Nascar Glossary of Terms
		Nextel Cup racing, as does any other professional sport, has a language all its own. The meaning and usage of the terms specific to the sport pop up through any explanation of its racing action. The following is a comprehensive list of 200 terms you might hear around a Nextel Cup garage, or during a race:
P		A-PILLAR
		The two furthest forward pillars (one on each side of the car) that extends from the roof of a car to base of the windshield.
P		AERO PUSH
		When following another vehicle closely, the airflow off the lead vehicle does not travel across the following one(s) in a normal manner. Therefore, downforce on the front of the trailing vehicle(s) is decreased and it does not turn in the corners as well, resulting in an "aero push." This condition is more apparent on the exit of the turns.
P		AERO WARS
		In late 1969, after Ford domination with its Torino Talladegas, Chrysler responded late in the season with the Dodge Daytona and, in 1970, with the Plymouth SuperBird. Marked by their controversial elongated noses and tall wings in the rear, these cars pushed the aerodynamic envelope to the maximum in a quest for all-out supremacy. After the 1970 season, engine size restrictions imposed on the winged wonders ended their brief but massively successful campaign.
P		AERODYNAMICS
		the scientific discipline that concerns itself with the principles of airflow over and around solid objects. Aerodynamics helps engineers determine the shape the car so that it creates maximum downforce while minimizing aerodynamic drag.
P		AERODYNAMIC DRAG
		A number that is a coefficient of several factors that indicates how well a race vehicle will travel through the air and how much resistance it offers. Crewmen work to get the best "drag horsepower" rating they can, determining how much horsepower it will take to move a vehicle through the air at a certain mile-per-hour rate. At faster speedways teams strive to get the lowest drag number possible for higher straightaway speeds.
P		AIR DAM
		A strip that hangs under the front grill, very close to the ground. It helps provide downforce at the front of the car.
P		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."
P		ALABAMA GANG
		The nickname for Red Farmer, brothers Bobby and Donny Allison, Bobby's late son Davey, and the late Neil Bonnett.
P		ANTI-ROLL BAR
		(Also known as a Sway Bar) An metal bar approximately 1-inch diameter that connects the outer ends of the suspension with the frame of the car. It's purpose is to reduce the amount of side-to-side body roll during cornering.
P		APRON
		The flat part of the racetrack below the banking. The apron is not part of the racetrack and using it during a race usually has one of two consequences. It either brings a penalty from NASCAR race control or it'll likely cause a driver to spin if he or she is at speed.
P		ASPHALT
		One of two different paving surfaces that NASCAR's top series race on (the other being concrete). Basic asphalt is comprised of tar, asphalt, rock and sand.
P		B-PILLAR
		The middle pillar that connects the roof to the body of the car. They are located on both sides of the car, just behind the head of the driver.
P		BACK MARKER
		A car running off the pace near the rear of the field.
P		BACKSTRETCH
		The straightaway opposite of the start/finish line. On an oval, it usually connects Turn Two with Turn Three.
P		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.
P		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.
P		BIAS-PLY TIRES
		Before radial tires were sanctioned by NASCAR, bias-ply tires ruled the day. Bias-ply tires are constructed with overlapping cords (or inner layers). Today, radial tires are used by NASCAR teams because of their reduced rolling resistance and stronger construction.
P		BLACK FLAG
		The last thing a driver wants to see, the black flag means that, for whatever reason, race officials say you must pull into the pits immediately for a consultation. A driver can get the black flag for many reasons, none of them good.
P		BLACK FLAG W/WHITE X
		This flag means that a driver is no longer being scored by race officials and must come into the pits immediately. It's usually displayed because a driver has not acknowledged the solid black flag displayed earlier
P		BUMP-DRAFT
		A controversial technique often employed by drivers at restrictor-plate races that has one car bumping (ramming, really) the car immediately ahead. The goal of bump drafting is to speed up the car ahead of you so you do not lose ground.
P		BUMP AND RUN
		A controversial passing technique most often used at short-tracks. The idea is that the driver behind purposely brakes late going into a turn and allows his car to "gently" bump the car in front just as they enter the turn. This tap causes the car in front to slide up the track, clearing the way for the car behind to pass below.
P		BUSCHWHACKER
		A Nextel Cup Series driver who races in a Busch Series race.
P		C-PILLAR
		The rear-most pillars on both sides of the car that extend from the roofline to the base of the rear windshield.
P		CALIPER
		The part of a disk brake system that wraps around the disk and holds the hydraulic mechanisms and brake pads in place.
