2006-09-07 05:40:30 · 20 answers · asked by sagar s 1 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing
In Formula One, theoretically a lighter driver is best. The minimum weight for a car is 600 kg, including the driver and all lubricants, but not fuel. However, with modern materials all F1 cars weigh well below that and, to bring the car (and driver) up to the minimum weight, ballast is used. With a light driver and chassis, more ballast can be used and it can be placed strategically (usually under the car), depending on the race circuit. The point being, the engineers can play around with weight distribution.
2006-09-07 06:10:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't speak for NASCRAP, Touring Cars or other GT-type series, but in Champ Car and the IRL, the driver's weight is not included in the car's weight, so a lighter driver is better. Less weight = more speed.
In other Formula car series (F1, F3, F3000, Atlantics, GP2, etc.) the total weight of the car and driver must meet a minimum weight. However, a lighter driver is also beneficial in these series.
Formula cars are deliberately built underweight to account for the weight of the driver. If the driver and car weigh less than the minimum, ballast is added to weigh the car down.
Guess where they add the ballast? At the lowest point of the car. That means a 60kg driver with 10kg of ballast weighs the same as a 70kg driver with no ballast, but the car of the 60kg driver has a lower centre of gravity, and that means more stability when turning at high speeds.
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2006-09-07 13:06:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the series. In the IRL the total minimum weight of the car does not include the driver. In F1, it does, which is why they keep their helmets gloves, and everything else on when they get weighed. IRL guys are all pissed because they feel Danica has an advantage over them due to this, even if she hasn't won yet. So, the answer is that, no a lighter driver does not necessarialy mean a better driver, but as in the case of the IRL, it means a lighter and theoretically faster car.
2006-09-07 15:07:12 · answer #3 · answered by Sean B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a rule, the less a car weighs the better. Most NASCAR type racing cars weigh about the same, so if you put a 220 pound driver into 1 car and a 120 pound driver into the other, there's an immediate weight advantage to the lighter car.
IROC cars are all identical for set up and weight, so the driver's weight would be irrelevant because that's factored in.
It's the car setup, the skill of the driver, and lady luck that determine the winner of a race though.
2006-09-07 12:42:22 · answer #4 · answered by kja63 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The weight of a driver does hava an impact on the car speed. It is not that lighter the driver, better the driver as this depends on the driver's driving ability, but it always helps if you are of optimum weightage. In Formula 1 racing, the car speeds depend majorly on car weightage, be it fuel load or the driver load.
I hope I have been able to answer your query.
2006-09-09 02:20:21 · answer #5 · answered by sauravsaharia007 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Race cars have to be of a minimum weight so if the driver is too light the car has to have weight added to it so they all weigh the same on race day.
An advantage of having a light weight driver is that the owner can add the extra weight way down low in the car which lowers the center of gravity.
2006-09-07 12:43:06 · answer #6 · answered by Michael 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no, being small is not a prerequisite to be fast.
However, for single seater cars being small is important.. I am 186cm and 100kg.. when I tried to sit into a Formula3 car I just couldnt.
As far as performance goes, in series with car+driver limits it doesnt matter to be that small.
Having said that, most race drivers start with karting, and it's there that being big is a big bad hit.. so most driver coming out of karts are automatically pretty small.
2006-09-08 06:15:35 · answer #7 · answered by kunosayu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not critical. At least in Formula 1. Because the drivers and their cars are weighed after each race and they have to be over a certain weight limit, 600 kg for car+driver. Any lower than that means disqualification.
So heavier driver=lighter car and vice-versa.
2006-09-07 12:48:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Doesn't matter. The total weight has to be the same regardless of the driver's weight. For example Mark Martin is a tiny guy and Tony Stewart is a butterball. When they go to have their car inspected, there is a weight limit the car and driver together must meet. So, for lighter drivers the car has to weigh more and vice versa.
2006-09-07 12:42:49 · answer #9 · answered by michaelyoung_airforce 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
In NASCAR, the weight of the car includes the weight of the driver. That way everything is equal. The difference, therefore, would be in where the weight is distributed. I don't really think that there is any advantage one way or the other.
2006-09-07 13:51:32 · answer #10 · answered by mcmurrayjamiefan 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