What does a racecar driver do?

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by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author

If you’re already a fan of car races, then you probably know that racing cars involves a lot more than just driving! Depending on the race, the driver (and his or her team!) have to account for a number of factors that can affect the way the car drives, its speed, and its placement in the race!

One of the major factors in a race is the car’s tires. Unlike regular cars (where the tires are usually only changed every few years), a racecar undergoes so much wear that the tires often need to be changed multiple times during a race. (During a NASCAR Cup Series weekend, a team can go through up to 14 sets of tires!) A driver must know how to adjust his or her driving according to the state of the car’s tires, slowing down or speeding up accordingly.

Another important aspect of a race is the pit-stop! Pit-stops are the driver’s opportunity to refuel the car and replace any needed tires, but because they happen in the middle of the race, speedy execution is essential! – Many pit-stops are completed in less than 15 seconds!! Pit-stops also involve a great deal of strategy: Spending valuable extra seconds to change tires can cause a driver to fall behind in a race, although having the new tires can allow them to drive faster… It takes skill and experience to know which decision to make!

Other factors that a driver and team must account for include the curvature of the track, wind resistance (less resistance means smoother driving and better speed!), and even the temperature of the road being driven on! Professional races are often hundreds of miles long and involve driving speeds of over 200 miles per hour! (That’s about 3 times faster than a regular car on a highway!)

Car races are usually won by whoever reaches the finish line first! The race that leads up to that finish-line can be any one of many types in the auto-racing industry: Some races, like the Formula One, are run on a closed-circuit racetrack, which the drivers must race around a certain number of times. In Rally Races, on the other hand, drivers race through open public roads or parts of the countryside, instead of a racetrack. Famous examples of Rally Races include the World Rally Championship and the Monte Carlo Rally. Other types of races include Stock Car Races (like the Daytona 500) and Drag Races.

Like many other professions, it takes a lot of hard work and time for wannabe-drivers to succeed and become professional racers. To be a racecar driver, you must be determined, passionate, and brave. You must also have knowledge of the sport, experience, good sportsmanship, and be fit to compete!

Remember, only grown-ups can drive cars! If you think you want to be a racecar driver some day, spend your time learning as much as you can about the sport by reading and watching races until you’re old enough to get behind the wheel.

What is your favorite part about watching car races? Is it getting to see all kinds of different racecars, or watching the different drivers and their techniques?

One of the most famous and popular car races is the Formula One, or F1. (The reason the name contains the word “formula” is because it was meant to describe a set of rules that all racers had to follow!) The first F1 Race was held in 1950 and the race still remains popular today! Have you and your family ever watched the F1? Are there any other car races that you watch??