P		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.
P		CAMSHAFT
		A rotating shaft within the engine that opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves in the engine.
P		CAR CHIEF
		The title of the person on a race team who is responsible for a car's preparation. The Car Chief is the keeper of the checklist and is the man in charge when the car is in the garage. When the car rolls out of the garage, he hands the reins over to the Crew Chief.
P		CASTER
		The steering axis around which each front wheel rotates. This caster angle can be perfectly vertical but is usually tilted rearward at the top for improved handling.
P		CATCH CAN
		The small, usually square can stuck into the back of the car used to catch any excess gasoline added during a pit stop.
P		CATCHFENCE
		The fence that lines the outside edge of a racetrack above the wall. It is designed to prevent crashing cars and their parts from going into the stands.
P		CAUTION FLAG
		The yellow flag waved by the flagman which tells the drivers they must slow down immediately and that safe racing conditions no longer exist on the track.
P		CHASE FOR THE NEXTEL CUP
		The last 10 races of the Nextel Cup season. Think of it as a playoff system by which the top 10 drivers -- or all of those within 400 points of the leader -- in standings after the first 26 races are figuratively separated from the other racers and compete for the Nextel Cup championship.
P		CHASSIS
		The combination of a car's floorboard, interior and roll cage.
P		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.
P		CHECKERED FLAG
		The black and white flag that is waved to signal the end of a race.
P		CLUTCH
		A component that allows for the engagement or disengagement of engine's power through the gearbox to facilitate gear shifts without damage.
P		CONCRETE
		One of two different paving surfaces that NASCAR's top series race on (the other being asphalt). Basic concrete is comprised of cement, sand and gravel. Rain usually washes away any rubber that accumulates during a race weekend, making the surface slippery until more rubber can be rubbed in by cars circulating the track.
P		CONTACT PATCH
		The part of the tire that's actually touching the road.
P		CONTINGENCY AWARDS
		See those small stickers on the front fenders of the race cars? Those companies whose stickers appear on a car will award the teams a little extra cash, beyond the official race purse, if that team performs well on a race weekend. A contingency award sponsor might pay for winning the pole position. Another might pay for making "the move of the race" as determined by journalists.
P		COOKIE-CUTTER TRACKS
		The nickname for a common layout of modern racetracks. Typically, they're tri- or quad-ovals, 1.5 miles in length. Lowe's Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway are all examples of cookie cutter tracks.
P		COOLDOWN LAB
		The lap cars take immediately after a qualifying run or the conclusion of a race.
P		CREW CHIEF
		The person responsible for overall crew and race preparations. The crew chief tells the car chief how he wants the car prepared. The crew chief is responsible for strategies, decisions, pit stops and car adjustments made during the race.
P		DAYTONA BEACH ROAD COURSE
		Before Daytona International Speedway, races in Daytona were held on a course made up of the hard-packed sands of Daytona Beach for the front straight, and Highway A1A for the back straight. Connecting the straightaways were two tight, quickly rutted hairpin turns made in the sand.
P		DEBRIS FLAG
		A yellow flag with red vertical stripes is displayed on road courses only when debris or minor amounts of fluids are present on the racing line in that particular part of the course.
P		DECK LID
		The trunk lid of a race car.
P		DIALED IN
		A term used to describe a car that has the perfect setup for the track under current conditions.
P		DIRTY AIR
		The air used and discarded by the lead car.
P		DISC BRAKES
		A braking system for all NASCAR series racers that features a rotating disc attached to each wheel and a caliper that contains hydraulically actuated pads that squeeze the disc to slow and stop its rotation.
P		DOUNTS
		1. The circular marks on the side of one car made by the tire of another car. They're commonly found during and after short track races. 2. The circular marks left on the racetrack by a driver doing a celebratory burn out after winning a race.
P		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.
P		DRAFT
		The aerodynamic effect that allows two or more cars traveling nose-to-tail to run faster than a single car. When one car follows closely, the one in front cuts through the air, providing less resistance for the car in back.
P		DRAFTING
		The practice of two or more cars, while racing, to run nose-to-tail, almost touching. The lead car, by displacing the air in front of it, creates a vacuum between its rear end and the nose of the following car, actually pulling the second car along with it.
P		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.
P		DRIVESHAFT
		The rotating aluminum tube that transfers the motor's power, via the transmission, to the rear axle of the car.
