#Indy 500 race gear drivers
#Indy 500 race gear driver

Changing the ratios takes five to 10 minutes. The team canвЂ™t adjust the shifting mechanism and parameters, but it can modify the gear ratios. The shift paddles are mounted on the steering wheel for easy access. The new transmission makes it easier to shift more if warranted.

#Indy 500 race gear drivers

It tends to narrow the gap between drivers because manual shifting is an art, especially when moving at over 200 mph. The semi-automatic transmission is relatively new for Indењњar, but so far itвЂ™s been well received.

Over-revving an engine due to improper shifting can cost tens of thousands of dollars in wear and tear. The clutchless, semi-automatic transmission meshes with the Indењњar requirements because drivers would normally shift up and down. The parameters are adjustable, but theyвЂ™re set by Indењњar, not the teams. All of this accounts for the current speed and load on the engine.

#Indy 500 race gear driver

This has led to a вЂњshift without liftвЂќ approach to driving, where the driver always has the вЂњpedal to the metal.вЂќДuring a transition, the ECU will interrupt the fuel flow and ignition to the engine, providing a smoother shift. The shift control incorporates strain gauges to determine when a driver desires a transition. The drivers only have to contend with a paddle shifter that toggles up or down one gear. It eliminates the clutch pedal and provides electronic control to synchronize timing and torque requirements, resulting in a smooth, efficient transition. SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONДЄdam Schaechter, chief engineer at AJ Foyt Racing, says that one of the biggest changes in the race over the past few years has been the switch to the current six-speed, all-forward-gears, semi-automatic transmission. Thus, several additional suppliers are considering support for Indењњar. A new engine will come into play next year. The designers looked to minimize engine failures under demanding race loads while also cutting operating costs. The engines are designed to last at least 1200 miles between rebuilds, but this is definitely not stop-and-go traffic. The engine is smaller than the 3.5-l engine used a few years ago, and its smaller power band forces drivers to shift more often. To reach this speed, the cars use a 650-hp, 3-l Honda V8 engine that costs about $2.9 million per car. The cars are designed for safety, so drivers usually walk away from spectacular crashes, though fatal accidents have occurred at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, also known as the Brickyard. ItвЂ™s possible to make faster cars, but 225 mph is the turning point at which human reaction time turns a safe race into collision city. This can be tough when operating near the limit because bumps, wind, and drafting all affect the load on the engine and, hence, its speed. Go above the limit, and the engine will slow down by 9500 RPM, so thereвЂ™s an incentive to push the limit but not exceed it. Likewise, the RPMs are limited to 10,300. That means no playing around with the engine control unit (ECU). They canвЂ™t be tweaked, although they can be controlled. The engine and transmission/ gearbox are the same in each car. There are strict limits on dimensions, weight, and all sorts of details such as the size and placement of the wings found on the front and rear of the cars. These modifications can often provide the edge that a team needs to win, whether itвЂ™s in selecting the best time to enter the pits or choosing what kind of tires to use. However, teams can augment the sensor and telemetry system used in the car (Fig. Teams do have a wider range of discretion when it comes to brakes, tires, and suspension, but even they have some strict limits. There are always variances, but the Indy Racing League (IRL), known as Indењњar, sets the specifications for the cars, making them nearly identical ( see вЂњIndењњar SpecificationsвЂќ). The race is more impressive when you consider that itвЂ™s more of a test of drivers and their teams than the best open-wheel race car. Trying to drive the optimum path with 32 other cars on the track is a real challenge, since each driver wants to be on the optimum line. The front and back straightaways are only five-eighths of a mile long, so drivers spend a good deal of time in the 9В° banked turns. The fastest average speed is more than 185 mph with top speeds cresting at about 235 mph. The event will pit 33 cars and drivers against each other in a grueling 500-mile race around a 2.5-mile track.

For the non-gearheads, this Memorial Day marks the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500. Surely most racing fans have May 24, 2009, circled on their calendars.