car is loose (oversteer) or tight (understeer): If the front end hits the wall, it was understeer. If the rear end hits the wall, it was oversteer.
Qualifying
Qualifying determines starting positions, based on each driver's best lap time during the qualifying session or sessions. Each car is timed, and the starting grid is determined by the order of fastest cars.
Rain tires
Treaded tires used on a wet track. Also referred to as "Wets."
Rebound
In shock absorbers, a rebound adjustment is a change to the dampening of the shock on the expansion stroke. Without rebound dampening, the car would tend to bounce as it passes over bumps on the track. Rebound adjustments can also affect how the weight of the car shifts around during braking, acceleration and cornering.
Red and yellow flag
This striped flag is displayed by corner workers to signify debris (oil, sand, water or some other substance) on the track.
Red flag
When displayed at the start/finish line, a red flag signifies an immediate halt of the session due to a dangerous condition such as a flooded track or a car blocking the track. Corner workers around the track will display black flags when this happens, and all cars are required to stop racing and slowly return to the pits. The lap in progress is discarded, and the field reverts to the order of the previous lap when racing resumes. If the race has run more that 50 percent of the laps, the chief steward has the option to declare a complete race if track conditions are not expected to improve. If a race has run less than 50 percent, it will be concluded on another date.
Rev limiter
Modern engines are controlled by electronic "mapping" software that controls things such as fuel consumption and ignition timing. Rev limiting is used for two purposes: to keep the engine from exceeding its maximum rotational speed and exploding into bits of very expensive shrapnel, and to adhere to speed limit rules in the pit lane. Maximum rev limits are set by the engine manufacturer, while the pit lane rev limiter is controlled by a pushbutton on the steering wheel.
Ride height
Height of the chassis above the ground. Because of the relationship between the height of the ground-effect tunnels and their performance, maintaining optimum ride height is an important facet of car setup and design. However, it is hard to manage since the faster a car goes, the more the aerodynamic effects press it to the ground. Many very complex methods are used to maintain a consistent ride height. A Champ Car's ride height must be within two to three inches above the ground.
Roll Center
A Champ Car has two roll centers, one front and one rear. The roll center is the precise geometric point around which the chassis rolls. Roll centers may be adjusted by making suspension changes to raise or lower the roll center, or even to move it left, right, forward or rearward for specific tracks.
Sawing on the wheel
A driver who is on the verge of losing control may "saw on the wheel", turning it back and forth rapidly to regain control.
Scoop
A Champ Car is covered in scoops of various types. These scoops gather air and force it into a specific place for a specific purposes, from feeding air into the engine to be mixed with fuel for combustion to keeping hot parts cooled down, such as brakes and even the driver cockpit.
Scrubbed tires
Also known as Scuffed Tires, which have a few laps on them to remove the outer sheen and provide more consistent traction. See Heat Cycles.
Setup
There are a huge number of variable adjustments to the suspension, tires, gears, engine, wings, brakes and virtually every other piece of the car that can be moved or electronically altered. The idea is to improve the handling and performance by making a car conform to a particular track, temperature and even weather condition. The driver with the best setup is in a good position to win. A driver with a less-than-perfect setup can sometimes "hustle the car" and compensate for the deficiency, but most drivers perform at their utmost only when the car is comfortable.
Shock Absorbers
Oil-filled devices on which the suspension springs are mounted. Shock absorbers, or "shocks", help control the movement of the suspension by dampening that movement.
Shock Dampening
As the suspension moves up and down, either from G-forces or from bumps and irregularities in the track surface, shock absorbers (or "shocks", one for each of the four wheels) help keep the tires planted securely on the track surface and provide a smooth ride for the driver. The spings mounted to the shock absorbers suspend the chassis off the ground and as the suspension moves, shock dampening is used to control and modulate that movement in both directions; bump as the spring/shock compresses and rebound as the spring/The Bridgestone Potenza racing tires used in Champ Car competition can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the tire pressure. Tire pressure is a measurement of compressed gas inside the tire expressed in pounds per square inch. Nitrogen is typically used rather than regular air, since air contains vaporized water that can affect how the pressure in the tire changes as it heats up and cools down. Nitrogen is water-free and changes in pressure due to heat can be reliably predicted. Tire pressure is adjusted to change handling, as the flexible tires serve as an additional spring rate in the suspension. Increasing tire pressure serves to stiffen the overall suspension, while lowering the pressure will soften the overall suspension. This is a fine-tuning adjustment commonly made during a race since the team doesn't have time to change the actual springs.
Shunt
British term for crash or accident.
Sidepod
There are two sidepods on a Champ Car, one on either side of the car. They house the water and oil radiators and many electronic components, and are carefully blended with the underbody and tunnels to improve aerodynamic efficiency.
Silly Season
Refers to the rumors and innuendo that occurs as driver-candidates jockey for positions within the ranks of Champ Car teams. Can actually occur all year long as many drivers vie for the limited number of seats available each season.
