Welcome to the racer’s mail bag. Any questions from the racer author are: mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters containing questions are prone to be revealed. Any questions obtained each Monday after 3pm shall be saved the next week.
Q: Blackbird 66 Mk.1:The place do you wish to specific or register assist for this design?
John Silla
Marshall Pruett: Assist = Register.
Q: I needed to answer an article on Blackbird 66. What a breath of recent air? What a sane show! Lastly, somebody is pointing in an mental course!
Iracing and Dallara did one thing alongside these strains when designing and activating the Dallara IR-01 as a design train and doing it for subsequent use in breast companies. It’s a fictional means, with outrageous specs and requires particular expertise to drive to its limits. It is from Downforce DNA, however the notable level is that it’s, as a challenge, the form of first step assumed on this article.
Dallara/Iracing mentioned the ultimate design was accomplished as a piece drawing and specification that may very well be used to construct a automotive in actual life if somebody offered the cash. If you wish to take a peek, it is nonetheless aggressive with at this time’s iracing.
The Dallara/Iracing/IR-01 bond could also be one level to discover alongside the trail to selling Blackbird 66 as a actuality.
Greg Smith
MP: The argument of peeling all downforce from the downforce automotive was previous, with the roadster period within the Nineteen Fifties and early Nineteen Sixties, particularly the zero downforce, an extended wheelbase, a moderately highly effective four-cylinder off engine, and tall skinde stress for tall racing.
Inside numerous areas that made the automotive their very own, tall/skinny tires on the leading edge of information and know-how have made it attainable to float.
The unsaid a part of the Superior Blackbird 66 items can also be an previous rebuttal to steal the wings and downforce of at this time’s Indy automotive, and that is what occurs within the nook. The ’66 would not weigh something and has 1,000 horsepower. It is a dream. Speed up like high gasoline dragsters like Indy’s High Gas Dragster, Lengthy Seashore, and crash like a turtle in comparison with at this time’s Downforce Automobile by way of the nook.
The shortage of downforce means a a lot bigger brake zone, which implies a shorter straight in the case of acceleration. Sure, automobiles are straight missiles, however there is no downforce to gradual issues down, so soar off the throttle and say hey Looooong Earlier than the nook arrives.
And since there isn’t a downforce to hold that missile-like pace on sharper turns, you’re slower and you have to resort to solely mechanical grips to go by way of the corners. And whereas which may be enjoyable, it may very well be enjoyable if tire makers wish to avoid all the things that is occurring at this time with their comparatively low sidewalls.
The final time I used to be in Formulation 1 within the Nineteen Seventies with an ideal drifty open wheeler (till Lotus introduced floor results and big downforce to the sport). The automotive was very mild, had 500 horsepower, additionally had wings (usually very giant wings), and the rear tires have been very spacious. However they have been tall and had an enormous sidewall profile – they regarded and acted like balloons. They have been slower and allowed to drive sideways at mid-speed corners as Downforce helped them management the automotive. Every part welcomes the good Jills Villeneuve.
So sure, if Firestone or one other model needs to rewind 50 years with tire sizing and building, I am certain we will replicate Villeneuve’s methodology at 66. Additionally, automobiles aren’t significantly quick at these corners whereas drift is cool, so if trendy followers act like dragsters like dragsters between 66s, then the automotive pedals them softly, and this works.
For everybody about pace, visible pace and seeing an indy automotive does greater than go quicker in a straight line – there are issues. I wish to see this automotive come again to life. I would be the first man to assist make it. We do not need everybody to get misplaced within the romanticism of everybody, with out acknowledging that 20-inch broad rear tires aren’t a nook therapy.
Working 275 mph from flip 4 to first on Indy will shock the driving force and followers for the expertise. Will the driving force hit the brakes proper after the beginning/end line and cease turning 1 spherical at 175 mph? That is the half I battle with.
