For all those about to settle down this weekend for a feast of motorsport, here's a beginner's guide to some of the phrases you might hear commentators use.
Aerodynamics
The interaction between air and the resistance and pressures created by the passage of a moving car through the air.
Attenuator
A safety device made of carbon fibre and honeycombed aluminium mounted on the rear of the gearbox. Enhances driver protection by absorbing much of the force of a rear impact.
Blister
Bubbles on the surface of a tyre created by overheating of the tread compound.
Camber
Degree that tyres lean in towards the car, used to gain extra grip in corners by maximising the size of the contact patch between tyre and track.
Chassis
The central body of the car including the driver's compartment. Also referred to as the tub.
Diaper
A blanket made from ballistic and absorbent material that surrounds part of the engine and serves as a containment device during accidents and engine malfunctions.
Displacement
The total volume of air-fuel mixture an engine theoretically is capable of drawing into all cylinders during one operating cycle.
Downforce
Creation of force through aerodynamics, which keeps the car stuck to the track. High-speed movement of air underneath the car creates a vacuum, while the wings on the car force it to stay on the ground, acting in a manner opposite to the wings on a jet aeroplane.
Drafting
As a car races along at 300km/h it splits the air, some of which goes over the car and some beneath. This lack of air behind the car creates a vacuum that a trailing car may use to be pulled along.
Groove or racing line
The fastest or most efficient way around the track. That portion of the track will consequently appear darker than the rest of the track because of the build-up of rubber.
Loose
The rear of the car is unstable because of a lack of rear-tyre grip caused by too much front downforce, or not enough rear downforce. Also known as oversteer.
Marbles
Excess of rubber build-up above the groove on the track, the result of normal tyre wear throughout the race.
Neutral
Term used to describe the handling of the car when it is neither loose nor pushing (tight).
Pushing
The car does not want to turn in the corners because of a lack of tyre grip. This can be caused by a lack of downforce on the front of the car, or too much downforce on the rear of the car.
Ride height
The distance from the bottom of the chassis to the ground when a car is at speed.
Suspension and wheel energy management system (SWEMS)
Wheel-restraint system using multiple restraints attached at multiple points to a car's chassis and suspension designed to minimise the possibilities of wheels flying off during high-speed accidents. The restraints have a breaking strength of 5 tonnes.
Telemetry
A radio that relays information such as engine, tyre, steering and throttle performance to team engineers in the pits. The team can monitor both car and driver activity to ensure the car is performing properly. Also enhances driver safety by allowing the team to notice any developing mechanical problem the driver cannot foresee.
Wicker bill
A long, narrow, removable spoiler made of steel, aluminium or carbon fibre on the trailing edge of the front and rear wings that varies in height, creating downforce. Teams will use different sized wicker bills to create more or less downforce. The larger (higher) the wicker bill, the greater the downforce, and vice versa for smaller wicker bills.
- Additional information: IndyCar.com
For all those about to settle down this weekend for a feast of motorsport, here's a beginner's guide to some of the phrases you might hear commentators use.
Aerodynamics
The interaction between air and the resistance and pressures created by the passage of a moving car through the air.
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