Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watdcsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!watdcsu!haapanen From: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) Newsgroups: net.auto,net.sport Subject: Re: CART, F1, Racing... Message-ID: <1818@watdcsu.UUCP> Date: Thu, 31-Oct-85 16:59:48 EST Article-I.D.: watdcsu.1818 Posted: Thu Oct 31 16:59:48 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 03:41:03 EST References: <1140@wucec2.UUCP> Reply-To: haapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 68 Keywords: safety, tires, ground effects Xref: watmath net.auto:8603 net.sport:546 In article <1140@wucec2.UUCP> rll9466@wucec2.UUCP (Richard L. Lantz) writes: > >The arguements against ground-effect cars is that A) they increase speeds and >B) when the ground-effect is disrupted, the car becomes uncontrolable. The >combination being complimentary and bad--more speed = more violent crash, and a >crash can be triggered by a bump that simply disrupts the ground effect. The >recent (and MOST unfortunate ) deaths of F1 drivers Manfred Winklehock and >Stephan Bellof in WEC Group C Porsche's were hinted at being ground-effect >related (at least in the severity of the crashes, I do realise that I've made a >gross over-simplification). Immediately after the switch in F1 from ground effects to flat bottoms, the speeds went down. However, now that we are in the third year of flat-bottom cars, practically all lap records on the F1 circuit have been shattered. So flat bottoms don't really work effectively toward reduced speeds, but they *do* provide a less sudden transition near the limit. A flat-bottom car begin sliding at a lower speed than a ground-effect car, but the breakaway is much more gradual and hence more predictable. Likely the most valid safety comparison can be made between F1 and CART; both are single-seater monocoque chassis racing cars, with *approximately* equivalent speeds and tire characteristics. F1 is flat bottomed, while CART is ground effect. It seems to me (although I don't follow CART quite as closely as F1) that CART has more *single-car* accidents than does F1; most of the F1 crashes are of the multi-car collision type. Do other people agree with me? F1 seems to be relatively safe (no serious injuries in the last while); this can be largely attributed to the strength of the monocoque chassis. Even when the car ends up being completely mangled, the driver climbs out unharmed. Alas, in World Championship Rallying, the strength of the roll cage is not as high, and this may have caused the seriousness of the injuries to Ari Vatanen (driving a Peugeot in Argentina) and the death of Attilio Bettega (driving a Lancia in Corsica) this year. Rallying speeds are going way up with the increases in horsepower (450 hp in the Audi Quattro Sport, almost as much in the Peugeot 205 evolution model). >The tire question brings up the question of >liability of manufacturerers in racing. This especially after the Donohue vs. >Goodyear suit of the last year. I personally believe that Mark Donohue turned in his grave when Goodyear was sued. He accepted the risk in motor racing as part of the sport and said to never blame the car, the tires or the engine, but always blame the driver. So far, though, there have not been any negative repercussions from the lawsuit, and hopefully there will be none. Some of the recent F1 accidents have appeared to be tire-related -- take for example Mansell's crash in qualifying in France, where he received a concussion. Part of the problem stems from the fact that the maximum tire size regulations were set when everybody was running 300-hp Cosworths. Now the qualifying engines are approaching 1000 hp (especially Honda and BMW) and the tires are just unable to cope with that stress. Increasing the max tire size, though, has the negative effect of providing increased cornering power, and therefore increasing lap speeds. Anyone care to comment? \tom haapanen watmath!watdcsu!haapanen Don't cry, don't do anything No lies, back in the government No tears, party time is here again President Gas is up for president (c) Psychedelic Furs, 1982