What advantage does drafting provide for a race car?

Drafting provides a significant advantage to race cars by allowing them to increase speed through a reduction in air resistance. When a car follows closely behind another, it can benefit from the wake created by the lead car. This wake has lower pressure than the surrounding air, which means that the trailing car encounters less aerodynamic drag. As a result, the driver can maintain a higher speed with less effort.

This phenomenon is particularly valuable in motorsports, as it enables overtaking and enhances overall race strategy. By using drafting effectively, drivers can save both time and energy, allowing them to compete more aggressively in the race.

The other options do not accurately capture the primary benefit of drafting. For instance, while reduced fuel consumption can be a secondary benefit of maintaining a higher speed with less resistance, it is not the primary effect of drafting. Similarly, the focus and concentration of the driver, or the tire grip on the track, are not directly enhanced through the drafting process itself. These aspects can influence race performance but are not the central advantage afforded by the technique.