Perceive the tire compromises to permit drift. That is a magical modification that brings out the fullest attainable 66 ideas. One thing must tie it straight, so as a substitute of explosive pace circumstances, you deploy the parachute a number of instances afterwards.
In any other case, all of the followers of the straight and what’s comparatively gradual and relaxed in every single place else makes me really feel unhealthy.
Hildebrand’s Blackbird 66 idea was an prompt hit with readers. Photos by Patrick Faulwetter
Q: Please pleaseSomebody builds the racing collection based mostly on Jr Hildebrand’s Blackbird 66 Mk.1. As a lifelong fan of a non-winged dash automotive on filth, there isn’t a race in its purest kind than an influence car that takes away traction. It is magic to see Hildebrand (and Gurney) automobiles transferring.
Ned Smith
MP: Amen.
Q: I used to be eager to learn Hildebrand’s work on Blackbird. I’ve been considering for years that wings and downforce enhance races in a number of methods, both with removing or a minimum of limiting. This permits the automotive to observe and go extra simply, making it a wider vary of driving kinds extra aggressive. If the braking distance will increase, I feel it is going to even be a greater race. Most of us do not drive automobiles with enormous wings or different downforce manufacturing gadgets, so issues may additionally grow to be extra intuitive. It is going to most likely increase the curiosity of producers as the facility unit traits grow to be extra essential. As Indycar goes on this course, it gives a transparent distinction from F1, disabling the notion that they’re decrease classes.
What do you assume?
Will lowering aerodynamics result in fewer groups being funded as they strategy their rich rivals? How do you assume sanctions teams, groups and drivers will reply? Or do you have already got it? If the strategy is accepted, how would you configure one conversion schedule?
Jack
MP: I really like the idea and the above query is raised as the one warning. It is also stunning how an idea receives a special idea when it would not appear to be an grownup toy.
My late good friend and hero Dan Gurney, whom JR quotes as inspiration for Blackbird 66, was intensively concerned in Deltawing Design, created by Ben Bowlby. Like JR automobiles, its core idea was one of many Massive Aero’s absence and deep dedication to excessive drag discount.
In fact, the Delta Wing created downforce, however was sufficient to nook their greatest rivals. Essentially the most distinction between the 66 is because of the usage of a heavy engine. Deltawing has made Colin Chapman’s route lighter as one other core tenet. Within the again there was a small, custom-made four-cylinder turbo from Raymallock Restricted, and it was unlikely to be a full rocket just like the 66.
Typically, no, lowering issues does nothing to assist smaller groups get nearer to bigger groups. The brief interval when the sector is barely leveled is when model new formulation are launched. And that is due to zero time and information between all groups utilizing that new method. When the larger/higher/rich groups have sufficient time to study and grasp the automotive, it occurs at a quicker pace for them, they draw back from the smaller staff. Additionally they are inclined to get a head begin within the studying course of as they’ve extra individuals, more cash, and extra experience. You’ll study some early surprises and get a small staff or two to carry, however that does not final.
This text is per week in the past, so I do not count on any enjoyable and nice ideas to make a significant affect on how IndyCar, F1, or different open wheel collection are transferring ahead with plans for the long run. The F1 has a brand new 2026 method, with IndyCar properly under the way forward for the brand new automotive in 2028.
Bowlby and Chip Ganassi constructed a prototype of the Deltau (it is a present automotive, it is correct, not a working car, not a working car), and it was proven in 2010 on the root of the Pagoda. (SNL’s ambiguous homosexual duo cartoon), and it was instantly rejected by Indycar.
If the Blackbird 66 has an opportunity in the actual world, it have to be constructed and run. This have to be demonstrated as a stunning factor adopted by sanctions teams. That is unlikely to occur but, as F1 and Indycar favor to do their very own factor, or use the 66 to put money into a brand new racing collection and kind a brand new racing collection.
