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From: rll9466@wucec2.UUCP (Richard L. Lantz)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.sport
Subject: Re: CART, F1, Racing...
Message-ID: <1151@wucec2.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Nov-85 19:17:48 EST
Article-I.D.: wucec2.1151
Posted: Fri Nov  1 19:17:48 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 05:33:15 EST
Organization: Washington U. in St. Louis, Engineering School
Lines: 55
Keywords: safety, tires, ground effects
Xref: watmath net.auto:8615 net.sport:550

> 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.

 
Indeed, this is the most important point, the driver being in control, and
not surprised by any unexpected lack of grip.  Some reduction in cornering
speeds combined with predictability being benefits of flat-bottom cars.
> 
> 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?
 
Hey, I think you've got something here!  Hadn't really thought about it in 
those terms before, but you are correct--you hear more of people just "losing
it" in CART than in F1, where it tends to be "ran into...".

> 
> 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
There were a few leg injuries in F1 last year; Tambay before Canada (?),
Brundle at Dallas ('84 , remember).  This year has been quite good, perhaps as
a result of FISA's increased crash-worthyness testing.
> 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).
 
Oh, yes, rally speeds are escalating rapidly as manufacturerers jump into the
"Formula 1" rallying.  I use "formula 1" in the sense that BIG budgets are
going into rallying.  Safety may not be keeping up with the speeds.  

 
On another note, rallying is a little harder to police with safety crews than 
an enclosed permanent circuit is.  It is also hard to remove trees, etc from a 
rally course -- the kinds of dangerous obsticals that are not found on other 
circuits.



 
                                          Rich Lantz
                                          rll9466@wucec2.UUCP
                                          6060 Pershing Ave  #204
                                          St. Louis, MO  63112
                                          (314) 725-3061