"TODAY'
.the most-advanced automotive
‘engincering. in the world,
_ fiyalled only . perhaps by ‘the
“cars used in Formula 1...

‘Some fast facts about these fast
machines:

- BENGINE — Turbocharged four-
cycle” ‘overhead ° camshaft eight

‘95 CAMARO a2
CONV.

6 mo. old, 6 speed,
‘only 18,006 km,’

S' INDY. cars utilize

cylinder engines are allowed a max~:
imum "cubic inch. displacement of

161,703 (2,650 cc).
derived | single

Production-
hon-overhead

samshatt turbocharged motors: with

pushrod-opérated valve mechanisms
are‘allowed a maximum cubic inch
displacement of 209.3 (3.430 cc).

@ FUEL CELL -—~ Introduced to

racing in the early 1960's and made

“9 "TRANS AM:

wnier, only 26,900 :
‘original kms,
: “absolutely mint,

mandatory for inily cars in,1967, the”

fuel cell is located behind the driver

cand in’ front. of the engine. tis

ae

deemed “crash. worthy”, The current
fuel cells wets “developed by
Goodyear to replace the intercon-
nected cells scattered around the car
chassis. The bladder-like container
is made to military: ballistic specifi
cations with, heavy-duty rubber

zo

ie EXTRA Mi MLE

material and: is virtually puncture

proof,

> GROUND. EFFECTS © AND,

AERODYNAMIC | DESIG!

Both go hand in hand with the Indy
cars. Aerodynamics. chanadl air.
under the car to create a low-pres-
sure area or partial vacuum between

“the race car and the race track. The
Wings on the front and rear of the

|| 93 OR'94 CORVETTE
Both very low kms, 6.
speod and spotless:

Indy Car create ‘downlorce’ (similar
ite
reverse), The ground effects concept:
originated in ‘racing and dates back
‘to the mid 1970s, 5° t
_ SB HORSEPOWER — Figures are
difficult: to pinpoint, ‘and> teams
closely guard their engines’ exact

numbers, Depending on turbocharg:
er setbings, engines can develop 700°
10 800 horsepower, Indy Car tests”

‘have shown (te 60 m.p.h. takes:2.0

seconds,-and 0 to 100 m.p.h. takes

45. seconds, Indy Cars:have' been
J clocked at more than 230 m.p.h,

i METHANOL’ The fuel ‘used
: iu propel an’ Indy Car,’ Methanol 2
and."

consists. of carbon,-hydrogen
coxygen. It-is- not. a fossil “fuel:

on airplanes, only in.

ey

Methanol is commercially manufac:

"tured by, heating hydrogen and cal
“bon. monoxide under “pressure.

‘Methanol requires Jess, ygen | ‘to

burnt than gasoline.

fi TURKOGHARGING— ‘The:
* exhaust gases from an Indy Car pro-':
«vide the power to turn the turbine of!

the’ turbocharger. -.at,-- speed
approaching 100,000 rpm. The tw
bine “powers a “compressor,’ which

~- compresses the intake air and forces °-

‘at into the intake manifold, resuhing
‘in'much' more.efficient engine ids
ation, and 2 _Substantial: increase : in

- first Introduced in’ :Europe. ands

& » widely used ‘on diese} engines, in the
“tuck and: bus. industry, ‘and more

“m ‘WINGS — "These. are ‘criti aliy
, Important. to, the; basic concepts and
* performance’ of current: Indy-style

¢ race cars.:The, wings and race.car
oy underbody’ (ground: effects tunnels)

“yhave: a” significant: impact: on, the
handling and stability .of thes car.
The - wings’ “work to,:ke 2p: ‘the, car

“down, transfer the horsepower: to...
“the track and fnajntain ‘a‘balanced «

IndyCar wings
ourse/short ovals?
ays. ‘Short ‘oval and: read | course’.
“wings, may, have as ‘Tnany:as five or
ix, elenients: within “the? rear, wing.
cord, section; while: super
wings are, one clement,

important! in, “creating “the
"downfore
probes, IndyCar : race . teams: can
etermine® wind . “speeds, and: then
;spend developinent time ‘at consid
Yérable costs in wind tunnel testing
£0 enhance the: ‘aerodynamic’ perfor-
mance ofthe car 7:

At all IndyCar events, the front '
‘and ‘rear: ‘wings: are frequently.
adjusted to achieve maximum: per-
> formance aiid? ‘handling. of the ‘car
Adjustments, are often made, based

on the’ track configuration, Tace car

On short ovals and road courses:
IndyCar: teams must work to‘obtain
maximum _:downfo ce. Ali super-
specdways and ‘other ‘especially fast
circuits,
important, © but “drag? : must - be
~ reduced to obtain maxim m speed

downforce: becomes :; less,