Q: I discussed this earlier than, however evidently this advertising and marketing thought can now have some legs. With Fox now being an IndyCar associate, how about IndyCar utilizing a few of its leverage to place one or two present automobiles per NFL stadium? QR codes for automobiles with IndyCar schedules, and ticket buy alternatives for the closest race or 500. It appears pure to me.
Vincent Martinez, South Pasadena, California
MP: A terrific concept that shall be possible in the beginning of the 2027 NFL season.
Till then, groups will race utilizing the Dalala DW12. When the season finale happens in late August/early September 2017, there are over 100 DW12s with no goal or important worth. Who pays for all the continued transport, setup and activations from the occasion to the occasion? That half requires a solution.
At the moment, most groups have a minimum of one present automotive, however they are typically utilized in sponsoring options and others all through the offseason. When the NFL season begins and the offseason hits in 2027, there shall be a fleet of DW12 deployed in all NFL stadiums, Faculty Soccer Stadium for Fox’s Saturday video games, and MLB Park the place different Fox sports activities have their cameras.
Q: I learn a word revealed to elucidate the that means of Ed Carpenter Automobile Components. Ed Carpenter has a enterprise that makes particular components only for his IndyCar race automobiles, not public gross sales. They did not make clear precisely what that meant. I feel which means there are in-house designers and producers who design components to enhance aerodynamics for the unique bodywork offered by Dallara.
A number of the different groups have made the identical sort (RLL, Andretti, Penske, and Ganassi can create {custom} elements to get the small benefit of pace). For security causes concerning restrictions when changing sure elements, guidelines established by Indycar and probably Dallara are required. Neither firm would wish to endure from unhealthy press created by the failure of the alternative element.
My query is, what are the constraints for creating and utilizing a {custom} made alternative that might comprise suspension elements?
T. Grimes
MP: When writing to cite and seek advice from one thing, it helps you share the hyperlink, no matter it’s, as there isn’t a context as as to whether this “word” was posted yesterday or 10 years in the past. It was not discovered on Google both.
I’ve no information of ECR beginning a second enterprise to create IndyCar components for the principle enterprise. All groups have machine outlets and composite outlets to deal with the manufacture or restore of what must be associated to the automotive or assist tools.
Relying on the 12 months and ERA, the staff is allowed to make many elements of the Indy automotive, and there’s a present scenario the place the staff isn’t allowed to make many of the Dalala DW12, together with suspension, aside from the anti-roll bar.
Q: In response to suggesting an alternative choice to IMSA FCY King Elzwasia’s issuesWhy not go away the FCYS pits closed? The staff loves the flexibility to pit, however these lengthy FCY points are enormous delays attributable to automotive and sophistication shuffling.
So, screws. Go away the pit closed. If emergency companies are required, these guidelines apply. In any other case, you may pit as soon as it is inexperienced. It is truthful to all rivals, eliminating a minimum of two laps (and maybe extra) per FCY process.
Is not {that a} visible sight? maybe. However I commerce full pit battle mayhem for the additional inexperienced flags that run each time.
I additionally keep in mind the Tremendous GT collection to park the GT500 class on the principle straight to re-shuffle the automotive. Then allow them to go by way of the GT300 class as a way to reshuffle the grid in a single lap. IMSA can do the identical. And if you wish to handle the wave round of a wrapped automotive after the principle straight GTP class park, straighten the GTD class park behind and the wave-around automobiles can cycle behind every class. Then, restarting the lessons in flip permits all the things to be mixed as a reshaped type discipline inside one lap. Or is it too bold?
Duncan, Ottawa
MP: I had the identical thought about closing the pits and creating pits for everybody when it is inexperienced. What it is best to think about as to why IMSA would not do that’s the measurement of the automotive (lengthy and broad prototype) and the dimensions of the pitbox that it’s important to use is most races within the 19-20 ft lengthy vary. Some occasions have lengthy bins in a 22-foot vary, however these are uncommon.
