What Does The T In T Car Stand For?

[AFColt]

OK, I'm getting ready to feel really stupid, because I think I remember this being asked on Talk of Gasoline Alley.

What does the "T" in T Car stand for? As in Car #4, backup car 4T? Is it anything in particular? Thanks in advance!

[cheeseczar]

I always thought it meant test?

[SpeedwayRyan]

I always thought it meant test?

Same here.

[mattf765]

OK, I'm getting ready to feel really stupid, because I think I remember this being asked on Talk of Gasoline Alley.

What does the "T" in T Car stand for? As in Car #4, backup car 4T? Is it anything in particular? Thanks in advance!

I believe it stands for "T"est. Does anyone remember Tony Kanaan running Hideki Mutoh's reskinned T car in the 500 recently? Was it this year?

[Team Canada]

It stands for testicles, as you need them to drive it as fast as the primary car that you just trashed!

[the real ACE]

nice!!!

It stands for testicles, as you need them to drive it as fast as the primary car that you just trashed!

[IRLCREW]

T stands for TRYING as in " Im TRYING to figure this piece of $&*t out" Just kidding at INDY Almost every team enters TWO cars in case somethng happens to the main car. so the T could stand for TWO, second car, or backup? Ive just always known it as the T car period. Test car sounds good to me That is whats so interesting that everyone forgets. Its NOT the DRIVER that qualifies, Its the CAR.... Go getem openwheelers.

[AFColt]

Thanks for the quick responses! "Test" makes sense, I guess, but I can't seem to find anything definitive on it. Works for me, though.

[Paddy]

I believe the T was started in European GrandPrix and FIA sportscars used the designation for the "TRAINING" car. The T indicated it was not the official entry and often practiced various team drivers, Porsche did this alot in the 60's.

[Justhalc]

I believe it stands for "T"est. Does anyone remember Tony Kanaan running Hideki Mutoh's reskinned T car in the 500 recently? Was it this year?

I believe that was 2009

[stnkypete]

It stands for testicles, as you need them to drive it as fast as the primary car that you just trashed!

That's funny. Well done.

[DaveL]

I believe the T was started in European GrandPrix and FIA sportscars used the designation for the "TRAINING" car. The T indicated it was not the official entry and often practiced various team drivers, Porsche did this alot in the 60's.

Exactly. "T" cars found their way to Indy around 1977/78.

[Tadarida]

FWIW:

This goes back many more than a few years, so I can't recall the source (except that it was a usually reliable one). The answer I got was that the T on backup cars doesn't really stand for anything. It's like SOS as an emergency call in that way.

Reportedly the T (and the X which is used in some other series' I'm told) came into use because the easiest way to differentiate the backup car was to take two strips of colored adhesive tape and make either a T or an X after the number on the car. Not only easy, but language-independent. "Test", "Temporary", "Training", &c. were later guesses as to meaning.

[lotuspoweredbyford]

In the United States, the "T" stands for temporary.

Donald Davidson answered this question on the Talk Of Gasoline Alley a couple of years ago.

[Rick Jones]

I am certain that some cars at Indy used an X by the number of their spare car before the T became the standard.