Auto racing: Difference between revisions

| first = August 30, 1867

'''Auto racing''' (also known as '''car racing''', '''motor racing''',<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/motor-racing |title=motor racing (noun) definition and synonyms Macmillan Dictionary |website=macmillandictionary.com |access-date=2019-09-02}}</ref> or '''automobile racing''') is a [[motorsport]] involving the [[racing]] of [[automobiles]] for competition. In North America, the term is commonly used to describe all forms of automobile sport including non-racing disciplines.

One of the oldest existing purpose-built and still in use automobile race course in the United States is the {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway]] in [[Speedway, Indiana]]. It is the largest capacity sports venue of any variety worldwide, with a top capacity of some 257,000+ seated spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml |title=Stadium List: 100 000+ Stadiums |website=worldstadiums.com|access-date=2013-09-02 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061023205044/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml |archive-date=October 23, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

NASCAR was founded by [[Bill France Sr.]] on February 21, 1948, with the help of several other drivers. The first NASCAR "[[Strictly Stock]]" race ever was held on June 19, 1949, at [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], U.S..

From 1962, sports cars temporarily took a back seat to [[Grand tourer|GT cars]], with the {{Lang|fr|[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]]|italic=no}} (FIA) replacing the World Championship for Sports Cars with the International Championship for GT Manufacturers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jenkinson |first1=Dennis |title=The Automobile Year Book of Sports Car Racing |date=1983 |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=9782880011291}}</ref>

Over the last few years, auto racing has seen a [[Transformative use|transformative]] shift, echoing past pivots.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} The industry, much like the [[car]]s it [[champion]]s, has had to navigate through a global [[pandemic]] and a persistent chip shortage, each threatening to derail [[production schedule]]s.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} At the same time, a new course is being charted towards an electric future, a dramatic change in direction that is challenging the old guard of gasoline engines. There is also a growing number of events for electric racing cars, such as the [[Formula E]], the [[Eco Grand Prix]] or the [[FIA Electric GT Championship|Electric GT Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheikh |first=Shahzad |date=2024-05-25 |title=Electric motorsports: racing towards the future |url=https://evlife.world/en/ae/tech/electric-motorsports-racing-towards-the-future/ |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=EVLife |language=en-US}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

[[File:Fernando_Alonso_2011_Malaysia_FP1.jpg|thumb|[[Fernando Alonso]] driving the [[Ferrari 150º Italia]] at [[Sepang International Circuit]]]]

[[File:2019 IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (47966333303).jpg|thumb|The [[Dallara DW12]] IndyCar driven by [[Pippa Mann]] during practice for the [[2019 Indianapolis 500]]]]

[[File:Formel3 racing car amk.jpg|thumb|[[Formula Three]] car racing at the [[Hockenheimring]], 2008]]

[[File:DUT17.jpg|thumb|The 2017 [[Formula Student]] electric race-car of the [[Delft University of Technology]]]]

[[File:In Car Micheal Fitzgerald Cork Racing.jpg|thumb|Racing driver's view]]

In single-seater ([[open-wheel]]) racing, the wheels are not covered, and the cars often have aerofoil wings front and rear to produce [[downforce]] and enhance adhesion to the track. The most popular varieties of open-wheel [[road racing]] are [[Formula One]], [[IndyCar Series]] and [[Super Formula]]. In Europe and Asia, open-wheeled racing is commonly referred to as 'Formula', with appropriate hierarchical suffixes. In North America, the 'Formula' terminology is not followed (with the exception of Formula One). The sport is usually arranged to follow an international format (such as Formula One), a regional format (such as the Formula 3 Euro Series), and/or a domestic, or country-specific, format (such as the German Formula 3 championship, or the British Formula Ford).

Formula One is a worldwide series that runs only [[street circuit]] and [[race track]]s. These cars are heavily based on technology and their aerodynamics. The speed record was set in 2005 by [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] hitting 373&nbsp;km/h (232&nbsp;mph).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.redbull.com/au-en/fastest-f1-records|title=Blink and you'll miss these F1 records|work=Red Bull|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en}}</ref> Some of the most prominent races are the Monaco Grand Prix, the [[Italian Grand Prix]], and the [[British Grand Prix]]. The season ends with the crowning of the World Championship for drivers and constructors.

In the United States, the most popular series is the [[IndyCar Series]]. The cars have traditionally been similar to, though less technologically sophisticated than, [[F1 cars]], with more restrictions on technology aimed at controlling costs. While these cars are not as technologically advanced, they are faster, in part due to their lower downforce compared to Formula One cars, and also because they compete on oval race tracks, being able to average a lap at 388&nbsp;km/h (241&nbsp;mph). The series' biggest race is the [[Indianapolis 500]], which is commonly referred to as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" due to being the longest continuously run race in the series and having the largest crowd for a single-day sporting event (350,000+).