P		DRIVE-THROUGH PENALTY
		The punishment for a minor rule infraction (e.g., speeding on pit road) that has a driver, under green flag conditions, pull off the track and drive nonstop the entire length of the pit road at the assigned pit road speed limit before rejoining the race.
P		ENGINE BLOCK
		An iron casting from the manufacturer that envelopes the crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons.
P		EQUALIZED
		The term used to describe when the air pressure within the inner liner drops to become equal with the air pressure within the rest of the tire. Equalization usually results in a severe vibration in that tire.
P		FABRICATOR
		A person who specializes in creating the sheet metal body of a stock car. Most teams employ two or more.
P		FENDER
		The part of the bodywork of a car that extends from forward-most corner of the car back to where the front edge of the door would be.
P		FIREWALL
		A solid metal plate that separates the engine compartment from the driver's compartment of a race car.
P		FLAGMAN
		The person who stands above the start / finish line responsible for displaying the various flags that help control the race.
P		FLAT SPOT
		The damage to a tire when it skids along the pavement. A flat spotted tire will vibrate violently and also result in an ill-handling car.
P		FRONTSTRETCH
		The part of the racetrack that connects the exit of Turn 4 to the entry of Turn 1. Typically, it's where the start/finish line is located.
P		FRONT CLIP
		The front-most part of the race car, starting with the firewall.
P		FUEL
		Gasoline. Usually high-octane and refined exclusively for racing.
P		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.
P		GARAGE
		The covered area where cars are prepared at a racetrack.
P		GAS CAN
		What the gas man uses to add gas to a car during a pit stop.
P		GRAND NATIONAL DIVISION
		In its day, the Grand National division was NASCAR's top racing division. In 1972, the Grand National division became the Winston Cup Series.
P		GRAY(THE)
		The part of the racetrack, usually on the outside of a turn, that has had little traffic rolling over it. Also where the wads of rubber that have been scrubbed off of tires collects. The Gray is not a place to drive a race car as there is rarely much traction there.
P		GREEN
		A term used to describe a racetrack that has very little rubber scrubbed into the racing line. A green track is a slippery track.
P		GREEN FLAG
		The flag that indicates it is safe to race. It is used to start a race and resume a race following a caution period.
P		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.
P		HANS DEVICE
		Head and Neck Support device developed by Dr. Robert Hubbard. The HANS device is a mandatory safety device worn by drivers that protects against severe whiplash and certain head and neck injuries.
P		HAPPY HOUR
		Slang term for the last official practice session held before an event. Usually takes place the day before the race and after all qualifying and support races have been staged.
P		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.
P		HAT DANCE
		The ritual performed in front of cameras by a driver and his crew after he/they win a race. The hats are from that driver's sponsors, the race's sponsors and the sanctioning body of the race.
P		HAULER
		The semi-tractor trailer that hauls the car and its gear from the race shop to the racetrack and back.
P		HEEL AND TOE
		A technique used by drivers during road course races whereby the driver pushes the clutch with the left foot and uses the right foot to simultaneously work the brake and the throttle. A driver uses the heel and toe technique to slow the car down, shift gears and bring the engine RPM up to where it will be once the clutch is all the way out.
P		HOOKED UP
		A slang term used to describe a car that has the perfect set up and is pulling away from the field. Horsepower Technically, one horsepower equals 746 watts of power. Practically, it's the amount of power generated by a motor at the top end of its RPM range.
P		IMPOUND RACES
		A few races during the season are designated by NASCAR as impound races. At impound races, all cars are impounded by NASCAR immediately after qualifying. No work can be done on the cars until race day. Even then, only minor changes may be made to the car.
P		INFIELD
		The enclosed area within the confines of the racetrack.
P		INNER LINER
		A safety feature first developed in 1966, think of it as a tire within a tire. The inner liner is inflated approximately 10 psi higher than the outer portion of the Goodyear Eagle race tire. Inner liners are used at oval tracks one mile or more in length.
P		INSIDE LINE
		The racing line that is closest to the inside of a straightaway or the apex a turn.
P		INSPECTIONS
		The chief means of ensuring all cars conform to the rulebook, inspections of the car by NASCAR officials take place every time that car rolls onto the racetrack.
P		INTERVAL
		The time-distance between two cars. Referred to roughly in car lengths, or precisely in seconds.
P		IROC
		The International Race of Champions
P		KING(THE)
		Richard Petty. Err, King Richard Petty. Need we say more?
