NASCAR Race car

A Cup Series race car requires thousands of man-hours to build and prepare, with engineers and technicians specializing in everything from engines to chassis to shocks. The result is a machine of over 800 horsepower, capable of speeds pushing 200 miles per hour. Despite all this power, the NASCAR race car is also designed with a number of safety innovations to help protect the driver in case of an accident.

For a car to be as fast as possible, it needs the right setup. A car's setup consists of a wide range of factors, such as shocks and springs, gear ratios, chassis weight distribution and much more. All of these factors have to be managed, adjusted and tweaked to get the car in optimum racing condition.

When a setup is accurate, the car is able to reach top speed, allowing the driver complete control. When the setup is inaccurate, the car isn't as fast and is harder to control, which means slower lap times. Everyone on the race team, led by the crew chief, works together to develop a winning setup.

1
Front Splitter -- Allows teams to tune the front downforce to individual drivers and tracks.

2
Brake Air Intake -- Directs outside air to brake discs and rotors for additional cooling.

3
Radiator Air Intake -- Directs outside air into the radiator to cool engine fluids.

4
Body Panels -- Fabricated from 24-gauge/0.0247-inch (minimum) cold-rolled sheet metal.

5
Hood Pins -- Four, quick-release metal pins with wire tethers that keep the hood closed.

6
Cowl Induction -- Housing for the air cleaner that connects the air intake at the base of the windshield to the carburetor.

7
Jack Post -- Area where the jackman places the jack to lift the car during pit stops.

8
Roll Cage -- A cage of steel tubing inside the car that protects the driver during impacts and rollovers.

9
Windshield Clips -- Allow for easy removal of the windshield should a driver need to be extricated from the car.

10
Double Frame Rail and Energy Absorbing Material -- A combination of steel plating and energy absorbing materials installed in between the roll cage door bars and door panels that attenuate energy upon impact.

11
Window Net -- Safety device located in the driver-side window that keeps the driver's head and arms inside the car during an incident.

12
TV Camera -- Allows NASCAR fans to view the racing from the driver's perspective.

13
Roof Strips -- Two half-inch-tall aluminum strips which run lengthwise on the roof to help prevent the car from flipping when turned sideways during a spin or accident.

14
Alternate Exit -- Also known as a "roof hatch," it allows drivers to exit the car in the event of an emergency situation.

15
Roof Flaps -- Help prevent the car from becoming airborne when it is turned sideways or backwards during a spin or accident.

16
Cooling Vents -- Help remove warm air from the cockpit.

17
Goodyear Eagle Racing Tires -- Treadless radial tires designed specifically for racing.

18
Jacking Bolt -- Area where the crew uses a tool to adjust the handling of the car by altering the pressure of the rear wing.

19
Adjustable Rear Wing -- Directs air flowing over the rear of the car, providing better balance and control in traffic.

20
Dry Break Fuel Cell -- Holds 17.75 gallons of Sunoco racing fuel inside a protective, puncture-resistant bladder.