Why is that this essential? Each time three or 4 lessons compete, it turns into a critical quantity downside, and the entry record is 35-50 or extra automotive depths.
With 27 automobiles with many steering locks to get out and in of the pit field, you may see how excruciatingly tight there are a lot of IndyCar races. With that quantity of automotive doubled and fendered, you may’t get the acute steering angle to play like an open wheeler. It is a recipe for a lot of issues that go out and in of the pit field all through the sector of IMSA GTP/P2/GTD autos, pit pit on the similar time and registered as members of the lane on the similar time. stall.
So they need to cut up their lessons and do not keep away from the chance of jaming everybody collectively or shedding quite a lot of time for the staff. I do know it is finished this manner previously and folks have managed it. With minimal pit cease instances and managed refueling instances, you know the way all the things is tightly regulated at this time.
Q: Are there any ridiculous issues about Honda’s relationship with IndyCar? There was some extent the place the dominant story was at IndyCar earlier this 12 months. I feel it is good that we have not heard any latest peeps.
Will Zoller
MP: After I final requested about two weeks in the past, Honda was nonetheless score. I do not even hear from Chevy about my formal dedication to produce engines past 2026, as I must be reminded of myself often.
Have a look at this area. Matt Fraver/Penske Leisure
Q: Following final week’s letter concerning the scenario with the IMSA yellow flag, I’ve a query. If there’s a scenario the place there may be an FCY, why cannot the tempo automotive decide up the chief and maintain the station behind the chief when others run? And if the chief, or another person, for instance, decides to pit in the course of the FCY, they arrive out the place they arrive out and that is the place they keep.
If the chief pits, for instance, a wrapped GT automotive, the tempo automotive will decide up the subsequent automotive behind it. They is also within the field. After that, as soon as the confusion is cleaned up, I will go to the race. No time to coordinate lessons is wasted.
They race in every single place from sprints to 24 hours coping with class races, so they need to be capable of take care of all confused reboots. It shouldn’t be too troublesome as it’s a single file restart anyway. I hope they discover a resolution.
and
MP: Each query of “Why cannot they?”, my rapid response is “If they need, they’ll do it.”
There is no such thing as a purpose why they cannot do what you recommend or what others recommend. It is the query of whether or not they like concepts or whether or not they wish to change from what they’re doing now, in any matter.
Q: I used to be watching a report on Dan Weldon’s accident, and the feedback raised questions on his entry in Las Vegas.
For the 2026 season, do not you assume it could be excellent for Lahar Letterman’s Lanigan to promote charters on No. 30 and put money into two different automobiles?
Emerson Cherkauski, Sao Paulo, Brazil
MP: Others have been thought-about, together with Travis Pastrana. RLL’s sports activities automotive staff has received extra races than the INDYCAR program within the final 17 years. So the home aspect is to seek out and discover new producers to rent as a manufacturing facility staff.
No. 30 is the worst season ever, and there have been rumors of groups contemplating promoting charters, however they’re mistaken. The staff is testing Mick Schumacher on Monday on the IMS highway course. Graham Lahal and Louis Foster have been buying and selling for a number of years and are trapped in 2026. The one purpose to check Schumacher is to see if he likes automobiles and wish to be a part of Lahal subsequent 12 months to grow to be a foster dad or mum. One other technique to put it’s that if the staff have been aiming to take away the third automotive, it could not be aimed toward spending cash on operating Schumacher.
With that in thoughts, it’s clear that RLL is looking for a driver to revive what it misplaced when Christian Landguard units off for Arrow McLaren. X the third automotive solely is smart if you cannot discover somebody to carry it ahead within the discipline.
Q: Does the IndyCar staff permit tyre compounds to be blended and matched? For instance, do you set two exhausting compound tires on the again and two delicate tires on the entrance? Or put two delicate compounds on the left aspect of the automotive and put exhausting on the suitable aspect? And even higher, place a tough compound on the suitable entrance and soften the opposite three? Please tell us.
