Chevy and Honda were allowed to use new aerodynamic bodywork kits on their cars this year. Only thing is they were never tested at full racing speeds and now a the trials on the speedway they are making the cars get airborne. So far 4 cars took off and turned into helicopters.
BAD aero packages indeed! Formula One is finding some problems with the new front wings, but nothing as bad as this.
But Indy has always been one of the most dangerous tracks, flat, with concrete walls. Yet it remains one of the most boring of races, except for the wrecks on the first lap as “professional” drivers forget it’s a 500 mile race, not a sprint car dirt track thing.
I’ve been to the race and the time trials. Both very exciting. I hate seeing the cars get torn up, but that is where many of the new innovations in automobile designs come from…you know, exploding air bags and all.
Survival in your road car owes much to racing, and drivers walking away from 200 mph crashes, not just at Indy, but on road courses around the world, rallying is also very exciting to watch, all kinds of road surfaces and terrain, very fast “modified” road cars in fact. Safety is also on everyone’s mind, yet high speed, and sudden stops, remain dangerous sports.
Having driven racing cars at over 200 mph, go-carts well over 100, motorcycles way over 100, skis over 50, and bicycles over 60 mph (downhill!), speed is relative to exposure.
With years of racing, and my son racing motorcycles and sidecars (180+mph) with a passenger, road racing of all types requires more skill, and is far more fun to watch, than roundy round “freeway” traffic like at Taladega (yes, I’ve raced on that track shortly after it was built) the new packages and pairing up, and other aero driving techniques are frankly, boring. The speeds are much higher than the “excietement” level. (Yes, it does take skills, but it’s still about waiting for “the big one” at Taladega and Daytona, or Texas and the other supertracks.) The new road circuit in Texas WOULD be fun in a formula car!
It is interesting that racing bicycles (as my daughter and son-in-law do avidly, has also greatly increased safety and survivability for cyclists as well. (barring getting hit by some moron driving while texting.)
Plods with ...™ about 9 years ago
They do tend to be lightweight.
Odon Premium Member about 9 years ago
You use Goodyear tires you take your chances.
kenvilkid about 9 years ago
Chevy and Honda were allowed to use new aerodynamic bodywork kits on their cars this year. Only thing is they were never tested at full racing speeds and now a the trials on the speedway they are making the cars get airborne. So far 4 cars took off and turned into helicopters.
Dtroutma about 9 years ago
BAD aero packages indeed! Formula One is finding some problems with the new front wings, but nothing as bad as this.
But Indy has always been one of the most dangerous tracks, flat, with concrete walls. Yet it remains one of the most boring of races, except for the wrecks on the first lap as “professional” drivers forget it’s a 500 mile race, not a sprint car dirt track thing.
Crabbyrino Premium Member about 9 years ago
I’ve been to the race and the time trials. Both very exciting. I hate seeing the cars get torn up, but that is where many of the new innovations in automobile designs come from…you know, exploding air bags and all.
Dtroutma about 9 years ago
Survival in your road car owes much to racing, and drivers walking away from 200 mph crashes, not just at Indy, but on road courses around the world, rallying is also very exciting to watch, all kinds of road surfaces and terrain, very fast “modified” road cars in fact. Safety is also on everyone’s mind, yet high speed, and sudden stops, remain dangerous sports.
Having driven racing cars at over 200 mph, go-carts well over 100, motorcycles way over 100, skis over 50, and bicycles over 60 mph (downhill!), speed is relative to exposure.
With years of racing, and my son racing motorcycles and sidecars (180+mph) with a passenger, road racing of all types requires more skill, and is far more fun to watch, than roundy round “freeway” traffic like at Taladega (yes, I’ve raced on that track shortly after it was built) the new packages and pairing up, and other aero driving techniques are frankly, boring. The speeds are much higher than the “excietement” level. (Yes, it does take skills, but it’s still about waiting for “the big one” at Taladega and Daytona, or Texas and the other supertracks.) The new road circuit in Texas WOULD be fun in a formula car!
It is interesting that racing bicycles (as my daughter and son-in-law do avidly, has also greatly increased safety and survivability for cyclists as well. (barring getting hit by some moron driving while texting.)