shut the gate
To block a competitor who is attempting to pass.

side pod
Bodywork on the side of the car covering the radiators and engine exhaust on Indy cars. Aids in engine cooling, car aerodynamics and driver protection in the event of a side impact.

slick
A track condition where a car’s tires do not adhere to the surface. This could be for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of rubber on the surface (a green track), dirt on the track or high track temperatures.

slicks
A racing tire with no tread. There is a misconception that the tread pattern of a tire provides traction. This is true in dirt, snow or on wet pavement, but on dry pavement the maximum amount of contact patch is desirable. Also refers to the wide, high rear wheels used on Top Fuel dragsters.

speed trap
The area at the end of a drag strip where electronic sensors measure the speed of the drag racer. Speed traps are also set up at the end of long straights just before the braking point to provide a good approximation of the maximum speed attained in Champ tracks.

splash and dash
Also splash and go or short fill. A car may stop in the pits just long enough to take on a minimum amount of fuel in order to lessen time spent on pit lane. Sometimes teams will use a pit strategy that includes one or more short fill stops during a race to try and gain track position, passing a competitor who may stay longer in the pits doing a complete fill up. Using this strategy during the middle of a race can be very complex since it means that the car will not be able to go as far before the next pit stop, creating a tradeoff between gaining track position now and losing it later.

stickers
Slang term for new tires. The name is derived from the manufacturer’s stickers that are affixed to each new tire’s contact surface.