What are computers used for in racing?

Answer 1

They are used for a wide variety of Calculations. Gas Mileage-Tire wear-Programs for what the car has done in the Past on certain tracks so they can make Air Pressure and wedge adjustments. To help the crew chief keep track of team mates Pitstops. For crew chiefs to watch the Oncoming weather and storm fronts--Just to name a few!!!!

Answer 2

Computers are used for many things in racing such as figuring out how much fuel is left in the tank by determining when the last pit stop was and average MPGs. Also, computers are used to time cars by seeing how fast they are on certain parts of the track and what their overall fastest time is on comparison to other drivers. If you go to NASCAR.com, you can look up "loop" data from the season. All of that is done by computer because of how detailed it must be.

Speaking of "loops," those are used to determine where drivers were right before a caution came out in most cases. The only time that computers are not used is when NASCAR has to determine where drivers were at the time a caution came out on the white flag lap.

Finally, computers are used for other telemetry as well on the tracks. When you watch a NASCAR race, the broadcasters will show a feed of people sitting on top of the war wagon. In front of them are TVs and computers to help do their calculations and give them the information that they need.

Answer 3

Now days it's harder to find things that computers aren't used for in racing. During practices and test sessions they have computers that monitor almost every aspect of the engine and all it's major components. They also track the travel of the suspension and use that information to simulate race conditions with the 7 post shakers that most teams have. They look at drag and wind resistance when they have a new chassis in the wind tunnel. They look at their fuel usage and gauge how much mileage they are getting. They can look at how and when braking occurs and compare it to different lines on the track or even to different drivers. It is such an integral part of racing now that I'm sure it's incorporated into almost every aspect of racing.

Answer 4

I'd be willing to bet that there are literally hundreds of computer programs that are used by racing teams. They've got programs that monitor everything.....from the time the car is being designed, built, tested, and raced. Everything from fuel consumption, to tire wear, to engine performance is being monitored.

Answer 5

They're also used for scoring the cars, the series that use transponders (most series in NASCAR does, some little tracks use it also) use a computer to track who is where, the transponder sends the information and a computer program organizes it for them. That's how they figure out things like freeze the field

Answer 6

Alot of things. Such as keeping track of the driver's average speed, or after the race to email the results to the websites that show that kind of thing and to but the results on NASCAR'S own website.

Answer 7

... Trego made a real good statement when he said what are computers not used for. He is right, they are used for a lot.

... Here is an example of uses of computers with the 7-Post Shaker used in setting the cars up.
http://www.insideracingtechnology.com/o7postshkr.htm

... Also here is an example of how computers are used with DEI engine design and cylinder heads.
http://www.gbicincinnati.com/applib/dale.shtml

... If I remember an article correct it said that Hendrick Motorsports makes about all of the parts http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/nov/14/sp-success-starts-behind-the-scenes/?sports-autoracing that goes into their cars. I'm sure computers are used for each and every one of those parts.

Answer 8

for calculating ratios, to optimize performance, and for transferring data via the internet to other people etc. and live camera operated visuals, and lotsa other stuff. Technically you could operate a pressure valve, by remote in the fuel system and have a faster Chevy... I mean car.

Answer 9

For saving the car setups, track times, tire wear, Etc.

Answer 10

People take their computers so that when they get bored of watching cars drive round and round, they have something else to do.