KL MotoPark

Tires made from softer compound and equipped with heavy grooving to allow water escape between tire and ground. Rain tires wear faster due soft compound and smaller footprint

Automotive Association of Malaysia

Used on the frontal monocoque just ahead of the cockpit for two-way radio or telemetry purposes.

Short for Aerodynamics. Open-wheel cars are designed like upside-down airplane wings. The air going over and under the car affects how it performs. The faster the car goes, the more airflow pushes it against the racetrack and the faster it can corner. Aerodynamics also has become a big part of stock-car racing. Wind-tunnel tests are used to find ways to help the cars slice more quickly through the air.

Type of upside-down wing used to keep the car firmly on the track at high speed. Ground-effects design shapes the body to provide downforce as well.

The opening at the front of the hood, above the driver's head, designed to suck air from the environment onto the cylinders.

This attachment extends from the front bumper downwards to inches above the ground, stabilizing the front end of the car. Regulating the amount of air flow beneath the car, the air dam blocks air from flowing under the car and reducing the car's speed.

Anti-lag system. Technology in which fuel is burnt half in exhaust manifold (instead of cylinder) to keep turbo-charger spinning during non-acceleration (like gear-shifts or quick brakings). Aim is to reduce turbo-lag and maintain constant power.

A bar linking suspension parts which can be adjusted to alter handling characteristics.

The center point of a turn.

The area on oval tracks on the inside of the racing surface closest to the infield. Also where drivers exit pit lane.

A combustion engine which runs on a mixture of vaporised fuel and air. Normally, an aspirated engine (atmospheric engine), is not forced into the combustion

Autocrosses are held in parking lots. A course is set up using pylons, a driver then negotiates the course, as quickly as possible. Each car is timed, and hitting cones will result in time penalties. A typical autocross course will be driven in second and third gear, with speeds topping out around 60 MPH, depending on the specific course configuration.

Slower car, often not on the lead lap.

This straight section of track is usally located on the opposite side of the start/finish line.

A flame retardant, mask-like head covering worn by the drivers, complete with openings for the nose, eyes and mouth.

Open-wheel cars must be precisely balanced to make the handling accurate and predictable. Can be affected by humidity and temperature of the track.

Oval tracks are slanted away from the outside retaining wall to help the cars stay on the racing surface. Banking typically is several degrees more in the corners than on the straightaways.

When two cars race each other for the same place - whether first place or last place.

Shown in conjunction with a white number to a driver for dangerous or non-sporting on-track conduct. The offending driver must stop at his team's pit within one lap and consult the Clerk of the Course. A black and white diagonal flag is a "once-only" warning to a driver for non-sporting on-track behaviour. A black flag with red spot shown in conjunction with a competitor's number indicates the driver's car has a mechanical problem and he is must stop at his pit.

Tires have optimal working temperature and if this temperature is exceeded significantly, tires can blister. When this happens, rubber loses its internal construction and begins to fall apart.

A driver will position his car where he thinks another driver is going to try to pass him in order to make space unavailable.

At all times: A stationary blue flag is shown to a driver when exiting the pits to indicate other cars are approaching on the track at racing speed. During practice: Stationary - a faster car is behind. Give way. Waved - A faster car behind is about to overtake. Give way urgently. During Race: Stationary - A car behind is about to pass. Let it pass. Waved - Let the car behind through immediately or risk being penalised.

Turbo-charger forces air into combustion chamber with pressure that is much higher than atmospheric pressure. On most road-going cars equipped with turbo, this boost is limited under one bar but race cars go well beyond that.

A type of an air happer that is especially made to direct air onto the brakes to cool them down. These can very from race to race, following the needs of brake cooling, as one circuit/track may demand more brake performance than another.

Used only in handicap racing, the term breakout refers to a contestant running more quickly than he or she "dialed-in" his or her vehicle (i.e. predicted how quickly it would run). Unless his or her opponent commits a more serious infringement (e.g. runs a red light, crosses the centreline, or fails a post-race inspection), the driver who breaks out, loses. If both drivers break out, the one who runs closest to his or her dial-in is the winner.

Spinning the rear tires in water prior to a run, to heat and clean them for better traction. A burnout precedes every run.

Part of the brake system that holds the brake pads. When the driver pushes the brake, the calipers push both brake pads against the brake disk to slow the car.

The tilt of a tire measured in degrees from vertical. That means the wheel is not perfectly verticall on the road surface, this to optimize the tire surface that is in contact with the ground, thus highering cornering speeds. Teams will change the camber of tires to touch more or less of the racing surface depending on tire wear or tire temperature.

As a middle man, the car chief works closely with the crew chief to determine the setup of the car and joins the crew to physically make the changes during a pit stop.

Developed for the aerospace industry, it looks like fiberglass but is lighter and stronger. The chassis of a typical Indy car is made of carbon fiber and aluminum.

Part of the engine where air and fuel mix in an internal combustion engine.

Designed to reduce horsepower and speed. A thin metal plate, with four holes drilled, measuring one inch wide or less, placed between the carburetor and the manifold to restrict the flow of air into the carburetor.

The pit crew member behind the car on the left side that holds a special container which collects gas that overflows from the gas tank during a pit stop.

A yellow flag signals trouble on the racetrack, usually the result of an accident. Cars line up behind a pace car and travel at a restricted speed until the green flag is waved to resume racing. Teams prefer to make their pit stops during a caution because there is less risk of losing positions.

A yellow flag used to alert drivers to slow down and follow a pace car because of an accident or a roadway hazard like oil or debris. Under the caution flag, a driver must travel at a reduced speed and cannot pass other cars to advance their position.

The framework of a race car (and any motor vehicle), including the suspension and wheels, to which all other elements of the car are connected. A modern F1 race chassis is constructed of carbon fibre composite material and provides a structure that is durable, extremely light and strong.

Machine that measures the amount of power transferred from the wheels to the ground.

A tight combination of corners inserted into a straight on a racing circuit. Supposed to slow down the cars.

Is the person ultimately responsible for all operational on-track issues related to the running of a motor race meeting.

The progression of clutch disc engagement controlled by an air-timer management system.

Carbon dust created when the surfaces of the clutch discs wear as they slide together during the clutch lockup process.

Also called navigator, co-driver is the one sitting next to the driver and calling out notes.

The area of the chassis, or monocoque, in which the driver sits. The driver has a custom-made seat, and once strapped in he is effectively only able to move his head, arms and legs

A deformable material positioned around the cockpit of Open Wheel cars, particularly around the driver's head. Intended to provide protection (accidents) and support (g-forces)

Timed speed test on roads that are NOT closed to the public traffic. Compare to special stage.

Blend of rubber used to achieve optimal performance from different tires. Softer tires offer more grip but wear out sooner. Softer tires also warm up faster (due extra movement inside the rubber) and generally provide more performance.