You can't make it perfect. It will always be vulnerable. But, you can continue to methodically improve it!
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You can't make it perfect. It will always be vulnerable. But, you can continue to methodically improve it!
I find it tragically ironic that Dan participated in the testing programme of a car that features one of the safety advancements that greatly reduces the chance of accidents like his. I think Dallara should rename the model as DW-98, honouring his Indy 500 winning number.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95505
A fitting tribute.Quote:
Dallara's 2012 IndyCar chassis will be named in honour of Dan Wheldon, the Italian racing car constructor has confirmed.
Dallara, has not confirmed the codename of the new car. A number of suggestions have been made, however. Among them was an idea by IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe to name it the DW 001.
I think so, and I am not sure Dan or Will were launched by wheel to wheel contact as much as nose to wheel contact or even perhaps the same general situation that launched both Paul Dana and Mario - debris UNDER the car..... I have a feeling the new car would have still had a launching issue in this accident.....Quote:
Originally Posted by bugeyedgomer
In this case, I believe the solution is more about the track/car relationship than either one of those factor alone.
I also think PT is on to something with the fence - I am thinking that what may have done so much damage to the top of the car was getting hooked on a fence post and that may have caused the fatal injury or compromised the car so mach that he no longer had protection.....
I am assuming that someone is going to put forth the effort to figure out what happened and if anything can be done to prevent a similar accident in the future. We also must consider what Mario had to say, which I more or less took to mean that you cannot make racing 100% safe and that each accident is a unique set of circumstances that you may not be able to effectively react to with new rules or policies...
Wish there was video to go with it, but here you go.
Manufacturer program pushes forward - IndyCar.com
Let's keep looking for advances in the series this offseason! Video preferred! :)
Has anybody actually heard a single test driver, engineer or designer, tire installer say this new car is FAST? All I have heard anybody say is how maneuverable it is, nobody is talking about it being a fast car.
Does anyone know if the new car will be capable of the types of changes that are being recommended by almost every great driver including Bobby Unser, Zanardi, Mario Andretti, all the current drivers, etc.? All are unanimous that we need to return to the CART horsepower levels with greatly reduced downforce to prevent the cars from running flat out around ovals. As I understand it the new car is basically an advancement of the current formula with some improved safety features like the rear fenders. I've read that the new V6 turbo engines can provide varying amounts of power up to around 750 hp. Hopefully this can now be adjusted upward to the 900 hp range? Also hopefully the car can have some downforce stripped from it. My fear is that the current high downforce/low hp formula has become so entrenched with IndyCar that the new car was designed to continue that formula. If that is the case the banked ovals definitely need to be eliminated and only Indy, Milwaukee, Loudon and maybe Iowa should be on the schedule as far as ovals.
Back in the turbo era of F1 the cars had 1600bhp with unlimited boost, so my rather naive assumption is that the turbo cars can be tailored to produce high hp if the boost is deregulated. I have no idea of the technical implications of that, however.
Downforce is easy to shed. Stability of the car and pitch sensitivity are different things altogether.
Take a look at this lap. This is what I'm waiting for! When racers had to manhandle their cars! Who cares if it's not in english......
CART 1999: Montoya take Detroit Pole - YouTube
That was/is driving!!!
Abso-freakin'-loutely!Quote:
Originally Posted by jimispeed
Gary