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Locking Wheels

Posted: 16 Jun 2003, 14:40
by anjanvincent
I had noticed that on Friday, when qualifying was held in the wet, many of the cars approaching the hairpin curve locked their OUTER wheels. But usually, dont we see that when braking into a corner, the car a tendency to lock its inner wheels? (due to weight transfer to the outer wheels thus loading them up,at the same time lightening the inner wheels).
My best guess is that, since they were taking the wet lines when approaching the curve, their outer wheels would be on the racing line, which would be slippery because of the rubber previously laid down.
If anyone had insights into this...do post it up.

Posted: 16 Jun 2003, 17:07
by Monstrobolaxa
It's not that hard to explan why they were locking the outer wheel....if you know the Gilles Villeneuve circuit you know that before the hairpin the track has a slight left hand turn...and some drivers start braking while still turniig left or trying to get on the left hand side of the track (into the ideal trajectory) making the left front the least loaded wheel....and the same time it seems to us that it's the outer wheel for the hairpin (which it is) but basicly its the outer wheel for the slight left had turn!