charlie

I have noticed most race car drivers sit very close to the steering wheel, what is the reason for sitting that close?

vtecing

There are a few reasons, but sitting up close is mostly to get additional leverage for quickly turning the steering wheel. Many race cars do not have power steering so even 30 minute sprints can fatigue a driver. The better leverage allows you to more precisely and quickly move the steering wheel.
Race seats are also very upright which puts the driver in the (proper) upright position. This moves their hips and legs backward so they need to move forward to compensate to reach the pedals. But not only do they need to reach the pedals, they must also be able to do all the quick footwork necessary and have the leverage to push down hard on the brakes. You can't do this accurately when you can barely reach the pedals.
Another benefit of sitting up closer is that it forces the seat belt to cinch up on you tighter, therefore holding you in place better...at least on a street car with normal seatbelts. A harness would do a much better job, but that's a different topic.

Remember that all bodies are built differently, so those with super long legs and arms may not have to sit up closer. Did I mention that you should make sure you're still far enough away from the airbag?

[This message has been edited by vtecing (edited January 06, 2001).]

RacerX

It's kind of odd, but I noticed when I got into the s2000 for the first couple of times, I put the seat all the way back and reclined it as much as I could to fit into it. After about 2 months of autocrossing, I moved it up a little and kept the seat back straight.

After a little while of making quick maneuvers, it sorta comes naturally to move the seat up, at least to me.