hairpin
A turn that goes through 180 degrees.

HANS device
Acronym for Head and Neck Support. A yoke-collar safety device designed to reduce extreme head motions and neck loads during high-speed impacts. Mandated by Champ Car in 2001 for all oval-track testing and races, and is mandatory for all events and testing in 2002, including road and street circuits.

hat dance
The ritual of photos taken after a race, with the top three drivers changing sponsors’ hats for each photo.

heat cycle
A tire that has been heated up through use and then cooled down has experienced one heat cycle. This often results in a slight hardening of the tire compound, which can make the tire perform at a high level for a longer period of time.

heel-and-toe
A driving technique in which the accelerator is operated with the right heel and the brake pedal with the toes of the right foot.