P		KISS THE BRICKS
		The ritual of kissing the yard of bricks that make up the start/finish line of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Usually performed by the winning team of the Brickyard 400.
P		LAPPED TRAFFIC
		Cars that have completed at least one full lap less than the race leader.
P		LEAD LAP
		The lap number of the car leading the race.
P		LIFT
		1 The aerodynamic force acting to lift a car into the air. 2 What people call it when a driver takes his foot off the gas pedal.
P		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.
P		LUCKY DOG (A.K.A. FREE PASS)
		Awarded to the highest placed car one lap down to the race leader, it gives permission for that car to drive past the field under caution, past the pace car and go all the way around and rejoin the field at the tail-end of the longest line, but on the lead lap.
P		LUGNUTS
		The five nuts that hold the wheel to the car.
P		MARBLES
		(Also referred to as "loose stuff.") Bits of rubber that have been shaved off tires and dirt and gravel blown to the outside of a corner by the wind created by passing vehicles comprise the "marbles" that are often blamed by drivers for causing them to lose control.
P		MECHANICAL GRIP
		A term used to describe all the traction that a car has in a corner independent of the traction generated by aerodynamic downforce.
P		MODERN ERA
		Starting in 1972, with the creation the Winston Cup Series, NASCAR reorganized its top racing division from what was previously the Grand National division. The Winston Cup Series featured a new schedule and points system.
P		MOVE OVER FLAG
		A blue flag with a yellow diagonal stripe means to watch your mirrors because faster cars on the lead lap are approaching and you should be prepared to move over and let them by (although they are under no rule-bound obligation to do so).
P		NASCAR
		The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947 and controlled by his heirs to this day. It is the sanctioning body for all NASCAR races.
P		NASCAR BUSCH SERIES
		NASCAR's next-to-top-tier racing series. Busch Series cars are close, but not identical, to Nextel Cup Series cars. They are less powerful, have a longer wheelbase, and can use fewer sets of tires during a race.
P		NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
		NASCAR's development racing series that features pickup truck bodies rather than automobile bodies. Craftsman Series trucks are less powerful than Busch Series cars and have higher aerodynamic drag, which keep speeds in check for the less-experienced drivers.
P		NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES
		NASCAR's premier racing series featuring the fastest cars and the most talented drivers.
P		NOMEX
		The fireproof material worn by drivers to protect them from, well, fire.
P		NEUTRAL
		A term drivers use when referring to how their car is handling. When a car is neither loose nor pushing (tight).
P		OIL PRESSURE
		The force generated by an oil pump that keeps engines lubricated. Without it, engines die -- often spectacularly.
P		ONE OF THEM RACIN' DEALS
		A blanket statement made by drivers, usually made in front of a camera, when there's an accident that is either nobody's fault, everybody's fault or anything in between.
P		OUT OF SYNC
		A term used to describe the condition of being on a different pit strategy than that of the leader. Sometimes this is part of a planned race strategy. Sometimes it's thrust upon a team because of an on-track altercation.
P		OUTSIDE LINE
		The path a driver must take to pass somebody who is keeping his/her car down on at the bottom of the track through the corners.
P		OWNER-DRIVER
		A person who owns the same race car he drives.
P		OWNER POINTS
		Championship points awarded to owners of cars based on how those cars finish in races.
P		OVERSTEER
		See Loose
P		PACE CAR
		The street car or pickup truck that drives in front of the race cars under yellow flag conditions.
P		PANCAKED
		A word used to describe a car that smacked hard and flush against the outside wall, resulting in nearly perfectly flat sheet metal and undesirably bent suspension pieces.
P		PIT ROAD
		The area where pit crews service the cars. Generally located along the front straightaway, but because of space limitations, some racetracks sport pit roads on the front and back straightaways.
P		PIT ROAD
		The stretch of paved roadway immediately off the racing circuit that has each race team's pit stall located off to one side, usually to the left.
P		PIT POSITION
		The location of a car's assigned pit stall along pit road. Pit position is selected by the individual teams with the pole position choosing first and the last-place qualifier choosing last.
P		PIT STALL / PIT BOX
		The area along pit road that is designated for a particular team's use during pit stops. Each car stops in the team's stall before being serviced.
P		PIT STOP
		The act of servicing a race car during the race. Typically during a pit stop, fuel is added, tires are changed and, if needed, suspension adjustments are made.
		POINTS
		What drivers, owners and manufacturers earn based on the position of a car at the conclusion of a race. These add up all season long to determine championship standings.
