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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Series Working With Race Engineers On 1.5-Mile Solution
“We know the drivers trust their engineers more than anyone else so we’ve asked them to help us come up with some solutions, ” said INDYCAR's Will Phillips.
Big crowds, close racing, sparks and excitement have been hallmarks of the Texas 1.5-mile IndyCar event. (LAT)
In the aftermath of Dan Wheldon’s death at Las Vegas last month, INDYCAR officials knew there were at least two pressing questions that needed immediate answers.
“Do we keep running on the 1.5-mile ovals and, if so, how do we go racing on them?” said Will Phillips, INDYCAR's VP of Technology. “And what are we trying to do? Obviously, safety is paramount and as Engineers we have to remember we are ultimately participating in a show.
“We know the drivers trust their engineers more than anyone else so we’ve asked them to help us come up with some solutions.”
Phillips, a former engineer himself in Champ Car/IRL/ALMS, gathered engineers from various INDYCAR teams for a five-hour brainstorming session on Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“The general consensus was that we needed to make the drivers have to drive the cars and not be running flat out a half lap after they get on the track,” said Phillips.
“So how to we do that? We might have to have different regulations at different tracks and through various means make sure we contain a top speed that’s deemed acceptable. And to make sure the driver participates we have to grip limit the car. Do we accomplish that with aero or mechanical? Or a combination of both? Do we mandate setups in terms of springs to limit grip?
"The biggest affect comes from the tires so we need to talk to Firestone and see what they think, perhaps look at current developments in Formula One as an example.”
With the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR schedule in limbo while the series figures out which ovals may be viable, Texas Motor Speedway looms largest. It’s produced the best crowds and closest finishes during the past 14 years but it’s also been the craziest in terms of pack racing.
“I asked the group: ‘Do we think we can go and race at Texas,’” continued Phillips. “They said yes we can. So we’ve got to put a package together and take some cars from each manufacturer and go test.
“We need to see them run together, see what the turbulence behind the new cars is like and see if they run two abreast, three wide or get spread out.”
Drivers testing the new DW12 at Indy were universal in their complaints about handling and weight distribution and Phillips says Dallara is making changes that will be tested at Homestead prior to the first mass delivery on Dec. 15.
And there will be another engineering forum in the near future.
“We’ll do it again with different people on a different topic but we’ll be sharing the information with all teams” said Phillips. “It’s a busy time, new cars, new engines and trying to get a handle on the 1.5-mile ovals.
“But we’ll sort it all out.”
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
“Do we keep running on the 1.5-mile ovals and, if so, how do we go racing on them?” said Will Phillips, INDYCAR's VP of Technology. “And what are we trying to do? Obviously, safety is paramount and as Engineers we have to remember we are ultimately participating in a show.
“We know the drivers trust their engineers more than anyone else so we’ve asked them to help us come up with some solutions.”
Phillips, a former engineer himself in Champ Car/IRL/ALMS, gathered engineers from various INDYCAR teams for a five-hour brainstorming session on Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“The general consensus was that we needed to make the drivers have to drive the cars and not be running flat out a half lap after they get on the track,” said Phillips.
“So how to we do that? We might have to have different regulations at different tracks and through various means make sure we contain a top speed that’s deemed acceptable. And to make sure the driver participates we have to grip limit the car. Do we accomplish that with aero or mechanical? Or a combination of both? Do we mandate setups in terms of springs to limit grip?
"The biggest affect comes from the tires so we need to talk to Firestone and see what they think, perhaps look at current developments in Formula One as an example.”
With the 2012 IZOD INDYCAR schedule in limbo while the series figures out which ovals may be viable, Texas Motor Speedway looms largest. It’s produced the best crowds and closest finishes during the past 14 years but it’s also been the craziest in terms of pack racing.
“I asked the group: ‘Do we think we can go and race at Texas,’” continued Phillips. “They said yes we can. So we’ve got to put a package together and take some cars from each manufacturer and go test.
“We need to see them run together, see what the turbulence behind the new cars is like and see if they run two abreast, three wide or get spread out.”
Drivers testing the new DW12 at Indy were universal in their complaints about handling and weight distribution and Phillips says Dallara is making changes that will be tested at Homestead prior to the first mass delivery on Dec. 15.
And there will be another engineering forum in the near future.
“We’ll do it again with different people on a different topic but we’ll be sharing the information with all teams” said Phillips. “It’s a busy time, new cars, new engines and trying to get a handle on the 1.5-mile ovals.
“But we’ll sort it all out.”
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
2013 INDY 500 Practice
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