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"Clean Air" and "Splash and Dash" Among Unique Formula One Racing Terms
from: Maxx Sports GuidesLike any sport with many rules and regulations, Formula One racing has developed terms that may be confusing or not understood by new fans.
An introduction to some commonly misunderstood terms and their meaning will help you better understand the sport of Formula One racing.
When you hear the term "clean air" in Formula One, it's not referring to fresh or filtered air. Clean air describes the air encountered by the lead car in a race. Turbulence caused by the cars hasn't touched this air yet, so it offers the best aerodynamic conditions for drivers. Clean air is a benefit of leading the race.
A driver near the end of a race may realize he doesn't have enough fuel to complete the race, so he decides to "splash and dash". This simply means the driver enters the pits where the pit crew puts only a small amount of gasoline needed to finish the race in his tank rather than filling the tank. The driver gets a splash of gas and dashes off for the finish line.
In Formula One racing a driver may be given a "stop-go penalty", which requires the driver to stop at his pit area for ten seconds and return to the race. The vehicle may not receive fuel or tires during this stop. It's a time-out penalty with the time spent in the pit.
An alternative to the stop-go is the "drive-through penalty". It differs from the stop-go in that the driver need not stop in the pit area but simply drive through the pits at the appropriate speed.
"Stewards" are the three highest-ranking officials at a Formula One racing Grand Prix. They're responsible for making decisions about the race and the drivers.
"Marshals" are officials in charge of making certain the race is run safely. They're responsible for spectator safety, helping with disabled cars, and dealing with fires. Formula One racing marshals are most often seen waving signal flags at the drivers.
During a Formula One racing weekend teams keep their motor homes and transporters in an area referred to as the "paddock". This area is off limits to the public.
Another restricted area is the "parc ferme" -- a special fenced-off area where cars are required to be once they are finished qualifying and racing. In an effort to prevent changes to cars, team members aren't allowed to touch them.
During a race the Formula One racing team and their equipment are located in the "pits". Drivers pull their cars into their team's pit area for refueling, tire changes or any other repair the vehicle needs.
The "pit wall" area of the Formula One racing track provides a place for team managers, owners and engineers to monitor the race.
The "chicane" may be unfamiliar to new Formula One racing fans. Chicane refers to a section of track designed to slow cars down using a series of corners that alternate directions. The chicane is an imported safety design feature of Formula One racing tracks.
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