I've been slowly learning about engines recently, both street car and race car. But as I've learned more I keep coming up with new and more comlicated questions. Maybe someone out there can help me out with this.......
Ok, so a current formula 1 engine (normally aspirated) produces approximately 900hp @ 19000RPM which would translate to 248.77 ft/lbs of torque.
A CART engine produces 900hp @ 12500RPM (with 37 PSI boost) which translates into 378.14 ft/lbs.
So by these calculations I'm assuing that a Cart engine is approximately twice as powerful as a formula 1 engine. Now obviously this means that the Turbo nature of the CART engine provides a drastically higher MVE, which in turn boost the power output per stroke.
Ok so now we go back in history where F1 was turbo charged. Using approximately 55 psi I belive, they were producing approximately 1000-1200Hp at 10000-12000RPM.
I guess my question is, why whouldn't we go back to the old days of Turbo charging, say using a 2.4 Litre V 8 with say 1-1.5 BAR of boost at approximately 12000-15000 RPM.Wouldn't this greatly increase the lifetime of the engine, and hence lower the cost drastically of the sport?