Motorsport Terminology - P

P

Pace car

See safety car.

Pacenotes

In rally racing, notes that describe the course in great detail.

Paddock

An enclosure at a track used by team support personnel and vehicles, and other officials and VIPs.

Paint scheme

see Livery.

Parade lap

A lap before a motorsport race begins where the drivers go around the track at a slow speed, also known as a formation lap.

Parc fermé or Impound

An area which cars enter after they have qualified for the race, where they are not allowed to be worked upon by mechanics unless on strict supervision by the stewards. Some motorsports series other than Formula One refer to this as the Impound.

Pay driver

A driver who pays for his race seat rather than receiving a salary from the team. Generally has a negative connotation. Sometimes known as a Ride Buyer.

Pedalling

(drag racing) working the throttle to avoid lighting the tires, or as a way to sandbag; "pedalled" it, had to "pedal" it.

Photo finish

A finish in which two or more cars are so close that in times past a photograph of the finishers crossing the finish line would need to be studied to determine the finishing order. While the practice has been mostly superseded by modern electronic timing systems, the location of the transponder in a vehicle is not located near the nose of the vehicle, so stewards often use video replays to detect where the nose (of a car) or wheel (of a motorcycle) crosses the finish line first.

Pit board

A board that is held up from the pit wall to the side of the finishing straight when a driver goes past, to confirm their position in the race and the amount of laps remaining. Before the introduction of radio communication, also used to instruct drivers to pit for fuel and/or tires, or to comply with rules violations.

Pit stop

Stopping in the pit lane for repairs, refuelling, and/or new tires.

Pit wall

Where the team owners and managers sit to observe the race, opposite the garages in the pit lane.

Pole position

The first grid position, placed closest to the starting line (in Formula One), nearest the inside of the first turn, or both. Usually reserved for the competitor who has recorded the fastest lap during qualifying. A competitor who starts a race there is said to be on the pole.

Pop-off valve

Device attached to turbochargers used to limit the additional horsepower they produce. Usually a mechanical device, activated when the pressure within the turbocharger reaches a certain point, opening a valve (popping off), thus reducing boost pressure. Used primarily for safety (speed reduction of the racing cars) or cost (reducing stress on both turbo and engine, lengthening the life of the parts prior to failure or rebuild).

Pre-qualifying

A preliminary qualifying session held prior to a regular qualifying session in order to reduce the number of competitors taking part in the regular session, usually for safety reasons. An example of pre-qualifying is in Formula One in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Privateer

A competitor not directly supported by a sponsor or manufacturer. To be privately funded.

Progressive grid

Where a category races multiple times at a meeting, the starting order for the grid is decided by the finishing order of the previous race.

Pro tree

(drag racing) timing lights which flash all three yellow lights simultaneously, and after four tenths of a second, turn green.

Prototype

An endurance sports racing car that does not noticeably look like a standard production model.

Puke can

(drag racing) radiator overflow tank, sometimes, used beer cans are used as puke cans, although, on some tracks, these types of modifications are considered illegal. A standard puke can is usually made of plastic, or some high strength polymer, and attached close to the radiator.

Pulling an Eckman

A term in drag racing, particularly in Pro Stock, when a driver is cited, and fined for racing with a nitrous oxide system; driver Jerry Eckman was the first driver in the NHRA to be indefinitely suspended for such an infraction; he was reinstated after two years.

Push

See understeer.

Push to pass

System in which engine power is increased for short periods to create a short burst of extra speed. This can be done by increasing the boost pressure in a turbocharged car, increasing the maximum rpm, or using a separate system to provide power. Also, see KERS.

Put on the trailer

When a driver has either lost (got "put on the trailer") or won (put the other driver on the trailer). Named because losing drivers pull their vehicle home on a trailer.