Nascar: 2010

Ron61 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 07:12 AM

Don,

We have seen several cars get hit from behind because the car following them couldn't see the driver in front waving his hand back and forth to signal he was going into the pits. At least this spoiler will give them a little better vision. I am looking forward to next weekends race, but more so to the first 1 1/2 mile track to see just how much the spoiler may affect the speeds on the straightways. I don't think it will slow the cars down to much and I would rather see good racing at a little lower speeds than a 195 MPH circle of cars just driving around because no one can pass.

Ron

Don · #2 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 08:00 AM

So much for the wing being the primary reason for the airborne cars, again coming from " long-time Ford Racing engineer Bernie Marcus ", aerodynamic specialist. Bernie must be right as he has the Blue Oval next to his name. The flip up panels on the roof were designed for inside air to escape, nothing to do with under car air , believe it was Jack Roush's idea. Looks like this topic has gotten additional formal technical analysis. Almost like comparing the lack of aero design of the 50's to 70's to 80's cars prior to the manufacturer's interest in producing a more slippery shape and their modern styling, where even today's manufactured cars have similar styling. The older cars were like bricks , from an aero design viewpoint. From AutoRacing Sport:

" Ongoing tests are directed at preventing cars from becoming airborne when they turn sideways or backward. Keselowski’s flight at Atlanta caused particular concern among NASCAR officials because such problems are relatively rare at 1.5-mile tracks (although Atlanta speeds are seriously fast despite the track size). The switch next week from wing to spoiler is likely to have no measurable effect on holding cars on the ground. Wind tunnel tests and study of videotapes of airborne crashes indicate that the major cause of cars taking flight is the rush of air underneath the car, not the rear-deck wing. Among the solutions, according to long-time Ford Racing engineer Bernie Marcus, an aerodynamic specialist, might be slots in the rear area of the car so that, in an accident, air would have places to escape."

Sometime ago there was a video circulating of a sports car at a European race that was at over 200++ mph on a straight by itself, and the car slowly lifted up and then flipped. Happened a 2nd time and the Team withdrew the cars. The front of the car was designed with aero principles for cutting thru the air

Difficult to compare reasons and consequences/solutions of lift when the cars were previously traveling at 150+ mph vs today's 200 + mph. Corner exit speed, tires, aero design, suspension, obtaining higher HP from the 358 CI engine w/o the restrictor plate , banking, track surface, etc., etc., many reasons for the higher MPH. While spoiler testing has gone well from a driver's viewpoint, the real test will be in actual race conditions

Speaking of sponsors, anyone notice that Greg Biffle's #16 is officially, at least for 3 races at a cost of $1.5 million, known as the " No. 16 U.S. Census Ford Fusion ", Yes, he is required to mention the entire name of the car when being interviewed, probably part of the contract. Census estimated each 1% nationwide improvement in mailed census forms vs having someone visit the residence saves $85 million.

Ron61 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 08:13 AM

Don,

Did you happen to see the 24 hour LeMans race years ago before they put that kink in the long straight away? One of the prototype cars doing well over 200 MPH just slowly took off like an airplane and went up above the trees which it then came down through leaving a trail of broken branches and pieces of cars. They found the driver unhurt except for scrapes and scratches he got from the breaking tree limbs and such and he was just sitting in the roll cage looking kind of stunned. That was why they put that kink in the middle of the straight away to make them slow down a little. They later decided that somehow a small puff of wind got under the car, and at that speed it was like an airplane. I believe that might be the incident that you are referring to. I just happened to be watching the race when it happened and I thought there was no way the driver was going to get out of that without serious injury. And I agree that under car air is a problem, that is why they have the front facia so low that at times it drags, which then also upsets the car. Maybe they should add something like that to the back.

Ron

Silverback51 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron61

Don,

Did you happen to see the 24 hour LeMans race years ago before they put that kink in the long straight away? One of the prototype cars doing well over 200 MPH just slowly took off like an airplane and went up above the trees which it then came down through leaving a trail of broken branches and pieces of cars. They found the driver unhurt except for scrapes and scratches he got from the breaking tree limbs and such and he was just sitting in the roll cage looking kind of stunned. That was why they put that kink in the middle of the straight away to make them slow down a little. They later decided that somehow a small puff of wind got under the car, and at that speed it was like an airplane. I believe that might be the incident that you are referring to. I just happened to be watching the race when it happened and I thought there was no way the driver was going to get out of that without serious injury. And I agree that under car air is a problem, that is why they have the front facia so low that at times it drags, which then also upsets the car. Maybe they should add something like that to the back.

Ron

Those were the Mercedes cars. They had an issue that if any air got under the front of the car they took off. They could come of a slight rise, or come out from behind another car and it would happen. They pulled all the cars that year, and if I remember correctly, they did not race again.

Ron61 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-25-2010, 11:59 AM

John,

You are correct. I was looking for that years race and just found a place that said it was the Mercedes cars. But it was an impressive imitation of an airplane taking off and then crashing through the trees.

Ron

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 07:48 AM

Some interesting comments about the spoiler from some of the drivers. It seems the big change in handling that some had feared isn't happening and the drivers that talked about it all seem to like it. That is good and I hope the race this weekend is a good one. The best test I believe will be at the 1 1/2 mile tracks, but Martinsville is always a fun race.

http://www.nascar.com/video/cup/2010...poiler.nascar/

Ron

Don · #7 (**permalink**) 03-26-2010, 11:50 AM

Additional comments on the spoiler:

" After a failed 93-race experiment, NASCAR reverts to a traditional blade-like rear spoiler on its Sprint Cup Series cars this weekend at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. But don't expect to see much of a performance difference during the next two races. "

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2010...SCAR/100329923