Headlines away from the track: F1

[IndyAndy]

The FIA is going to do some testing of 'closed cockpits' on F1 cars. These tests were already scheduled prior to Justin Wilson's fatal accident.

www.theverge.com

Look for INDYCAR to do the same during the offseason IMO.

 

[Retroram52]

It is just a matter of time until F-1 and IndyCar will have some version of this car.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I wonder if two thin superstring bars going from the shell the the top of the intake valve could deflect debris. I would worry about them breaking and injuring the drivers though. I am no engineer. Would a cage be better than a cockpit in event of fire?

Just random thoughts.

 

[Retroram52]

Don Shumacher Racing went to an enclosed cockpit with his Top Fuel dragsters because of flying debris. That rendition of a closed cockpit by IndyCar raises those very issues 46&2. Too many sharp edges to a enlarged enclosing superstring bar that could fragment and become injuring projectiles. I know tradition is real big but if both series want an enclosed cockpit, enclose it for crying-out-loud. It hasn't affected drag racing and Don Garlits was actually the first to do it back in the mid 70's. It won't affect either series and it will protect lives.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Oh I am for enclosing them, just was curious if there were other options that limited both risks.

 

[forty_three]

It is just a matter of time until F-1 and IndyCar will have some version of this car.

View attachment 23634

GAWD I love driving that thing.

I would be in favor of closing cockpits, but it has to be done the right way. A clear Lexan cover would have done nothing but add sharp projectiles to Justin's crash, and would have likely meant it would have taken longer to get the tourniquet on Hinch which would have gone very badly for him. Plus I worry about heat inside under race conditions. It's not like a LeMans car where there is volume to dissipate heat. F1/Indy cockpits are TINY.

I saw a design that had a "halo" like structure attached to the roll hoop and met the cowl with a single thin piece of carbon fibre. That might work. Can't find a picture right now.

 

[forty_three]

Oh, and this:
Lewis Hamilton is unbeatable at the moment - Niki Lauda

Nico seen sulking off to a corner.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Some more F1 closed cockpit concepts:

Formula 1 concept cars by Andries van Overbeeke | Formula 1 photos | Main gallery | Motorsport.com

 

[IndyAndy]

Former team owner Guy Ligier has passed away:

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Retroram52]

Some more F1 closed cockpit concepts:

Formula 1 concept cars by Andries van Overbeeke | Formula 1 photos | Main gallery | Motorsport.com

I like the McClaren black concept. Clean, simple, to the point, and the wheels are all open with the cockpit closed. Cockpit looks similar to the closed cockpit of a top fuel dragster featured by Don Schumacher Racing these days.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

This could be fun:

Analysis: The tangled web behind Red Bull's bid for Mercedes engines

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

One name off the market for Haas:

Italian Grand Prix: Hulkenberg signs Force India deal - CNN.com

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

News discussed in practice this morning:

-Renault is buying Lotus and will make Lotus their new factory team. Red Bull is not impressed.....

-As mentioned above, Hulkenberg re-signs with Force India

-Williams officially re-signs Bottas and Massa (they had Bottas on a team option which they activated)

-Perez expects to re-sign with Force India

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

So Silly Season will be a bit anticlimactic (at least wrt drivers). My guess for Haas is:

1. Gutierrez

The second seat may be a bit more up int he air. I think Magnussen is the most likely (and he and EG would be a good pair for a 1st year ten). If Button walks away and Magnussen gets his seat back at McLaren, I would guess Rossi (please get him away from Marussia) would be their #1 target and Jean Eric Vergne as the other option.

Even if Rossi doesn't get the ride right away, I think the next 5-7 years we may see a little American infusion in the sport with Rahal, Karam and Newgarden sniffing around (maybe even RHR gives it one last shot if he gets a call).

 

[Retroram52]

Newgarden is rumored to be doing a little more than sniffing with Haas.

 

[forty_three]

-Renault is buying Lotus and will make Lotus their new factory team. Red Bull is not impressed.....

Probably even less so with the problems in qualifying.

Newgarden is rumored to be doing a little more than sniffing with Haas.

He would be an awesome choice. Hawksworth too. But with the license requirements is there anyone but like Scott Dixon or Will Power that has the credentials to make the jump?


edit: FIA Super Licence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Graham Rahal is qualified as of this year. Boy would I love THAT.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Probably even less so with the problems in qualifying.



He would be an awesome choice. Hawksworth too. But with the license requirements is there anyone but like Scott Dixon or Will Power that has the credentials to make the jump?


edit: FIA Super Licence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Graham Rahal is qualified as of this year. Boy would I love THAT.

Outside of Rahal, not yet, (maybe RHR since it is a three year rolling total) but I think both of the other guys (Hawksworth too, good call) have a chance to get there. Is Rahal qualified. Didn't he finish 3rd or 4th in points?

 

[forty_three]

Outside of Rahal, not yet, (maybe RHR since it is a three year rolling total) but I think both of the other guys (Hawksworth too, good call) have a chance to get there. Is Rahal qualified. Didn't he finish 3rd or 4th in points?

Yeah, Graham finished 4th. Would have been third if Bourdais hadn't punted him in a double points race.

 

[Retroram52]

I think Haas will settle on Newgarden. Just a haunch.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I don't think Newgarden has a super license so he would need a special exemption. I think that Rossi is the only American with one.