Fast car physics

Revving engines, smoking tires, and high speeds. Car racing enthusiasts and race drivers alike know the thrill of competition, the push to perform better, and the agony -- and dangers -- of bad decisions. But driving faster and better involves more than just high horsepower and tightly tuned engines. Physicist and amateur racer Chuck Edmondson thoroughly discusses the physics underlying car racing and explains just what's going on during any race, why, and how a driver can improve control and ultimately win. The world of motorsports is rich with excitement and competition -- and physics.…