Considering the various series, racing engines are about as different as the cars they power. In the case of premier motorsports series, four types of race engines have been typically employed. These versions are identified as normally aspirated injected, turbocharged and blown.
Normally Aspirated
Normally-aspirated engines operate on the basis of normally pressurized air being drawn into the engine, then mixed with a regulated amount of fuel. The resultant air/fuel combination is then pushed into a combustion chamber and, consequently, creates power by moving the crankcase and pistons. Engines of this type are typically seen on NASCAR racetracks each weekend, although there are a number of other race series, including Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events that employ this type of engine. Power generated can range from 100 up to 1000 horsepower, depending on the displacement of the engine.
Injected
Injected, or more formally referred to as fuel-injected, engines are similar to normally aspirated engines, with the exception of how fuel is managed and metered within the engine. In this case, an electronic component, referred to an electronic control unit or ECU, delivers the right amount of fuel required based on the position of a digital throttle position sensor. Engines like this are typically seen in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) events nearly every weekend, in addition to finding these engines in various SCCA classes. Power generated can typically range from 200 up to 900 horsepower.
Turbocharged
Turbocharged engines utilize similar normally aspirated and fuel-injected bottom-end mechanical components. However, in the case of charged systems, air is drawn into the engine and, subsequently, experiences enhanced air volume by employing a mechanical complex that integrates a powered turbine and a supporting compressor. Prior to 1996, turbocharged engines were regularly mounted in the rear of race cars in the Indy Car Series; however, the engine configuration was eliminated when the sanctioning body altered its technical specifications in 1997. Regardless, the configuration proved its mettle for nearly 20 years by making dependable power ranging from 600 up to 1000 horsepower throughout that time.
Blown
Blown engines are the most exotic of all race engine configurations. Aside from the pure engineering innovation associated these kinds of powerplants, they also produce the most pure horsepower. The use of the word "blown" refers to the application of a belt-driven "blower unit" that creates a powerful inlet vacuum to increase the speed of air being drawn into a pressurized plenum that sits below the unit. Subsequently, this pressurized air is mixed with the appropriate fuel and, consequently, is pushed into the combustion chamber. Blown engines can be seen every weekend at dragstrips across the country. These engines are capable of generating power on the order of 6000 horsepower in the case of Nitro Dragsters or Funny Cars. And this degree of power is capable of moving these cars from a standing start, to well over 300 mph in under four seconds.
Alternative
Until now, the only way to generate speed from a race car was to put some kind of petroleum-based fuel in the engine and light it in order to create combustion. However, beginning in 2008, the world changed significantly when Gumpert Sportwagenmanufaktur GmbH ("Gumpert") fielded the first lithium-powered plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for racing. The car was driven by former Formula One driver Heinz Harald Frentzen and run at the June 2008 24 Hours Du Mans. Since then, additional hybrid or PHEV cars have begun to appear on the racetrack. For example, this year Corsa Ginetta-Zytek fielded a hybrid in the ALMS series at Lime Rock in July, and there are at least two other prototype cars, either in development or already being track tested.
A roll bar is a welded metal frame that is attached to a car to prevent physical harm to passengers. A race car needs to have a durable roll bar attached properly to avoid driver injury during a serious collision. It is important to learn how to install a roll bar in your race car without damaging the vehicle body.
Things You'll Need:
Drill
Installation kit
Screws
Chalk
Step 1
Remove the front and rear seats in your race car before you install a roll bar. The empty space in the car allows you to maneuver the roll bar into the passenger door from the inside. Leave the passenger and rear seats out after installation is complete to keep your car light.
Step 2
Strip the plastic trim and carpet from the interior of your race car to aid installation of your roll bar. You will need to drill directly into the car frame to install the roll bar. Store the carpet elsewhere in the garage to avoid stains and damage during replacement.
Step 3
Lift the roll bar from the garage floor, with the help of a friend, to begin installation. Use the passenger side door to navigate the roll bar into the cockpit without hitting the gauges and steering wheel.
Step 4
Set your roll bar down on a few different spots before you drill holes into the car frame to find the right fit. The roll bar should fit naturally along the top of the rear window, the bottom of the rear window and the stripped car floor. Outline the roll bar with a light chalk line to provide guidance for drilling.
Step 5
Drill holes within the boundaries of your chalk outline to begin the final stage of installing a roll bar. Use a heavy-duty drill to cut through the car's metal frame without getting the drill bit stuck.
Step 6
Apply a few screws to the roll bar from the cockpit to set the bar in place as you finish installation on the exterior. Place a screw at each corner of the roll bar for temporary stabilization during work on the external plates.
Step 7
Lock your roll bar in place with external screws and metal plates. You will drill several holes through the bottom of the car as well as the rear wheel wells during installation. External bolts keep your roll bar in place while you install the internal bolts before taking to the race track.
, depending on the displacement of the engine. 
