Question for the class?

[Hoop-98]

The 1996 CART racecar with a 155 pound driver (in gear) and 10 gallons of Methanol weighed about 1800 pounds and had X HP, so what was the average Race BHP amongst the engines in 1996. ( So we can compare W/HP for possible future scenarios)

[Marbles]

I think around 1996 they were suppose to be closing in on a 1000 HP. Boost reduced in the years to follow (to virtually nil?) to slow them down. But I can't do the math.

[Hoop-98]

Thats what makes discussion so difficult. According to Bruce Wood of Cosworth you are off by hundreds of HP.

[chuck34]

I'm probably way out in left field on this, but I believe the race HP was in the 750 to 770 range.

I'd go with that, perhaps even a bit less maybe 700?

[Hoop-98]

720 to 750 according to Bruce Wood at the time.

[Marbles]

720 to 750 according to Bruce Wood at the time.

I would certainly believe that and not argue it. I am simply going by the "professional commentary" of that era when "close to 1000 HP" was often mentioned. Of course I don't have any Racer magazines or VHS tapes handy to back me up on this. Is my timing off or would that year, 1996, be considered the peak year and did they actually start reducing boost or taking other measures about that time to control power?

I guess numbers from other manufacturers are unavailable although I would imagine they'd relatively close.

[Hoop-98]

2000 was the peak year I think, according to Wood the Ford was about 875. They dropped to 800 when the Map was lowered from 40" to 37" (10" above atmospheric to 7"). They recovered about 50 to 850, then lost another 65 when the MAP was dropped again to 34".they were around 800 in 2002. Announcers were pretty excitable with power claims :)

Some Indy Engines like the MB made 1000 hp due to the pushrod rules in the early 90s.

rh

[call_me_andrew]

Until now I thought those turbo measurments were gauge pressures, not absolute pressures. My whole world has been shattered. :p

[fan-veteran]

One of well known power figures are of the Mercedes engine for 1994 Indianapolis 500.
From Wikipedia:
"In the summer and fall of 1993,[2] Ilmor and Penske engaged in a new engine program. Under complete secrecy,[2] a 209 cu in (3.42 l) purpose-built, pushrod engine was being developed.[1] Mercedes took over the project, and dubbed the engine the Mercedes-Benz 500I. The engine was designed to exploit a perceived "loophole" that existed in USAC's rulebook since 1991.[2] While CART sanctioned the rest of the Indycar season, the Indianapolis 500 itself was conducted by USAC under slightly different rules. In an effort to appeal to smaller engine-building companies, USAC had permitted "stock-block" pushrod engines (generally defined as single non-OHC units fitted with two valves per cylinder actuated by pushrod and rocker arm). The traditional "stock blocks," saw some limited use in the early 1980s, but became mainstream at Indy starting with the introduction of the Buick V-6 Indy engine. Initially, the stock blocks were required to have some production-based parts. However in 1991, USAC quietly lifted the requirement, and purpose-built pushrod engines were permitted to be designed for racing at the onset. Attempting to create an equivalency formula,[2] both pushrod engine formats were allowed increased displacement of 209.3 instead of 161.7 cu in (3.43 instead of 2.65 l),[1] and increased turbocharger boost of 55 instead of 45 inHG (1860 instead of 1520 hPa).[1]
Team Penske tested and further developed the engine in secret in the spring of 1994. It was mated with the in-house Penske chassis, the PC-23. It was introduced to the public in April, just days before opening day at Indy. Rumors quickly began to circulate that the engine was capable of over 1000 hp, which was up a 150-200 hp advantage over the conventional V-8s"

Definitely in 1996 CART engines were no more than 800bhp although capable to produce over 1000bhp if boost rules to be violated.

[Hoop-98]

Until now I thought those turbo measurments were gauge pressures, not absolute pressures. My whole world has been shattered. :p

You mean 4 inches doesn't have the same ring as 34 :)