KL MotoPark

The time it takes a driver to react to the green starting light on the Christmas Tree, measured in thousandth of a second. The reaction-time counter begins when the last amber light flashes on the Tree, and stops when the vehicle clears the stage beam

A metal blade that extends the width of the rear deck lid on a stock car. It creates downforce on the back of the car, which gives the car more traction and better handling

Thirty minutes before the scheduled start of a Grand Prix, the cars leave the pits to cover a single reconnaissance lap. At the end of the lap, they are then aligned on the starting grid in qualifying order. Those drivers who wish to cover a second reconnaissance lap must travel down the pit lane at a greatly reduced speed, and may not in any circumstances drive through the Starting grid

A special piping device that was designed to refuel cars safely during pit stops. It is possible to deliver 60 litres of fuel in 5 seconds

A stop scheduled to regroup cars still in rally. No service is allowed

In a quest to maintain level performance field and keep cars safer. In some forms of motorsports, cars are required to have maximum air intake channel restrictor. Since engine power is dependent on amount of air, this is effective way to keep engine power in check

Race tracks with complex configurations of left and right-hand turns at varying angles. Tracks have a tendency of elevation changes as well. Example: Sears Point Raceway and Watkins Glen International

Section between two time controls that is not either stage, regrouping or service area

Roll bars are made of strong steel tubing with a minimum thickness and are part of the car's protective frame. The roll cage safeguards the driver and important components of the car from impact with other cars and walls or other barriers

Every F1 car is obliged to have two rollover structures (rollbars) that stand above a reference plane (higher than the driver's head). The first must be in front of the steering wheel, but no more than 25cm forward of the top of the steering wheel. The second must be behind the driver, and at least 94cm above the reference plane. Both rollover structures must be designed and fabricated in such a way that the driver and his steering wheel are at least 70mm below their highest points at all times

When a stock car gets sideways on the track, the flaps pop up and act much like the flaps on an airplane wing, slowing the car and helping prevent it from becoming airborne

A driver competing in their first year of the series

This annual award is given to the first-year driver whose combined average finishes are higher than any other first-year driver

A crew member changes the pressure on the rear springs to adjust the handling of the car. A wrench is inserted in a hole in the rear window of the car during a pit stop

Revolutions per minute, or rpm, is a measure of engine speed as determined by crankshaft spin

Influences the handling of the car. To increase tension, a piece of rubber is placed between the coils of a spring. To decrease tension the piece of rubber is taken out

Also called safety liner. Feature often referred to as a “tire within a tire.” This inner tire is used in NASCAR and will hold a car up if the outer tire is cut down

Walkman-sized equipment that pick up radio waves in the immediate area. They allow you to listen in on conversations between drivers and their crews during practice, qualifying and races

Tires that have been on the car during practice, used for only one or two laps

Under current rules servicing is allowed only in designated service parks and under designated time. Exception to this is servicing done by the crew with tools and spares carried on the car

Preparation of a car-including the suspension package, weight distribution, aerodynamic package, tire pressure, gearing and engine tuning - all key details for a race or qualifying

Confirmation test usually held two days before rally starts. Stage is provided by rally organizers. Participation is mandatory for works drivers and purpose is partly to get more media attention to rallies

Hydraulic cylinders attached to the car's wheel that make the car ride smoother over bumps. Teams want the best combination of a smooth ride and firmness for handling

Used to fine-tune shock absorbers for the car. This machine pumps the shock up and down as if it were in a real car to show how much force is used when the shock compresses and extends

Race tracks measuring one mile or less in length, where aerodynamics and horsepower aren't particularly important in winning the race. Bristol Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway and Richmond International Raceway are three examples

Part of the season when drivers make decisions about their teams for next year. Usually don't begin before season is well over half done and ends few rallies to spare even though lesser teams and lesser drivers may still be considering their options

The time it takes a vehicle to cover the first 60 feet of the racetrack. It is the most accurate measure of the launch from the starting line, which, in most cases, determines how quick the rest of the run will be

Treadless racing tyres, used in dry conditions, replaced at the start of the 1998 season by grooved tyres which were intended to reduce F1 cars cornering speeds

Racing cars produce a partial vacuum in their wakes. Trailing cars will often "tuck in" to this area and be pulled along behind the leading vehicle. This promotes fuel efficiency among other things

Speed test, timed currently to the tenth of a second. Stage is always closed to the public traffic. Compare to competitive section

The final 66 feet to the finish line, where top speed is recorded

Aerodynamic device designed to create turbulence causing downforce. The spoiler is affixed to the trailing edge of an exposed surface

A second set of eyes for the driver; this team member watches the race from the top of the grandstands or press box. Via radio, he alerts the driver where to drive on the race track to avoid an accident, when clear of other vehicles and also signals the crew when the driver enters pit road

A driver is staged when the front wheels of the car are right on the starting line and the small yellow light below the pre-staged light on his/her side of the Christmas Tree is glowing. Once a driver is staged, the calibrated countdown (see "Christmas Tree") may begin at any time

Measures the difference in circumference of left tires and right tires. Teams racing on oval tracks will use a larger set of tires on the outside of the car, giving it a natural tendency to turn left through the corners

A driver elects to keep his time from first-round qualifying -- hoping it will be fast enough to gain a position in the race -- and does not participate in second-round qualifying

That area of the track where the cars are aligned in staggered pairs, according to their qualifying times, and from which they start the race

New tires that still have the manufacturer's sticker on them

Run between start-pitstop, pitstop-pitstop, pitstop-finish. E.g. if a driver has two stops and finishes the race, he had three stints

A driver can be penalized for a variety of infractions, such as going too fast in the pits or running over an air hose during a pit stop. For this penalty a driver must come down to pit road, stop for a moment, and then exit pit road and rejoin the race

License needed to compete in F1 as a driver. To get this license you have to accomplish some requirements

Stage that is run in specially built arena. Allows more than one car to run the stage simultaneously. Most SSS's are two-car affairs, but for example in Argentina there has been three-cars on the stage at the same time

The supercharger, or blower, is a crank-driven air-to-fuel mixture compressor. It increases atmospheric pressure in the engine, resulting in added horsepower

An oval track that measures two and half miles in length that requires cars to use a carburetor restrictor plate. Talledega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway are NASCAR superspeedways

The system of springs, shock absorbers, sway bars, and so on, directly connected to the wheels or the axles, that affects the handling of a race car

Parts that alter the amount a car rolls to one side or the other through the turns

An instrument drivers use to determine engine speed and performance. It measures the number of revolutions per minute

Commercial name, Tarmacadam, used of one type of asphalt. Name has clung and now means all kinds of asphalt types (Road Surface)

A large semi-truck used to haul the race cars and equipment to and from the track. Also used to hold meetings and may frequently have a lounge for drivers and crew members to rest and relax

Teams will take apart their engines or tear down whatever equipment officials want to assess