Aerodynamics important to success in Formula One

The fundamental principle of race car aerodynamics is to create the greatest amount of downward force for the minimal amount of surface drag. The wings on the front and rear of a Formula One car can be set up to match different race conditions and downward force requirements of a course. On high-speed circuits they will remove as much of the wing as is safe to reduce surface drag and increase speed on the long straight stretches. On slower circuits like Monaco, with tight turns and slower stretches, you’ll see two wings on the rear of the cars to help keep the cars on the track.

Designers take into consideration the possible aerodynamic effects of every part of the car, from the driver’s helmet and body, to the shape of every surface and part included on the car. Take a close look at a Formula One car on your high definition screen next time you watch a race. You’ll notice the vertical end-plates fitted to wings to reduce vortices and the diffuser plate on the back of the cars which helps to prevent low-pressure bubbles that drag on the rear of a car. The narrow waist look of most of the Formula One cars is a more recent development that maximizes air flow to the rear wings and decreases drag.

All the aerodynamic elements added to a Formula One car allow it to achieve the spectacular change of speeds that make a Formula One race the ultimate high-speed affair on the planet.

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Post from: EveryJoe

Monaco was more of the same for the Formula One 2009 season

Brawn once again finished with a one-two combination that’s their third dual-win of the year and the third win with the same Mercedes-Benz engine powering Button’s ride. Ferrari had its best result of the year and its best finish since the race in Brazil last season. Raikkonen managed to start on the front row and reach the podium for the first time this season and at one point during the race at Monaco they were flying, before they had to change their rubber. Vettel started fast on super-soft tires and with the lightest fuel load but turned into a moving road block after a few laps. Rosberg sure looked fast and hungry all weekend and was probably disappointed with his sixth place ranking. Nakajima also ran hot and fast all weekend, but then took a chance on the last lap that ran his FW31 into the wall. Fernando Alonso appeared to be improving with each lap and managed to stay consistent and took seventh place. Nelson Piquet retired after an accident on lap 11 with Sebastien Buemi. Sebastien Bourdais gained a point in what he considers his home race; he stayed out of trouble with his STR4 and watched his rubber, and then took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself to finish eighth. Giancarlo Fisichella finished ninth by keeping his car out of trouble through out the race and managed to pull up close to Bourdais at the end and was in contention for eighth. Sutil started with a one-stop strategy in mind, but his tires quickly caused him to loose ground and ruined his chances.

The next stop for the Formula One season is Istanbul, Turkey, a fast track that was first run in 2005. Check the list below for the dates and times for the Turkish Grand Prix (all times are in local times)

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Post from: EveryJoe

Track set up for Monte Carlo

Come Sunday, at around 14:00, when the drivers are revving their engines and preparing to race, the track should be in better race-condition and it should only get better the more laps the cars run on this 3.340 km street-course. Let’s go over a few of the things that the race teams have done to prepare their cars for the challenge of Monte Carlo.

The streets Monte Carlo is run on probably feel glass-smooth to the drivers that use these roads every day, but to the stiff suspension set-up of a Formula One car these roads would feel like a mogul run. To compensate for street-conditions the cars ride-heights will be raised a few millimeters to compensate for the increased variation in chassis height in relation to the road. In addition, in order to help the cars deal with the increased variation in road heights the teams will implement softer suspension settings than they would for a non-street race. The height variations also mean the wheels of the car need to move independently to deal with the bumps, so they’ll soften the anti-roll bars to provide more freedom of movement for the wheels. The objective is to give the driver a neutral feeling that gives them better control over the car and increased confidence in their ability to drive the course, especially in the fast Massenet-Casino Square.

The aerodynamic requirements of the Monte Carlo street-course are different than the course the racers have driven on so far this season. Monte Carlo demands the highest down-force pressure constantly on the cars of any race so far this season. This will benefit the drivers and cars when braking and accelerating, keeping the car stable into the corners and allowing for maximum traction when coming out of the corner.

The infamous Grand Hotel hairpin will be the tightest of the season, combine this with the sharp turn at Rascasse, and Monte Carlo requires a steering angle some two times greater than that used at Barcelona.

When you’re watching the race at 14:00 on Sunday, keep these points in mind as you enjoy the race, and you will see the race from a different perspective more in tune with the physics and engineering requirements of Formula One racing.

Enjoy the race!

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe