Back to BIG sidepods soon???

[Conceptual]

I was thinking about the aero regs coming up, and I thought of the old sidepods (circa 1995) and how much bigger they are, and how sculpted they have become.

My question is: If the teams were to go back to the big sidepods with their current radiator layout, could that extra space be used for some sort of venturi effect? And would it count against the 2009 aero regs.

Thanks!

Chris

[Steven]

What would you use this effect for then? I am not sure if we're thinking in the same direction, but since the flow is deemed to be flat, ground effect isn't really an option.

All I could think if is to improve the efficiency of the radioators, but then again I think the current solution by sculpting the sidepods would be far more efficient.

[Ogami musashi]

Sidepods do offer downforce and are very important for drag.

[Gecko]

If I read the regulations correctly, undercutting the sidepods will essentially be forbidden, so it is not entirely unreasonable to think that the teams might be looking at some of the older designs and how to develop them further. Any sort of Venturi would have no effect, however, since it is going to have to be a closed channel so all the forces will be internal, giving no net effect either way. What the teams might experiment with is routing the air through the front openings and then upwards through louvres (which will still be allowed) in order to produce downforce. I do find it much more likely to simply go for lower sidepods that interfere with the flow to the rear wing less, in the style of the 2005 Williams, unless that violates some side protection regulation I didn't bother to check yet.

[Conceptual]

So, it is reasonable to think that we may see the non-sculpted look again very soon? And I wasnt sure what kind of aero device would work there, so the Venturi was a gross underrepresentation of what I was thinking.

Cool though, and I'm sure the sponsors will be happier!

Chris