P		POLE POSITION
		Slang term for the foremost position on the starting grid, awarded to the fastest qualifier.
P		POLISH VICTORY LAP
		A victory celebration lap driven in the opposite direction than that of the race. It was made popular by 1992 Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki. Since Kulwicki's death in 1993, Polish Victory Laps have been driven in honor of the popular ex-champion.
P		PURSE
		The total prize fund to be paid out for a given race.
P		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.
P		QUAD-OVAL
		An alternative configuration of the tri-oval, the quad-oval features a squared off front stretch connecting the exit of Turn 4 and the entry to Turn 1.
P		QUALIFYING
		The process that determines the starting order of a race. During qualifying, cars draw lots to determine qualifying order. Then cars go out one-at-a-time for a banzai lap (or two). The top 35 cars in qualifying speed make the race. Any driver in the top 35 in owners points who is outside the top 35 in times is awarded a starting position. Any other starting positions are determined by those teams with the highest owner points.
P		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.
P		RACE SHOP
		The place where race cars are built, painted, repaired and prepared. The race shop is usually located at the team's headquarters.
P		RADIAL TIRES
		A tire construction design that has its cord plies (inner layers) running straight up the sidewall of a tire, wrapping around the face of the tire and running back down the other sidewall of the tire. Radial tire designs are mandated for use in all NASCAR racing series.
P		RADIATOR
		A key component of the engine's cooling system, the radiator is the reservoir where liquid coolant heated by the car's engine is cooled down by air passing through the vanes of the radiator
P		RADIO
		The device that enables drivers, crew chiefs and spotters to communicate with each other during a race.
P		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.
P		RED FLAG
		The flag that signals a temporary stop to the race because of a condition that makes safe racing impossible; for example: rain, emergency medical personnel on the track, track repair or darkness. No service or repairs may be made to a car during red flag conditions.
P		RESTRICTOR PLATE
		An aluminum plate that is placed between the base of the carburetor and the engine's intake manifold with four holes drilled in it. The plate is designed to reduce the flow of air and fuel into the engine's combustion chamber, thereby decreasing horsepower and speed.
P		ROOF FLAPS
		These flaps are sections at the rear of a race vehicle's roof that are designed to activate, or flip up, if the air pressure flowing across them decreases. In the case of a vehicle turning backwards, the tendency for an uninterrupted flow of air is to create lift. The roof flaps are designed to disrupt that airflow in attempt to keep the vehicle on the ground.
P		REVS
		Racing slang for revolutions per minute, or RPM.
P		RIDE HEIGHT
		The distance between the bottom of the car's frame rails and the ground. Ringer A specialist driver hired by a team to give them a better shot at victory. Most frequently, ringers are brought in for road courses.
P		ROAD COURSE
		A racing circuit that is comprised of left- and right-hand turns, as opposed to an oval which is comprised exclusively of left-hand turns.
P		ROLL CAGE
		The part of the tube chassis of a racecar that is designed to protect the driver in event of a crash.
P		ROOF FLAPS
		A safety device comprised of hinged, license plate-sized metal panels located on the roof of a race car. These flaps deploy automatically when a race car at speed starts sliding sideways or backwards. The purpose of the flaps is to prevent a car from getting airborne by mucking up the airflow over a car and reducing its aerodynamic lift.
P		ROOKIE
		A first-year driver in any given racing series. Also any multi-year driver that has made seven or fewer starts in a particular series.
P		ROTOR
		The part of a disc brake system that rotates with the tire. The brake pads squeeze the rotor, which slows the wheel.
P		RPM
		An abbreviation for revolutions per minute. RPM is the measure of the speed of the motor, not the car.
P		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.
P		SAFER BARRIERS
		Steel and Foam Energy Reduction Barrier, sometimes called a soft wall, located at most tracks where NASCAR races. Its steel and polystyrene foam construction spreads out the force of a car's impact along a longer portion of the concrete wall, which reduces the dangerous deceleration forces experienced by the driver and also reduces damage to the car.
P		SCUFFED TIRES
		Tires that have been placed on the car, run for a lap or two during practice, and taken off the car. These scuffed tires are then put back on the car during the race because, depending upon car setup, track conditions and driver preference, scuffed tires can grip better.
P		SEAT TIME
		Literally, the amount of time a driver spends in the driver's seat of a race car. Seat time is especially important when a driver is getting familiar with a new car or new track.
P		SETUP
		Slang term for the tuning and adjustments made to a race car's suspension before and during a race.
P