Comments on: The Pursuit Of Speed http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/ Speed is Life Tue, 21 May 2013 17:01:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: The Speedgeek http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6311 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:00:21 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6311 100% true, Steve. The big problem with Texas was the banking. The way I understand it, even though the CART cars were only going maybe 15 MPH more than the IRL cars of the day, that was enough to increase the level of G-forces to the point where teh CART guys were starting to flirt with the point of black out (from what I’ve heard, there’s a pretty defined limit where the human body can’t stand more G-force, and you go from “basically OK” to “out cold”). With the increased radius of the turns at Indy and the much, much flatter banking, this would not be an issue there. The much bigger issue, to my mind, is the question of the cars and the fence (though not the wall/SAFER barrier, as I’m certain those are fine to even much higher speeds than what we’re talking about) being able to handle impacts at 235-240 and beyond, and the problem of keeping cars out of the grandstands. As far as I’m concerned, if somebody can run the numbers and prove that those scenarios carry a relatively low level of risk, then by all means, let’s open things up.

]]> By: Mike Lis http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6294 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:21:20 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6294 Great post George and some very good comments. My thought is more about how higher speeds could affect the quality of racing. I may be wrong but I think cars flying around faster will only make the passing areas smaller and shorter. I would much rather see a very competitive race than 10 more miles per hour on pole day.

]]> By: Bent Wickerbill http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6291 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:34:53 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6291 There is no question that powerplants, even the little normally apirated de-tuned Honda are capable of generating enough power to break the speed record. The safe way to do so, would be to ensure that there is a corresponding increase in balanced fore and aft aero downforce, with an associated additional amount of mechanical grip. It is simply a matter of allowing the aero, suspension and tire package to be tweeked, unrestrict the RPM’s on the Honda and you will have people breaking records in droves. Heck, Helio put on a good display this past year during qualifying without any other modification, aside from reducing downforce to the bare minimum and some amazing qual-driving prowess.

]]> By: Steve K http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6286 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 02:15:06 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6286 The Texas race is a great example that there is a limit. But Indy isn’t a high banked superspeedway like Texas. It’s a flat rectangle. At Texas they were always turning, hence the vertigo. I might be wrong, but don’t think that would be a problem at Indy. Break records at Indy, but it’s probably a good idea to have different rules there.

]]> By: SkipinSC http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6283 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:30:26 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6283 While I think that there is added risk in running speeds that are 10 mph higher on average than the cars are running now, there are several thigs on the safety side that are also different. IndyCar has made changes in the nose of the cars to reduce lower extremity injuries, there is the HANS device, and the SAFER barriers, just to name three. Those things are fine, and I have said several times that with the safety advances that have been made, it’s time to quit trying to run everyone within a mile and hour or two: Let’s see who wants to risk blowing up a Honda engine to get a little more speed.

My big concern in so doing is that we have a field full of drivers who are unfamiliar with higher speeds. THis includes a LOT of “ride buyers.”This phenomenon is unlike the situation in the past. If a driver back then was good, he got a ride. Instead, now we have the main qualification being if a driver can bring enough (or the right combination of) sponsor dollars. (Goodness knows, I really don’t WANT to see Milka Duno trying to run 230+.)

In the “olden days” there were relatiively few major jumps in speed, one being in the early 70′s with the advent of the wing, and at least one other due to track resurfacing. As speeds inched up the charts, the whole field basically inched up with them. (And let’s not forget, one of those “jump” years was 1973, a year most of us old-timers would rather forget, with the deaths of Art Pollard and Swede Savage as well as the horrendous first lap accident involving Salt Walther.)

Also, when you start trying to challenge the records nowadays, you are talking about a number of drivers, some of whom aren’t particularly comfortable on ovals, trying to really “hang it out there,” in order to make the field. What you may end up with is a much wider range of speeds in the starting field, with the “haves” (this time in terms of experience, guts, or whatever) running off and leaving the “have nots.”

What I believe needs to happen in that case is to EXPAND not contract practice time. Let everyone work up to the higher speeds with more practice. One thing is certain: IF Bernard has his way, “fast Friday” might be really fun again.

]]> By: NaBUru38 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6282 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:04:42 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6282 George, keep typing IndyCar. Curt Cavin does, for example.

]]> By: Sean http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6280 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:50:47 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6280 Comparing people who prefer safety over speed to people who believe in a flat earth or moon landing conspiracies? That’s just wrong, because a round earth and man walking on the moon are facts, while safety vs. speed is an opinion. Trying to draw an analogy like that is rather false because you’re comparing people you believe to have misguided opinions to those who are wrong about the facts, and it’s rather condescending as well. The CART race at Texas is a very good argument that there are limits to safe speed. You make a solid argument otherwise, but I don’t think comparing safety-conscious fans to people considered “loonies” really helps your case.

]]> By: 15daysinmay http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6279 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:43:54 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6279 Great post and I liked your reference to Vukovich’s comments. Very interesting. Maybe most people can’t “tell” between a 215 and 235 lap (I beg to differ personally, and I think that other very seasoned fans can do the same) but they can when the numbers and the excitement start to fly around. It’s like in baseball…a 350-foot homer is worth cheering about, but a 450-foot bomb is what brings fans out of their seats.

As I mentioned in my post about this subject, the idea is whether or not it can be done safely. I think at Indy that is now the case.

]]> By: redd http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6278 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:20:11 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6278 Two other thoughts today.

Driver’s are concerned about Bernard’s announcement of double-file restarts on ovals. They say it’s too dangerous because cars could force cars into the marbles and there will be more wrecks. I think that’s bogus. No matter what you think of double-file restarts, driver’s should be professional enough to deal with it.

And a thought about INDYCAR as a name. I didn’t care one way or the other at first, but now I think it’s kinda real smart. Given that the majority of race fans in the US are NASCAR fans, calling it INDYCAR is sort of saying, hey–there’s two racing series in the US…NASCAR and INDYCAR. It sort of elbows everyone else out of the way. And is more memorable to the casual sports fan. As far as it not meaning anything, I wonder how many Nascar fans realize that it stands for “National Association of Stock Car whatever?” I think they think it’s just a name. Like INDYCAR.

Okay–this is me shuttin’ up for today.

]]> By: dylanpt24 http://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6277 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:04:21 +0000 https://oilpressure.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/the-pursuit-of-speed/#comment-6277 I think they need to do it this year. I know the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500 is a big deal, but as the lame duck year of spec Dallara/Honda’s that are dominated by Red Cars, they’ve got to do something to make the race feel special and add a little extra excitement, and I can’t think of anything better than breaking the Speed Record. If it was managed in 96, I’d imagine in the era of the SAFER barrier it could be achieved today. As for 2012, breaking the speed records set this year would be even easier. According to Cotman, all the series will have to do is raise HP a little at Indy, and then the speed records broken.

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