Life At 190 M.P.H.

By Amanda Bower

DRAFTING Drivers race in single file "trains." The first car creates a vacuum and pulls the others along. Traveling up to 200 m.p.h., cars may be inches apart. The closer they are, the faster they go

WATCH THE WALLS Gravel and pieces of worn tire blow to the outside of corners, often causing loss of control

TRADIN' PAINT Adjacent cars, up to four wide, jostle for position and nudge one another in an attempt to pass. Earnhardt, renowned for his aggressive driving, was a master of forcing opposing cars to drop back

NOT YOUR AVERAGE CAR It gets just over 5 m.p.g., carries 20 times more oil than a regular car and costs about $6 million a year to keep racing

FUEL 22 gal. of 110 octane in a rubber-like bladder designed for aircraft

EXHAUST Engine is more responsive with shorter exhaust, ahead of rear tire

TETHERS Steel or fiber cables stop wreckage flying into the crowd

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Series of nozzles throughout interior, activated by driver

ENGINE V8 engine has 720 h.p. at 8,500 r.p.m.

RESTRICTOR PLATE Under carburetor, mandated in several races to restrict speed

WINDOWS Made of Lexan, also used on fighter planes. Mesh stops driver's arms from flailing out during a crash

SPOILER Slows car down and improves traction

TIRES Heat up to 200[degrees]F. Inflated with nitrogen rather than air, because the moisture would cause dangerous pressure changes when tires get hot

HEADLIGHTS Decals, actually

A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT...

THE HEAT Interior car temperatures can rise to 140[degrees]F. Heat dissipation decreases with body fat, so drivers need to be fit

FATIGUE No time-outs. No bench. And no room for "brain fades" when the length of a football field passes in a second

HEART RATE Pulse is at 85% of maximum, similar to marathon running. Drivers can lose more than 5 lbs. a race

FORCE A helmet weighs around 3 lbs. But on a banked turn, pulling between 2.5Gs and 5Gs, it can be five times as heavy

...IN THE HOT SEAT Drivers are bundled into fire-resistant suits, shoes and gloves before racing. Other safety measures being considered:

HANS DEVICE Shoulder yoke attaches to helmet and stops head snapping back and forth. more than 40 drivers placed orders the day after Earnhardt's death

SEAT Teams are working on stronger, capsule-like seats that prevent drivers from being thrown around in a crash

HARNESS For some reason Earnhardt's left lap belt failed. A new design will reduce the force on the shoulders and neck.

Reported by Amanda Bower