G.V.A.C

AIR PRESSURE

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."

BACK MARKER

A car running off the pace near the rear of the field.

BALANCE

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.

BANKING

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

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.

CAMSHAFT

A rotating shaft within the engine that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves in the engine.

CHASSIS

The combination of a car's floorboard, interior and roll cage.

CHASSIS ROLL

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.

CONE START

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

CONTACT PATCH

The part of the tire that's actually touching the road.

DOWNFORCE

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.

DRAG

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.

ENGINE BLOCK

An iron casting from the manufacturer that envelopes the crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons.  

FIREWALL

A solid metal plate that separates the engine compartment from the driver's compartment of a race car.

FRONT CLIP

The front-most part of the race car, starting with the firewall.

FUEL CELL

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.

GROOVE

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. .

HANDLING

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.

LAPPED TRAFFIC

Cars that have completed at least one full lap less than the race leader.

LOOSE

(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.

LOVE TAP

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.

NEUTRAL

A term drivers use when referring to how their car is handling. When a car is neither loose nor pushing (tight).

OVERSTEER

See Loose

PITS

The area where pit crews service the cars.

POLE POSITION

Slang term for the foremost position on the starting grid,.

PROTEST FLAG

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

PUSH

(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.

QUARTER PANEL

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.

REAR CLIP

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. .

ROUND

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.

SETUP

Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car's suspension before and during a race.

SILLY SEASON

Slang for the period that begins during the latter part of the current season, wherein some teams announce driver, crew and/or sponsor changes.

SPOILER

(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

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.

STICK

Slang term used for tire traction.

SWAY BAR

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

TIGHT

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.

TOE

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.

TRACK BAR

(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.

TRAILING ARM

A rear suspension piece holding the rear axle firmly fore and aft, yet allowing it to travel up and down.

UNDERSTEER

See Tight

WEDGE

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.

WEIGHT JACKING

The practice of shifting a car's weight to favor certain wheels.