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Step 1
Look for something you would never see on the open road, and chances are it's an "Indy" car. Indy cars get their name from one of racing's most famous races: the Indy 500 held in Indianapolis. These single-seat open-cockpit cars sit low to the ground and carry their engine in the rear. Also known as formula cars, these cars have narrow bodies and large tires.
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Step 2
Watch for a jazzed up regular car, and it's probably a stock car. The most popular US racing events involve stock cars on intermediate type tracks. The reason stock cars resemble cars on the road is that they start at the same place. Both have the chassis of assembly line models. But stock cars undergo modifications to be more aerodynamic and faster. Much faster.
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Step 3
Check whether the front end of the car is square and sitting higher than an Indy car. If so, you might have a short track car. Short track cars contain holes in the front of the car to increase the air flow to the car's engine and brakes.
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Step 4
See if the car is racing on a dirt track. It might be the rugged racing car known as a sprint car. These medium-size racecars operate with as much power as many formula cars. Racing cars can also be modified for off-road racing, such as on a desert.
