SAVING THE CAR/TIRES

Driving a car somewhat moderately to conserve the cars mechanical parts and lessen tire wear. This allows a driver to be more aggressive during the all-important final laps.

SCUFFS

Tires that have been run a few laps in practice to heat them up. This make them adhere better under race conditions. Term used in NASCAR racing.

SCRUBBED TIRES

The best kind of racing tire because they've had a few laps of wear to normalize the surface. Term used in CART, IRL and F1.

SETUP

The combination of settings for a car's engine, aerodynamic features and tires/wheels. Teams make continual adjustments to a car's setup during pit stops based on driver input.

SETUP SHEETS

Documents with recorded setups from different tracks under varying weather conditions. Teams use this baseline to adjust setups when they arrive at a track.

SHAKEDOWN

First test with a brand-new car or engine.

SHIFT POINTS

The best engine r.p.m. at which to shift gears. Some production and race cars have lights to indicate when a driver should shift gears.

SHOOT OUT

Two or more drivers race to the end for victory.

SHUT DOWN

Turning a car off to avoid mechanical damage or an accident. Often times, drivers shut down so a mechanical problem doesn't lead to more severe and expensive consequences. Drag racers often shut their cars down when they get out of control.

SPRING RUBBER

A circular rubber device added to the front springs of a stock car to stiffin the spring ratio and make the car handle better. Often these are added or removed during pit stops.

SLICKS

Tires with no tread designed for dry weather conditions.

SLICK TRACK

Usually an oval track with an unusual amount of oil and other fluids on it making it diffcult to drive.

SLIP STREAM

The cavity of low-pressure area created by a moving object. In racing, drivers use this slip stream to draft another vehicle.

STAGGER (OPEN WHEEL)

On ovals, teams may use a different size tire (or stagger) on the outside wheel to improve the car's handling ability.

STAGGER (CLOSED WHEEL)

The amount of flex in the side wall of a tire in racing. Race teams can use the stagger of the tire to stiffen the spring ratio of the car by adding air to the tire and thereby change how the car handles.

STANDING START

In Formula One racing, the field starts from a gridded standstill (standing) start unlike rolling starts in most other types of racing.

STICKERS

Brand-new tires with the manufacturer's label (or sticker) still on the surface. Teams generally use sticker tires during qualifying, then use scrubbed tires in a race. See scuffs or scrubbed tires.

STOP-AND-GO PENALTY

A penalty which requires a driver to stop at their team's pit for a timed penalty before reentering the race. This penalty can be assessed for anything from speeding in the pits to contact with an opponent.

SUPERSPEEDWAY

A 1 to 2+-mile oval track.

SWEEPER

A large sweeping corner on a road or street course.

TALENT

Television announcers.

TAPED OFF

Usually refers to applying racer's tape to the brake duct opening in full bodied cars.

TEAR OFFS

Transparent plastic strips applied to helmet visors or windshield (NASCAR). As these strips accumulate debris, a driver or pit crew can tear a dirty strip off for a clear view. Drivers in open cars go through about five tear-offs a race. In NASCAR, this is a new approach to the old problem of giving the driver a clear view.

TECH

Short for tech (or technical) inspection. Each car is submitted to tech inspection so sanctioning body officials can confirm all chassis and engine parts meet series' guidelines. A "teched" car has passed inspections.

TELEMETRY

Highly sophisticated electronics which transmit performance data back to a team's pit.

THROTTLE

The gas pedal.

TOP END POWER

The amount a car accelerates at high speeds or in its highest gear.

TUB

The chassis or monocoque of a Indy-style race car.

TUCK UNDER

A driver follows an opponent close enough to move into (or tuck under) their draft.

TURBO OR TURBOCHARGER

A device which pressurizes air, pumps it into the engine and "boosts" a car's performance. Essentially the condensed air increases the air/fuel mixture to create more power.

TURBULENCE

Rough air encountered by race car drivers.

UNDERSTEER

When a car has more traction (or grip) in the rear than in the front.

UNLAP

A driver down one lap passes the leader to regain position on the lead lap.

VORTEX

In wet conditions, race cars can produce vortexes off their rear ends or wings. These vapor trails are similar to those produced by the engines of jet planes.

WARM-UP LAP

The lap before a race starts. Drivers use this parade lap to warm up their engines and tires.

WEAVING

Zig zagging across the track to warm up and clean off tires, or to confuse an opponent while attempting a pass.

WETS

Tires designed to perform better in the rain.

WEDGE

The process of adding weight to the rear of a race car. It is done by shifting the amount of weight applied to the rear wheels by thightening the presure on the rear springs.

WINDSCREEN

A transparent fiberglass surface on the front of a car designed to aid air flow and deflect turbulent air from the driver.

WINGS

Aerodynamic surfaces mounted to the back of a race cars to create downforce. Race car wings employ the opposite aerodynamic designs as airplane wings (which create lift to help an aircraft elevate) to create this downforce.

WINSTON MILLION, THE

A $1 million award given to any NASCAR Winston Cup driver who wins three of four selected races -- the Daytona 500, the Winston Select 500 (Talladega), the Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte), and the Mountain Dew Southern 500 (Darlington).

WINSTON CUP

The world's premier stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR. Racing legends such as Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace have made their names in Winston Cup. Term also given to the trophy awarded to each season's Drivers' Champion.

WONDER BOY

A name given to Jeff Gordon by some of his detractors. Frankly, he is a “wonder” having won 27 races and two NASCAR driving championships by the age of 26. Gordon will likely be a wonder no matter how long he races.

ZIG ZAG

To sharply move back-and-forth on the track. Drivers often zig zag on warm-up laps to heat up their tires.

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