The New Car

Here's a new article on IndyCar designs (from students). I wish they had more pictures though:

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=11174

I'm not liking the way this is going. What are they going to let artists engineer the new car?


Not Good.

I see that one student copied the 1972 Antares for their concept. I want to know what the Target disc does on the model. :D

What a future to look forward to. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chris R

I think an Indycar should not have a significant airbox - it is just not part of the design heritage of the formula....

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B I N G O

i don't know if i'd take this all as a negative. How seriously are they taking these designs? It's in addition to, not in place of, whatever car design professionals they already have working in development.

http://www.indycar.com/multimedia/photos/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nickfalzone

i don't know if i'd take this all as a negative. How seriously are they taking these designs? It's in addition to, not in place of, whatever car design professionals they already have working in development.

http://www.indycar.com/multimedia/photos/

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There is something retro cool about the "Audi" one. The XFX is striking as is the Armed Forces Honda one, I like it a lot.

Gary

I'm hoping that audi one is sending some kind of message.

While form should follow function, these designs are neat in that they do show what some of the consequences (good or bad) of implementing radical changes (i.e. split rear wing, no wings, cockpit protection, etc.) might be. Cool.

Put me in the skeptics camp. These designs are fascinating and stylish and creative and all of that, BUT WILL THEY WORK?!! A designer is not an aerodynamicist or a race car engineer, which for me, makes these designs no more than fancy paper weights.

Now, if in the end one of these designs can be adapted to a well engineered car and be fast, stable and adjustable at high speeds, I'm all for it. Until then................

I think the idea here is to try to bring some design aesthetics to the engineering. Yes, these are PURELY aesthetic designs, they might not be able to be engineered. But look what happens when you remove designers from the process and put everything into the hands of the engineers. You get this sort of GARBAGE. (see attachment) That nose on the leading car is the UGLIEST thing I have ever seen on a race track.

But when you allow the designers and the engineers to work side by side you get things like the Bentley prototype that ran at Le Mans a few years ago. A work of art AND engineering.

Guys, this is NOT an either/or situation.

Gary