Slicks
A racing tire with no tread. There is a misconception that the tread pattern of a tire provides traction. This is true in dirt, snow or on wet pavement, but on dry pavement the maximum amount of "contact patch" is desirable.
Slipstream
See Drafting.
Speed Trap
At certain places around the course, Champ Car Timing and Scoring officials place timing sensors under the pavement to detect cars passing over them. By measuring the distance between a set of lines and the time it takes for a car to pass over them both, speed can be calculated. These speed traps are usually set up at the end of long straights just before the braking point to provide a good approximation of the maximum speed attained.
Splash and Dash
Also splash and go or short fill. A certain points during a Champ Car race, particularly on the final pit stop, a car may stop in the pits just long enough to take on a minimum amount of fuel in order to lessen time spent on pit lane. Sometimes teams will use a pit strategy that includes one or more short fill stops during a race to try and gain track position, passing a competitor who may stay longer in the pits doing a complete fill up. Using this strategy during the middle of a race can be very complex since it means that the car will not be able to go as far before the next pit stop, creating a tradeoff between gaining track position now and losing it later.
Spotters
Teams on an oval track will usually have crew members on top of the grandstand where they can see the entire track and warn drivers of an accident or advise them where to go in traffic.
Spring Rate
The springs in the suspension of a Champ Car can be changed with different spring rates to soften or stiffen the suspension. Spring rates are generally measured in pounds of force per inch of compression. In other words, a 1,000-pound spring rate would compress one inch if a 1,000-pound weight were placed on it. The higher the spring rate, the stiffer the spring.
Springs
A Champ Car is held off the ground with four springs mounted to shock absorbers within the suspension. They consist of a coil of heavy wire which will compress as pressure is applied. Springs are necessary so that the car can pass over bumps in the pavement without generating an immediate loss of grip.
Stagger
The differences in circumference between right and left side tires. In oval events, it is preferable to have right side tires that are slightly taller to help the car turn. The principle is demonstrated by rolling a cone-shaped object on a flat surface – it rolls in a circle. For road circuit, most cars will have all four tire diameters equal. This is called “zero stagger.”
Stickers
A brand new tire, with the manufacturer's sticker still on the "tread."
Struts
Important components of the suspension system, struts are the bars visible between the wheels and body of the car, serving as control arms.
Suspension
A car is suspended off the ground by a complex set of A-arms, springs, shocks and anti-roll bars that connect the chassis to the four tires. How these components interact is crucial to good handling.
Swap Paint
Two cars that touch each other are sometimes referred to as having "swapped paint", suggesting that the paint from one car ended up on the other. In the case of open-wheeled Champ Cars, the tires stick out farther than the sides of the car so usually a tire touches another tire (very dangerous) or the sidepod of the other car.
SWOL
An acronym you may hear on the in-car audio, referring to the electronic "Shift With Out a Lift" device, which allows gear shifts without lifting off the throttle, making the shift faster.
Take a look
A driver following closely behind another car may dart momentarily to the inside at the entry to a corner, pretending to attempt a pass in order to disrupt the concentration of the driver in front and hopefully cause a small mistake, setting up a subsequent passing attempt.
Take a Peek
When a driver puts his car in position to see if he has enough horsepower or is quick enough in a corner to pass a competitor.
Tear off Strips
Strips of clear plastic that cover the visor on a driver's helmet to collect debris such as oil or dirt. When the visor becomes dirty, a driver can tear off the dirty strip and restore clear vision. Multiple layers of tear-off strips can be added to a visor. You may see a driver tossing out a tear-off while he drives, often during pit stops.
Telemetry
Data acquisition transmitted wirelessly while the car is on the track.
Tether
Braided Kevlar double strap bolted to the wheel on one end and to the chassis on the other to keep the wheel attached to the chassis in case of an accident.
Third Spring
The extremely complex suspension system on a Champ Car uses these devices on the front and rear suspension systems to maintain accurate ride height, maximizing downforce from the underbody and tunnels. The third spring usually lies between the right and left spring/damper units (the other two springs, hence third spring) and serves to stabilize the car as it rides over bumps or is subjected to g-forces.
Tight
See Push.
Tire Pressure
The Bridgestone Potenza racing tires used in Champ Car competition can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the tire pressure. Tire pressure is a measurement of compressed gas inside the tire expressed in pounds per square inch. Nitrogen is typically used rather than regular air, since air contains vaporized water that can affect how the pressure in the tire changes as it heats up and cools down. Nitrogen is water-free and changes in pressure due to heat can be reliably predicted. Tire pressure is adjusted to change handling, as the flexible tires serve as an additional spring rate in the suspension. Increasing tire pressure serves to stiffen the overall suspension, while lowering the pressure will soften the overall suspension. This is a fine-tuning adjustment commonly made during a race since the team doesn't have time to change the actual springs.
Tires
The tires used in Champ Car racing are specialized Bridgestone Potenza racing slicks manufactured to withstand the extreme demands of racing on road courses, street circuits, short ovals and superspeedway ovals. Special treaded rain tires are used for wet weather competition.