Bob Grey, Kalos Park, California
MP: Not so.
Q: Will the offseason strikes carry Andretti again to the combination? Has Veekay returned to Fold as a result of technical alliance between Andretti and Coyne?
Dino, New Hanover, PA
MP: To this point, in favour of the function of shop-based engineering, No. We’re shedding Nathan O’Rourke from a timing standpoint, so we do not understand how the staff shall be stronger within the brief time period. He is likely one of the greatest race engineers within the collection and positively helps the staff it doesn’t matter what function they play for him, however I would not assume it could have an effect anytime quickly. It is only a matter of timing, when O’Rourke’s revised contribution is felt.
Equally, he’ll tackle the staff management function till the tip of the 12 months, transferring right into a complete Chief Efficiency Officer place masking all the TWG Motorsports packages besides F1. He isn’t used to the function and defines its scope on the similar time, so it’s troublesome to say that, like O’Rourke, an prompt bump is skilled in IndyCar.
Ron Luzewski, who will take over from Edwards in January, is the one individual I count on to have a right away affect. He has arrived from Crew Pensuke, whose title was managed director. This is similar title held by Chip Ganasi Racing’s Mike Hull. He’s given the title of Andretti’s Crew Principal. That is simply the title of what we do at Pensuke.
Penske’s background in deep-lace engineering and technical director stage peak shall be a brand new facet for Andretti’s IndyCar program chief, so it is worthwhile and has the apparent a part of understanding that he is aware of the within and out of doors of Penske’s playbook. All that Penske prepares the automotive for the Indy 500 and does one thing particular anyplace else is within the reminiscence financial institution of the individual chargeable for the Andretti three-car effort.
The one draw back is Ruzewski, who’s on a gardening vacation till the tip of the 12 months. If he can plug himself into Andretti at this time, there shall be an ideal alternative to form offseason engineering R&D packages and different areas he thinks he must enter. Beginning January 1st, we’ll push again that timeline, however sure, the staff needs to be extra aggressive with him in the home.
Veekay goes out to Juncos Hollinger Racing.
It is the smile of a driver who is aware of he is driving subsequent 12 months. Chris Owens/Penceke Leisure
Q: Adopted Cadillac F1 information and driver bulletins. The half I have never heard of is the check driver Hertha.
Will he be on the F2 staff for subsequent season? Are you interested by any of the present groups being with him, or is there a brand new staff for him to drive?
Michael Kramer
Chris Medland: The final information I had was that the staff had not but been totally confirmed, however there have been three nominee lists. There was a suggestion that drivers might want to carry their budgets to their F2 seats, so a few of the numbers quoted could also be inflated, and in the long run it could take just a little longer.
It will likely be an current staff (however it could occur in a brief time period) as there isn’t a announcement {that a} new staff shall be coming into F2 subsequent 12 months, or that the present staff shall be on sale/rebranded. I feel the vast majority of the groups have been very thinking about operating Colton Hertha, however some have been just a little cautious of the elevated scrutiny and strain that accompanied it.
Q: Colton Herta has not introduced which F2 staff he shall be driving subsequent 12 months. This has a big effect on expectations, however what is going to a very good 12 months for F2 appear to be for Colton subsequent 12 months?
On the one hand, Hertha has extra expertise in racing at the next stage in comparison with the common F2 driver, whereas however, he has much less expertise on the observe in comparison with nearly everybody on the sector.
Is it lifelike for him to be a title candidate?
Will, Indy
CM: Truthfully, no, I do not assume it is lifelike for him to be a title contender. It is not an absence of expertise, it is expertise in comparison with individuals combating for the title. It is proper that the staff he finishes performs a significant function – you want the tools to be dependable and have a very good engineer round you – however I personally think about it Colton’s studying season, get the observe expertise and get to know the automotive and the atmosphere once more.
