[round_midnight]

I see in many posts people wanting to have high-revving engines for track/race use. Why are high revs important? It seems to me that if an engine makes, say, 500 hp, it doesn't matter at what rpm (within reason) it makes that 500 hp. Gear ratios can be used to get the desired speed in any case.

The only difference I see is that a high-revving engine will produce less torque for the same power, so engine components don't have to be as strong, and can hence be lighter. But I'm sure it's more fundamental than that, or the F1 guys wouldn't be spending millions making 20+ krpm engines.

Thoughts?