 

The other major international single-seater racing series is [[Formula Two|Formula 2]] (formerly known as [[Formula 3000]] and [[GP2 Series]]). Regional series include [[Super Formula]] and [[Formula V6 Asia]] (specifically in Asia), [[Formula Renault 3.5]] (also known as the World Series by Renault, succession series of [[World Series by Nissan]]), [[Formula Three]], [[Formula Palmer Audi]] and [[Formula Atlantic]]. In 2009, the [[FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2012)|FIA Formula Two Championship]] brought about the revival of the F2 series. Domestic, or country-specific, series include Formula Three and Formula Renault, with the leading introductory series being [[Formula Ford]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formula Ford |url=https://www.formulaford.org.au/about |access-date=June 21, 2022 |archive-date=May 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517212927/https://www.formulaford.org.au/about |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:2012 WTCC Race of Japan (Race 1) opening lap.jpg|thumb|Opening lap of [[2012 WTCC season|2012 WTCC]] Race of Japan]]

 

The major touring car championships conducted worldwide are the [[Supercars Championship]] (Australia), [[British Touring Car Championship]], [[Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters]] (DTM), [[World Touring Car Championship]] and the [[World Touring Car Cup]]. The [[European Touring Car Cup]] is a one-day event open to [[Super 2000]] specification touring cars from Europe's many national championships. While [[Super GT]] traces its lineage to the now-defunct [[JGTC]], the cars are much more similar to [[Group GT3|GT3]] race cars than proper touring cars, and also have much more aggressive aerodynamics.

{{Main|Sports car racing}}

 

[[File:2011 FIA GT1 Silverstone 2.jpg|thumb|[[FIA GT1 World Championship|FIA GT1]] at [[Silverstone Circuit|Silverstone]] in [[2011 FIA GT1 World Championship season|2011]]]]

[[File:Audi R18 e-tron quattro at 2013 Le Mans.jpg|thumb|The [[Audi R18]], a [[Le Mans Prototype]] car, during an [[endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance race]]]]

 

 

 

Famous sports car races include the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], the [[Rolex 24 at Daytona]], [[Spa 24 Hours|24 Hours of Spa]]-Franchorchamps, the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], the [[6 Hours of Watkins Glen]], and the {{convert|1000|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Petit Le Mans]] at [[Road Atlanta]]. There is also the [[Nürburgring 24 Hours|24 Hours of the Nürburgring]] on the famed Nordschleife track and the [[Dubai 24 Hour]], which is aimed at GT3 and below cars with a mixture of professional and pro-am drivers.

One-make, or single marque, championships often employ production-based cars from a single manufacturer or even a single model from a manufacturer's range. There are numerous notable one-make formulae from various countries and regions, some of which&nbsp;– such as the [[Porsche Supercup]] and, previously, [[International Race of Champions|IROC]]&nbsp;– have fostered many distinct national championships. Single marque series are often found at the club level, to which the production-based cars, limited modifications, and close parity in performance are very well suited. Some of the better-known single-make series are the Mini 7 Championship (Europe's longest-running one-make championship), the [[Radical European Masters]], John Cooper Mini Challenge, [[Renault Clio Cup|Clio Cup]], [[Ginetta Cars|Ginettas]], [[Caterham Racing|Caterhams]], [[Kumho BMW Championship|BMWs]], and [[MaX5 Racing Championship|MX5s]]. There are also single-chassis [[open-wheel car|single seater]] formulae, such as [[Formula Renault]] and [[Formula BMW]], usually as "feeder" series for "senior" race formula (in the fashion of [[farm team]]s).

===Tyres===

Tyres called R-Compounds are commonly used in motorsports for high amounts of traction. The soft rubber allows them to expand when they are heated up, making more surface area on the pavement, therefore producing the most traction.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006"/> These types of tyres do not have grooves on them. Tyre pressure is dependent on the temperature of the tyre and track when racing. Each time a driver pulls into the pits, the tyre pressure and temperature should be tested for optimal performance. When the tyres get too hot they will swell or inflate and need to be deflated to the correct pressure.<ref name="Adams, Eric 2006"/> When the tyres are not warmed up they will not perform as well.

Racing drivers, at the highest levels, can be paid by the team, or by [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]s, and can command substantial salaries. Drivers who pay for their positions, or ''seats'', within racing teams are typically known as [[pay driver]]s, or ''gentleman drivers''. Drivers may also enter events as [[privateer (motorsport)|privateer]]s.

Contrary to popular assumption, racing drivers as a group do not have unusually strong reflexes or [[reaction time|peripheral response time]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Memmert |first1=D. |last2=Simons |first2=DJ |last3=Grimme |first3=T. |title=The relationship between visual attention and expertise in sports |journal=Psychol Sport Exerc. |date=October 2009 |volume=10 |pages=146–151|doi=10.1016/j.psychsport.2008.06.002 }}</ref> During repeated physiological and psychological evaluations of professional racing drivers, the two characteristics that stand out are racers' near-obsessive need to control their surroundings—psychological—and an unusual ability to process fast-moving information —physiological. Researchers have noted a strong correlation between racing driver psychological profiles and those of fighter pilots. In tests comparing racing drivers to the general public, the greater the complexity of the information processing matrix, the greater the speed gap between the two groups.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Differences between racing and non-racing drivers: A simulator study using eye-tracking |year=2017 |pmc=5679571 |last1=Van Leeuwen |first1=P. M. |last2=De Groot |first2=S. |last3=Happee |first3=R. |last4=De Winter |first4=J. C. |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=12 |issue=11 |pages=e0186871 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0186871 |pmid=29121090 |bibcode=2017PLoSO..1286871V |doi-access=free }}</ref>