Why so slow???

Question

Why are F1 cars so slow?? The IRL runs IMS at 240+ MpH. It's a given that is on the oval, as opposed to the road course, but they are still way over 240 at the same point that the F1 cars are barely getting to 200. The IRL cars are heavier, have fewer aerodynamic advantages, and have less horsepower. They also run smaller tires, and make less downforce (especially in speedway trim). Even the NASCAR cars can hit 200. That's pretty bad considering they weigh over twice what an F1 car does (almost 3 times as much, actually), have less than 25% of the downforce, less than 1/2 the tire width, almost 1/2 the horsepower, not to mention that they are rather "brick-shaped" compared to an F1 car. Come on, what gives?? Is it that F1's are not as technologically advanced as they claim to be, or are the drivers just too chicken to push the loud pedal all the way to the floor?????

Answer 1

Have you considered the continuous open throttle time? The F1 laps dont have the same full throttle times as on an oval and the F1 turns either way, which needs the car to be balanced. All these means F1 has reduced top speeds, but overall it is faster. Check out the best timings in Montreal, F1 has a 7 second advantage. Top speeds are sacrificed for turning speeds and F1 really benefits from that sacrifice.

Now for the comparisons, you got it all wrong.
IRL has a 3.5 Liter V8s (650 hp average) , F-1 has 2.4 liter V8s (840 hp average) F-1 Rules.
IRL 690 -727, F-1 605 kg, not the massive difference as you have stated.

Absolute top speeds in the 200 -300 mph range is not indicative of technology, it was achieved half way through the last century. Braking from 300 kmph in 3.5 seconds is technology, hitting 100 kmph in 1.9 seconds is technology> If set a 2007 race regulation F1 car can top 400 kmph (250 mph) on straights, no big deal.

Set the Spyker F1 with 3.5 liter V8s, slicks and set it for an Oval, now put it on with and IRL and you can see it zipping past your best, again, and again. Now bring the IRL racer to Monaco....

Answer 2

Actually, the IRL cars can only run to 228 MPH, they never come even close to 240+ MPH. The fastest speed for the Indy 500 is 236 by Arie Luyendyk. NASCAR cars barely hit 200, before the restrictor plates thought, they could hit above 220. Is the F1 cars ran on the oval, they would ABSOLUTELY SHATTER all of the speed records for Indy and the world closed course speed record (Held by Gil de Ferran at 241MPH). A Honda F1 car driven by Alan van der Merwe set a world speed record on the Bonneville Salt Falts in 2004.

Answer 3

You do kind of have a point here but there are a few things you need to know.
F1 cars produce lots of down force so that they can corner at much higher speeds than normal. The effect of this however is to also limit the cars top speed.
In addition to this, the FIA have introduced measures to actually slow down F1 cars and have been doing this since the mid 90s..
I would imagine if the old hokenheim circuit were still in use (before the rebuild and even before the chicanes) then you would see some pretty high speeds as cars traditionally ran with very low down force here.
In November 2005, the Honda team set an unofficial record by using a modified F1 car. They got up to 256.6 m.p.h.
Apparently, they used only enough down force to stop the car from leaving the ground but added a moveable rudder to aid stability. The FIA states that aerodynamic aids on a car must be securely fixed and so was in breach of current F1 regulations.
So, in conclusion, F1 cars are fast, but for the kind of racing they do, top speed has to be compromised for cornering speed.

Additional details:
Apparently, the top speed of the V10 era of F1 cars to be set on track was 232 m.p.h. at Monza in 2005.

Answer 4

As was mentioned, the safety issue has been coming more into play (engines are smaller than previous seasons, some were around 1000hp) and the aerodynamic compromise of a track with turning and straights limits the overall top speed. If you had aerodynamics that could top out in the straights you would loose the ability to take corners very well.

Note that the F1 engines themselves are notably smaller than either IRL or Nascar, but have as much or more power.

Answer 5

Put the F1 cars on a true NASCAR oval and they will blow the doors off NASCAR, IRL or CHAMP cars. They will also beat them on any road or hybrid course.

NASCAR and IRL cars are so fast down the straight at Indy because they are coming off the corner already wound up, not creeping out onto the main course off a series of tight corners.

Money buys speed and the price of brakes for an F1 car in one race would fund at least a Busch team for a year.

Answer 6

you must be an irl or nascar fan, its the only way to explain why you don't know the difference between oval and road set up, and frankly im not going to waist my fingers explaining it to you, you just watch you cars turn left and tell us how they are the best, btw have you watched an irl race in the past 5 years? cause it has been at least that long since they did 240,

Answer 7

F1 cars slow? You've got to be kidding. They can reach speeds up to more than 300km/h. BUt they can't go flat out 300km/h cause only certain straights and corners can be ataken at that speed. Since the FIA felt that it was dangerous, they have come up with ways to reduce the speed of the cars

Answer 8

You realize that since none of those classes of cars race against each other, your whole question is idiotic. It seems to me the whole point of racing is not being the fastest, but getting to the finish line first. And intact, which F1 cars certainly do a lot more often than either stock cars or Indy cars.

Answer 9

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