IndyCar 2015

[lizardfolk]

People playing around with aero for the 500





Nice to see that the teams are able to play around with the aerokits and its not just one giant piece that's all or nothing.

[hpras]

People playing around with aero for the 500

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFGMPyvUUAA5vJ5.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFGMR8dUsAA3Zd5.jpg

Nice to see that the teams are able to play around with the aerokits and its not just one giant piece that's all or nothing.

The top photo is using the rear wing from the Honda aero-kit. The bottom is the stock Dallara rear wing. The driver said the latter gave a better feeling, but a lower top speed due to higher drag. After qualifying, the teams can change up the specs of the aero-kit with the exception of the rear wing.

[void]

Another flip over
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrRfsKcztH0

[void]

Nice view of Indy floor and difuser:

[hpras]

The officials are panicking and thrashing right now, changing rules on the fly. Aero changes for the Chevy teams and boost changes for all teams. Will now have to run the aero in the race that you qualify with.

[1158]

I'm not a brilliant engineer so I may be wrong but would something similar to the roof flaps that NASCAR started using in the 90s help this situation? Flaps on each of the rear wheel pods that pop up when the cars turn around might be just enough to alter the pressure difference and keep them on the ground. It worked amazingly well for stock cars.

Just a thought I had but I could be way off.

[RicME85]

Its mentioned in this article:

Good explanation of Helio's airtime.....

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/it ... ar-flipped

Could do but implementing it is the problem. The Deltawing solution of a flap closing the diffuser is probably easier to implement quickly.

[Jolle]

Its mentioned in this article:

Good explanation of Helio's airtime.....

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/it ... ar-flipped

Could do but implementing it is the problem. The Deltawing solution of a flap closing the diffuser is probably easier to implement quickly.

I watched a few crash compilations (finally they come in handy) from crashes during the past few years at the Indy circuit, a flip-over used to be very rare, most of the time caused by catching some other drivers wheel or driving up the wall. All these cars had a flat underbody and venturi's aswel.
It's was/is also quite common to oversteer into the wall, so that's nothing new either.

The big difference is the bodywork behind the rear wheels, because they are open on the rear, it looks to me they "scoop" the air and are (partial) responsible for the first few degrees of lift, before the flat underside takes over.

They should do some testing with and without the "bumpers"

[ChrisF1]

So it seems safe to say Hinch is out of the 500.

Thoughts on his replacement?

[countersteer]

Katherine Legge has been mentioned as a possible replacement. Of course, all available drivers are probably beating down the door to the SPM hauler. Ryan Briscoe posted on the Indycar feed last night that he was ready!

[FW17]

Surprising that nobody brought wheel covers for the 500

[Jonnycraig]

Great response by IndyCar's safety and medical teams more than likely saved James Hinchcliffe's life on Monday.

The personable Canadian driver was bleeding profusely after a vicious accident in Turn 3 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and, according to one of Hinchcliffe's associates who asked not to be identified when speaking with RACER, it was a life-threatening situation that was handled to perfection by the HOLMATRO safety team and doctors inside the ambulance that rushed him to IU Health Methodist Hospital before surgeons completed the save.

In the impact, which flattened the right side of the chassis (pictured), one of the suspension wishbones penetrated the Dallara safety cell, and subsequently caused the majority of the physical damage Hinchcliffe received. RACER has confirmed through multiple sources that Hinchcliffe had the steel wishbone enter and exit his right leg, then enter his upper left thigh, and continue into his pelvic region, where it came to a stop. The suspension component pinned the 28-year-old in the car, leading the safety team to cut the wishbone from the chassis to allow Hinchcliffe's extraction.

With the multiple intrusions, Hinchcliffe experienced massive blood loss at the crash site, and despite the gravity of soft tissue injuries to his lower extremities, stopping the bleeding became an immediate priority for the medical staff to address once he was pulled from the chassis.

After being placed in the ambulance, the doctors and technicians inside evidently stabilized Hinchcliffe's injuries. It's not known how long he was in surgery but it was "touch and go" for a while, according to the source.

"He's probably not going to race anymore this year but the most important thing is that all those great people saved his life," said his friend.

Hinchcliffe, who serves as Schmidt Peterson Motorsport's lead driver and won the IndyCar race at New Orleans in April, crashed entering Turn 3 during Monday's practice session. According to timing and scoring data, he was carrying at least 228mph of momentum before a right-front suspension failure sent the No. 5 ARROW Dallara-Honda into the SAFER barrier nose first. Without the ability to steer the car, Hinchcliffe was unable to alter his course. The force of the impact reportedly measured 125 Gs.

Many observers, including those who've witnessed some of the most troubling crashes at Indianapolis, believe Hinchcliffe's impact was one of the most violent on record. Upon reaching the crash site, emergency workers radioed the incident in as a "Code 5," which is reserved for traumatic situations.

Hinchcliffe remained in intensive care but was resting comfortably on Tuesday morning.

http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/11693 ... s-injuries

Wow, incredibly lucky guy, and scary to think he was alert and responsive throughout, difficult to comprehend how much pain the poor guy must have been in

[SectorOne]

carbon wishbones next on the agenda?

[hpras]

Surprising that nobody brought wheel covers for the 500

http://www.sportnetwork.net/mainadmin/i ... 630322.jpg

From the Rulebook.

14.15.3. The use of wheel covers or inserts is prohibited.

[sgth0mas]

carbon wishbones next on the agenda?

I would much rather have steel go through my leg than carbon fiber.