In autoracing, what is drafting and how does ot work?

Question

I know when you follow the car in front of you closely it is called drafting, right? But what exactly is going on when you do this and what is the purpose of it?

How close to another car must you be before drafting begins

Answer 1

Drafting (racing)
Drafting, or slipstreaming, is a technique in sports racing where competitors align in a close group in order to reduce the overall effect of drag or fluid resistance of the group. Especially when high speeds are involved, drafting can significantly reduce the average energy expenditure required to maintain a certain speed.

Drafting is usually to reduce wind resistance and is seen most commonly in bicycle racing, car racing, and speedskating

Drafting can be cooperative, in which several competitors take turns in the lead position (which requires the most effort and energy consumption). Or, it can be competitive or tactical, where one competitor will try to stay closely behind another leaving him or her more energy for a break-away push to the finish line.

Bump drafting
Bump drafting is a tactic used in NASCAR races, it begins with standard drafting but the following car pulls up behind the lead car and bumps into the rear of it, pushing the lead car ahead, to maintain momentum. When done in side by side traffic on a straightaway this can assist the lead car in passing, and allows the following car to follow through. This tactic can destabilize the handling of the lead car, however, and if done roughly or in the wrong position (e.g. close to the entry of the turn) it can lead to a crash. There are actually 5,000,000 casualties a year. Because of this, NASCAR has attempted to limit the bracing on bumpers on cars, introduced "no bump zones" on certain portions of speedways where this practice is prevalent, penalized drivers who are too rough in bump drafting, and, with the Car of Tomorrow, bump drafting is supposed to be cut down with it.

Bump drafting is most commonly used at the larger tracks of Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway because a restrictor plate is used.

Answer 2

Drafting is getting into the low air pressure area behind the car ahead of you. The front car works harder because it has to force the air around it. The car behind works less because of that so it can use a little less fuel to go as fast.
A similar thing happens when you follow a semi-truck down the highway. The truck pushes enormous amounts of air out of the way. When you pull out to pass the truck, you hit the air turbulence forced by the truck and you can feel the air resistance requiring more gas pedal than just following the truck.

Answer 3

all the above answers are correct so instead i will simplify it, its when the car ahead of you makes a hole in the air,

next time your driving down the road at a good 45 mph or faster stick your hand out the window, you will feel the air pushing your hand,

now put your hand behind the side mirror and feel the difference,

that's drafting, imagine how much faster your car could go if it wasn't fighting the air

its not effective below 70 mph for cars and the length of the drafting hole depends on the speed of the lead car

at the Indy 500 at 230 mph with no wind a draft is good for almost the entire length of the strait,

Answer 4

You have probably tried to run in water and the resistance requires more energy than running in air. It also makes you slower. That's because you are fighting against more molecules in the water than you are in the air. The air still has molecules that you feel when it's windy. To reduce the amount of molecules that hit the front of the car, it's best to be right behind another car that is taking the brunt. This increases the gas milage of the vehical and the vehical handles better even at faster speeds. The car behing can also gain some speed, so with the right manuver they can slip out in front of the other car.

Answer 5

Drafting reduces the air drag on the car behind. When racing the front of your car has to cut through the air as it moves forward, by getting behind another car, that car expends more gas cutting through the air and your car uses less by keeping in the vortex of air behind it. You can feel the same effect behind a big rig on the highway, sometimes even feeling a little pull as you get close because you suddenly have less resistance on your car.

Answer 6

Its an aerodynamics type of effect. Basically think of it like if you were running against a strong wind. It would be a pain to do but if you had a wall of some sort blocking the wind in front of you it would be a lot easier. When a car is in front of another driver they are essentially blocking the wind or the force of the air for the driver behind them.

As far as strength, it simply gets stronger as you get closer. The air is better blocked the closer you get to them

Answer 7

Drafting is when one car gets sucked ahead by another. It happens when the back of one car and the front of another gets vacuumed to another.

Answer 8

You're right you follow the car in front so there is less air resistance and you can slingshot ahead because you build power.

Answer 9

its when you go up behind the person and you push them and you go faster making them go faster cuz the wind like stuff hits their car but not yours making you go faster

Answer 10

are you talking about Drifting, I think it's like power sliding through turns, on slick tires