Smokin' Open-Wheel Race Cars by Erin Egan

Author:Erin Egan [EGAN, ERIN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-62285-103-4
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

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4

RACE AND STRATEGY

Speeding along at well over 200 mph, the driver is strapped tightly into the cockpit. The engine roars. The car is vibrating. The inside of the cockpit is like an oven because of the engine’s heat. (Cockpit temperatures can reach 120 degrees on hot days!) It is tough to concentrate under these conditions. But a race car driver must stay focused. Formula One races last for two hours. Most IndyCar races last for two hours. The Indy 500 can last even longer—sometimes over three hours.

Drivers must remain aware of their competitors and what they are doing. They have to look out for flags to see what is happening in the race. At the same time, they use their cockpit radios to talk with their crews to tell them how the car is running. Likewise, the crews tell them when to push harder or take it easy.

Drivers have to handle the challenges of different tracks. Racing on longer tracks with a lot of straightaways means more passing. On curved tracks, there is more cornering and braking. Road courses have such tight turns that drivers cannot afford to make any mistakes.

Oil spills, debris on the track, and accidents can happen during a race. When one of these things occurs, the yellow flag is waved. Drivers know to slow down until the track is clear.

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