GASOLINE ALLEY

The garage area at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

GAS CAN

Large steel can used to fill the tank of NASCAR racers during a pit stop. A car usually holds two 10 gallon cans of fuel.

GAS CATCHER

The person on a NASCAR pit crew that uses a small catch can to catch the overflow of gas from a rear pipe as the tank is filled on a pit stop.

GAS MAN

The person on a pit crew with the job of filling the car with fuel from either a can (NASCAR venue) or from a filler hose (IRL, CART or F1)

GAVE UP

Drivers use this to describe a mechanical part that fails.

GOES UP THROUGH THE GEARS

Refers to a driver upshifting from the lowest to the highest gear.

GOT UNDER

A driver out brakes an opponent on the inside of a turn and makes a pass.

GRAND PRIX

This French term meaning grand prize is widely used to refer to a race. At one time in racing, it was used exclusively for a series' grand finale, usually the most important race.

GREEN TRACK

A track that has little or no rubber on it from previous races. A green track is a bad condition that allows little or no traction for a race car.

GROUND EFFECTS

Aerodynamically designed parts which are fitted to the lower areas of a car to create additional downforce. Many production car owners add ground effects more for style than function.

GURNEY FLAP

A vertical extension to the back edge of an Indy car wing invented by racing legend Dan Gurney to generate more downforce, especially at higher angles of attack. This device is usually made of metal, aluminum or carbon fiber and is also known as a wickerbill or a return.

HAIRPIN

A slow, 180-turn which exits in the opposite direction a driver enters.

HAMMER DOWN

The driver has the pedal to the metal or has "dropped the hammer" full throttle.

HEADSOCK

A fire resistant head mask or balaclava.

HELICOPTER TAPE

Used to cover and protect exposed areas from flying debris as helicopter technicians developed it to protect rotors.

HOLE SHOT

A drag racing term for beating an opponent off the starting line and winning a race despite having a slower elapsed time. Other racers use this term to describe a good start or restart.

HOLDING UP TRAFFIC

When a slower race car causes cars running faster on the track to slow and does not heed the "move over flag" of the race officials.

HOOKED UP

A car that is performing great because all parts are "hooked up" or working well together.

HORSEPOWER

The estimated power needed to lift 33,000 lbs. one foot per minute roughly equated with a horse's strength.

HOT LAP

A car(s) is running at or near racing speed on the course.

HOT PITS

A car(s) is/are on the track. Only crew members and racing officials are allowed into the pits for safety reasons.

IMS

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Also referred to as the Brickyard.

IMSA

The International Motor Sports Association. The North American road racing sanctioning body featuring prototype GTS sports car series.

IMPACT GUN

The machine used to removed wheel nuts. Also an air wrench or air gun.

INFIELD

The enclosed portion of a track which includes team garages on most oval tracks. During race weekends, this area is usually filled with large transporters, merchandise trailers, and driver and fan motorhomes.

INSIDE GROOVE OR LINE

On an oval track, this is the innermost racing line which is usually separated from the infield by a distinctly flat surface called an apron. On road courses, the inside groove refers to the line closest to the curbs or walls forming the inner portion of turns.

INTIMIDATOR

Dale Earnhardt’s nick name because of his driving style, which some might call reckless.

IN THE FENCE

A phrase used to describe the wreck of a race car involving several cars or only one car.

KEPT BUSY

A driver is distracted (or kept busy) by another driver who is relentlessly pursuing.

KICK A LEG OUT OF BED

An engine breaks a connecting rod which penetrates the engine block and ends a driver's day. Announcers describe this as the engine "blowing up."

KING

The unofficial title given retired racer Richard Petty. Petty has a career high of seven NASCAR driving championships and a record setting 200 separate victories on the track.

LAG

Turbo lag. The time it takes a turbocharger to "boost" an engine's power from the moment the driver pushes the throttle.

LAP

One time around a track. Also used as a verb when a driver passes a car and is a full lap ahead of (or has lapped) that opponent. A driver "laps the field" by lapping every other car in the race.

LAP CAR

Any race car that is running one or more laps down to the leader of the race.

LAP(S) DOWN

The number of laps a car is running behind the leader of the race. It can range from only one lap to several hundred.

LAUNCH

A car can be propelled or launched into the air (all four wheels are off the ground) by hitting a severe bump or another car.

LATE APEX

Turning into a corner late and missing the optimum apex point.

LEAD LAP

The race leader's lap. If the leader laps you for the first time, you are no longer on the lead lap.

LEAN

High tech race cars (e.g. Indy cars and Formula One cars) have engine management systems which can adjust air/fuel mixtures. Drivers trying to conserve fuel will "run their engines lean" by using a decreased fuel/increased air mixture.

LET GO

Most commonly used when an engine fails or "blows up." Announcers also use this term for other parts of a car that fail.

LIFT

To raise or lift your foot of the gas pedal. Commonly used when drivers have to "lift" after an unsuccessful pass attempt to slow down and get back into the racing line.

LOCK UP

Just like production cars, racers can lock up the brakes and even "flat spot" their tires at race speeds.

LONG PEDAL

Commonly refers to a car's gas pedal because of the design. Also used to describe a brake pedal when brakes wear out because the driver has to push the pedal harder and further to slow down.

LOOKS TO PASS

A driver ponders a pass. The driver will actually move over, look at the possible passing area and make a decision to go or not.

LOOSE

A car has more grip in the front than the rear end and tends to "fish tail." Drivers often report whether the car is "loose" or "tight" so the crew can make Pit Pass adjustments. Please see oversteer.

LOOSE STUFF

Area above the racing line that contains chucks of rubber, stones and other materials that can harm the car or tires and cause a driver to lose control.

LOW DRAG SETUP

Adjusting a car's aerodynamic features to minimize drag which also reduces downforce. This setup achieves better performance on straightaways and reduced cornering ability.

LOW LINE

See "low groove or line."

MAKING UP TIME

A driver is catching up to or gaining ground an opponent.

MARBLES

Rocks and debris that collect off the racing line. If a driver enters the marbles at an excessive speed, his car will lose grip and drive perilously into awaiting hazards as if a person walked across a bed of marbles.

MAX REVS

Revving a car to its maximum RPM levels.

MILLION DOLLAR BILL

A name given Bill Elliott after his win of the Winston Million in 1985. He was the first driver to meet the required three out of four wins on the major speedways of NASCAR. Only one other driver has done this to date and that was Jeff Gordon in 1997.

MOTORING

When a driver is using the race car in a prudent and wise fashion and not demanding more of the car than it can perform.