Toe
In order to provide stable tracking, all four tires are usually pointed slightly inward if viewed from overhead. More toe-in provides more stability but increased tire drag. On high-speed oval tracks, these toe settings are even more crucial. Teams usually adjust toe with the most unsophisticated methodology seen in racing, using a string around the outside of the car and a caliper to measure the difference in the distance from the string between the front outside of the tire and the rear outside of the tire.
Torque
A measure of engine power, described in foot-pounds of force. (10 foot-pounds of torque is the effect of hanging 10 pounds on the end of a wrench one foot long, as if the wrench were tightening a bolt. It is also equivalent to hanging a one pound weight at the end of a 10' long wrench to create the same torque value of 10 foot-pounds.) Horsepower is a measurement of torque over a period of time.
Traction Control
Traction control is managed by the ECU using specialized software and can be adjusted by the driver. In a very powerful Champ Car, it's easy to spin the rear wheels on acceleration, even in upper gears at high speeds. Spinning the rear wheels reduces acceleration and can cause the tires to overheat, and can also cause a car to oversteer and result in a loss of control. Traction control works by temporarily reducing engine power output when sensors on the wheels detect wheelspin. Traction control is a very complex exercise in software programming and can be customized for particular tracks, invoking varying levels of traction control in different gears or at different points around a circuit.
Transponder
Small blue electronic transmitter mounted to the chassis. When the car crosses a wire embedded in the track, it sends a signal to the Champ Car Timing computer for lap and lap segments timing. Each car has a specific code so the computer can keep track of the individual cars.
Transporter
A large tractor-trailer rig used to move cars, tires and equipment from one race location to another. See "car transporters"
Tunnels
Ground-effect-generating venturi underneath the side pods of a Champ Car. See Aerodynamics.
Turbo
Champ Car engines are currently turbocharged. A turbocharger is a turbine device which places a fan within the exhaust system. Exhaust gas pressure causes this fan to spin very rapidly (in the neighborhood of 100,000 rpm). The exhaust fan is attached to a driveshaft that turns a separate fan within the intake system, forcing additional fuel and air into the intake manifold under high pressure, or “boost”, producing more horsepower and torque. Champ Car regulates the boost level with a “Pop-off valve”.
Turbulence
See Air (dirty or clean).
Turn in
As a car reaches a corner, this is the moment at which a driver actually begins to turn the wheel. The timing of this action and the car's response to it are crucial for setting fast lap times.
Underbody
Same as Underwing. The underbody on a Champ Car is a sculpted piece of bodywork that most people never see. It's on the underside of the car, and incorporates ground-effect generating tunnels and diffuser that help create downforce while minimizing drag. Many hours are spent in a wind tunnel to maximize the efficiency of the underbody. Also see ride height and third spring for more information.
Understeer
See Push.
Victory Lane
A special place reserved for the winner of the race or the top-three finishers to park their cars and climb onto the Victory Podium, a three-level stand where the top three finishers receive their trophies and spray the champagne.
Vortex
An area of revolving compressed air. The most obvious examples are the vortices that are visible coming off the rear wing of a Champ Car in humid conditions. These vortices are always there but only visible in certain conditions.
Weight Jacker
A control on the steering wheel of a Champ Car, used by drivers on oval tracks to adjust the cross-weight of the car and fine-tune the handling characteristics.
Wheel Tethers
Very strong braided kevlar and steel cables that secure wheels to the chassis in the event of a crash, reducing the likelyhood that they will completely detach from the car and possibly become a dangerous projectile.
White and red flag
Used by the starter, this white flag with a diagonal red stripe indicates that an emergency or service vehicle is on the track, and extreme caution should be used.
White flag
When waved by the starter, this signifies the start of the last lap of the race. When waved by a corner worker, it signifies that a slow-moving vehicle is on the track.
Wickerbill
See Gurney Flap.
Wind Tunnel
A facility built for the purpose of aerodynamic evaluations, a wind tunnel usually consists of a large tunnel with a powerful fan at one end and a spot downwind for whatever is being aerodynamically tested, whether a racing car, street car, airplane or other device. The fan blows a powerful stream of air across the stationary object being tested, which is connected to various sensors and computer systems to study engineering issues such as downforce and drag. A small wind tunnel may often use scale models, while larger and more expensive wind tunnels may use full scale models or actual vehicles. Some of the best wind tunnels for automotive use will actually have a fast-moving floor that simulates the car moving across the ground.
Wings
Located on both the front (nose) and rear of Champ Cars, wings are fully adjustable to affect traction and balance of the race car. Wings will be changed, depending on track types and the effects desired by the driver. But they are strictly regulated in size and position by the rule book.
Wire-to-Wire
See Flag to Flag. A variation that refers to leading a race from start to finish.
Wishbone
See A-Arms
Yellow flag
If displayed by a corner worker, this means the subsequent section of the track has a problem that requires that drivers slow down and not make any passes. Usually this is because a car has crashed and is in a dangerous position. If the starter displays two yellow flags, it signifies a full-course caution, which prompts the pace car to enter the track and lead the cars around at reduced speed.
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