Then, earlier than stepping as much as F1 in 2028, I hoped he would compete for the title the next season. It is going to additionally permit Cadillac to seek out the ft, and earlier than contemplating a lineup change, you may actually assist develop the staff, in addition to expertise with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
Q: The subsequent set of F1 guidelines seems to be gaining more and more adverse publicity (think about F1 placing strain on drivers to restrict adverse commentary to the press). However I look ahead to the subsequent set of laws, when F1 is much less normative?
For instance, the success of value caps permits this to be expanded to engine producers too, however does it provide you with freedom in engine measurement and sort? After that, the staff has extra distinguished benefits and downsides. I used to be in a position to see the turbo V6 smaller than the V12 and V8S VS. The staff received with a strict value cap‘T is permitted to not management spending and growth.
For the complete automotive, for instance, scale back the minimal weight to 550kg. It will not be attainable to succeed in that weight, but when the staff must go strict crash exams, the staff can develop a a lot smaller, lighter automotive or a barely bigger (however nonetheless smaller than the present technology).
Lastly, are there extra testing choices? If a staff needs to check, there are related prices and the wind tunnel and CFD growth time should even be sacrificed. This opens up quite a lot of methods and extra.
This by no means occurs, however even when they’re painted black, it could be good to have extra open guidelines and automobiles that the staff can determine with. (Ultimate level: Can the FIA power a automotive with Gloss/Chrome end? Matte colours and quantities of carbon make the scheme very boring.)
UK Richard
CM: I really like the thought of freedom for engine producers and have been debated previously, however issues must be made by one sort of engine because the dominant engine, growing the identical measurement or getting out of the game if it did not observe the producer’s wider strategy. The one technique to realistically keep away from that occasion is to make use of Steadiness of Efficiency (BOP), and to be as normative as F1, it is one thing that is not wanting to do.
Richard additionally noticed automobiles grow to be extra normative in 2022 than previously, encouraging nearer racing and limiting whether or not the automobiles are affected by soiled air. Imagine it or not, each have been achieved. Your complete grid is recurrently coated in beneath a second on the qualifying lap, however creating nearer fields doesn’t lead to efficiency variations that result in overtaking.
With out them, a small quantity of soiled air would have a big effect because the automotive is already intently matched. For instance, should you misplaced 0.5 seconds per lap 5 years in the past, you misplaced 0.0 seconds per lap whereas driving behind one other automotive, however you’ve got a bonus of 1.0 seconds per lap, you are prone to overtake it. Then again, should you lose 0.25 seconds by lap behind one other automotive, however solely 0.5 seconds per lap, the tempo benefit isn’t sufficiently big to maneuver.
The variety of automotive design and engine specs creates a big differentiation to permit for extra overtaking, however it is going to open up extra racing potentialities with an enormous hole between automobiles.
Whether or not you go under the extra normative route will at all times be incomplete, however what I fully agree with you is that the automotive have to be small. Very merely, it provides them room to race on current tracks, however it positively will not harm.
At your final level, technically the FIA can do it if they need. They’ll write it into laws! I feel this was a form of proposal, within the type of mandating the proportion of automobiles that can’t grow to be carbon sooner or later. Nevertheless, making it simpler for the staff to ease weight limiting may even have a useful impact on the liver.
The ultimate phrases
October 8, 2014, from Robin Miller’s mail bag
Q: At a press convention for the Japanese Grand Prix final week, all drivers have been requested what probably the most highly effective automotive they drove by the age of 17. It will happen round 2004 or ’05. I’ve by no means heard something about this check, so is there any information about the place it was and who he was testing for?
Artem, Kitchener, Ontario
Robin Miller: He’s the Formulation BMW champion and received the Take a look at in Derrick Walker’s champion automotive on the Homestead’s infield course. Here is a quote from Walker: “He was bloody so I informed somebody, “The kid may someday grow to be a Formulation 1 champion.” ”
