There isn't a single antagonist more than the conflicts in the world of race car driving.
The author covers the whole world of racing: the drivers and their driving. The book's title is named for many tricks of the trade associated with the engineering and performance maintenance of race cars. Relevant tracks, teams, and people are all included. Funding is also described and explained in ways that journalism normally overlooks. For race fans, this book is a great way to delve in greater depth into what goes on surrounding the time of the race itself.