adrianjordan wrote:You are correct. In fact if you look at the cross-section of a simple aircraft wing, the top surface will be curved whilst the bottom will be flat. The air travelling over the top has to travel further and so flows at a faster rate. This results in the air pressue above the wing being lower than that below the wing - hence lift. This is basically how aircraft stay in the air.
Actually it's always surprised me that no-one has tried to generate downforce by having a flat top to the sidepod and a curved bottom to them with a gap below to the floor - although I need to look closer at this year's Toro Rosso as perhaps that is what they are doing.
Just for your info: the primary mechanism creating lift is not the difference in surface length as you mentioned. That is a common misconception. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_%28fo ... ansit-time
The reason they don't sculpt the sidepods in that way is because the downforce is created by the difference in pressures acting on the highest and lowest points of the car. So whilst an inverted aerofoil may create a low pressure region under the sidepod, it is still above the floor and will pull the floor upwards to cancel itself out.
I believe the "double floor" of the TR, if it's accurate to call it that, is to supply clean air to the rear. One of several options on the grid now.