Sidepods are used on single-seater racing cars. Usually each sidepod will have an air intake at the front which will deliver cooling air to oil or water radiators within the sidepod.

On the ground effect F1 cars of the 1970s and 1980s the sidepods extended close to the ground and were venturi-shaped, with the gap between the sidepod and the ground sealed using a sliding or brush skirt.