Glossary

W

WARM-UP LAP: The lap before a race starts. Drivers use this parade lap to warm up their engines and tires.

WEAVING: Zig-zagging across the track to warm up and clean off tires, or to confuse an opponent while attempting a pass.

WEDGE: In NHRA this is an engine with a combustion chamber resembling a wedge in shape. In NASCAR it refers to the relationship from corner-to-corner of the weight of the race vehicle. Increasing the weight, adjustments made by turning "weight jacking screws" mounted on each corner with a ratchet, on any corner of the vehicle affects the weight of the other three corners in direct proportion. A typical adjustment for a "loose" car would be to increase the weight of the left rear corner of the vehicle, which decreases the weight of the left front and right rear corners and increases the weight of the right front. A typical adjustment for a "tight" vehicle would be to increase the weight of the right rear corner, which decreases the weight of the right front and left rear and increases the weight of the left front.

WEIGHT TRANSFER: Critical to traction, vehicles are set up to provide a desired weight transfer to the rear wheels. Upon acceleration, the front wheels lift and the weight shifts to the rear wheels, which makes them less likely to spin.

WHITE AND RED FLAG: Used by the starter, this white flag with a diagonal red stripe indicates that an emergency or service vehicle is on the track, and extreme caution should be used.

WHITE FLAG: When waved by the starter, this signifies the start of the last lap of the race. When waved by a corner worker, it signifies that a slow-moving vehicle is on the track.

WIND TUNNEL: A structure used by NASCAR and Champ Car World Series race teams to determine the aerodynamic efficiency of their vehicles, consisting of a platform on which the vehicle is fixed and a giant fan to create wind currents. Telemetry devices determine the airflow over the vehicle and its coefficient of drag and downforce.

WINDSCREEN: A transparent fiberglass surface on the front of Champ Car World Series cars designed to aid air flow and deflect turbulent air from the driver.

WINGS: Aerodynamic surfaces mounted to the back of Champ Car World Series race cars to create downforce. Race car wings employ the opposite aerodynamic designs as airplane wings (which create lift to help an aircraft elevate) to create this downforce.

WINSTON CUP: NASCAR sanctioned stock car racing series from 1972 through 2003.

WINSTON MILLION, THE: Started in 1985, a $1 million award given to any NASCAR Winston Cup driver who won three of four selected races—the Daytona 500, the Winston Select 500 (Talladega), the Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte), and the Mountain Dew Southern 500 (Darlington). As a Ford driver, Bill Elliott won the award in its first year. The program developed into the Winston No Bull 5, which ended in 2002.

WRC: Short for World Rally Championship or World Rally Car - depending on context.

When did Ford begin racing?: When Henry Ford defeated the acclaimed racecar driver Alexander Winton back in October of 1901, it turned heads in the world of racing and garnered more than attention from financial supporters. His passion for racing, research and technology has sustained through 100 years of Ford Racing. In October 2001, Ford Racing celebrated its 100th year in auto racing at historic Greenfield Village with a weekend of activities that revisited Ford Motor Company's auto racing history from 1901 to 2001. Learn more about Ford Racing's history in our Milestones section.

Where are Ford Racing's headquarters?: We operate near Ford Motor Company's World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan - hometown of Henry Ford. But we like to think our true home is on the tracks, courses and stages of the racing world!

Which Ford vehicles are used in racing applications?: The Ford Fusion debuts in NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series competition in 2006, marking the first time Ford has introduced a race car the same year it introduced the production version since 1968 when it launched the Torino. Race teams also employ the Ford F-150, Ranger, Explorer and Focus across the country and the world.