If you look at the dashboard of most passenger cars, you will see that they are limited to 140, 150, or 160 miles per hour as their top speed. Yet, race car drivers can get their vehicles to go over the 200 mile-per-hour range. How do they do that? If you do not follow car racing, you might be perplexed. Here is how the world of car racing manages to make cars go faster than most cars are typically able:

Nitrous Oxide Engine Systems

These engines are specially designed to burn fuel faster at a higher temperature, but remain cool. It is due to the nitrous oxide that is injected into the manifold. Rather than suck in air from outside, cool it, and then use it inside the engine for combustion, these engines skip the air-sucking and cooling steps and use nitrous oxide refills instead. As a result, less coolant is needed, if any, and the engine does not overheat and choke when the driver pushes it over 200 miles an hour.

Cars Built for Speed

Race cars are not your typical passenger cars either. Their frames are significantly lighter, and except for the windshields, there is no glass in them. The tires are often filled with helium to lift the vehicles off the ground, allowing them to zoom around even faster. There is only one seat inside, and that is for the driver. With so much less inside and out, these cars are automatically able to move faster.

Specially Designed Speed Dials

The real secret behind race cars is that most cars can go faster than the speed dials say. It is just that you should not push a passenger car beyond the highest speed because it is too dangerous, and you could destroy the vehicle's engine. Because of the many unique cooling and structural features inside a race car, manufacturers can put the higher-numbered speed dials in the dash and know that the cars and drivers are going to be fine within their element. 

Highly Responsive Controls

Finally, race cars have highly responsive controls. The tiniest movement to the left or right puts a race car in the position the driver wants. If it were not for the intense speed, the controls would allow the driver to do other things while driving (even though he or she really should not). This helps keep the race car on the track and going at a constant speed.

Contact a company like Yearwood Performance Center for more information and assistance.