[ItBites]

Rear wheel drive is superior. Indy cars are built with so much money, they could do them any way they wanted.

Physics of tires 101: Tires have traction. This traction is finite in its amount (think of it as a bank account). The traction can be "used" in any direction, it does not discriminate. It takes traction from the front tires in the "sideways" direction to make the nose of the car turn. If some traction is "used" to turn the car, there is less left to accelerate the car (out of a corner for example). Rear tires do not turn the car, so more of their "bank account" can accelerate the car (out of a corner for example). If a car is being driven to the traction limit of all four tires simultaneously more of the time, the lap times decrease. Add to this weight transfer (always to the rear of the car under acceleration) and the argument for rear wheel drive in race cars becomes even greater, but that is another physics lesson.

Front wheel drive is for low powered sedans that may see inclimate weather with inexperienced drivers. In those cases, the weight over the driving and turning tires of the engine etc may have merit. Additionally, since the driving tires are in the front, the inertia of cornering will not tend to kick the back end out (oversteer) in snow, ice etc... the car may be safer in the general public's hands.