Radical DeltaWing rocket-shaped car proposed to revitalise IndyCar

Gizmag.com ^ | 2/11/10 | Loz Blain

[sticker]

If the race series folks want to increase fan interest, why don't they go back to what built their base: (1) Take the “ground effects” and aerodynamic crap off the cars and let it become engines and drivers deciding a race. (2) Stop changing the rules constantly so that one or two team are guaranteed to win. This is especially true for nascar

[Reaganesque]

From an article at Indycar.com...

Graham Rahal, among several IZOD IndyCar Series drives and team owners attending the launch, looked at the DeltaWing from multiple angles and attempted to mentally picture himself behind the wheel at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"The design is revolutionary," said Rahal, 21. "We have never seen an open-wheel racing car that looks like this. Is it going to be newsworthy? Yes. Is it going to catch eyeballs? Yes. Plus, there's good space for sponsors on it.

"From a driver's point of view, from all the simulations I've heard about, the performance of the car is not going to be a concern at all."

Said Dreyer & Reinbold Racing co-owner and former IZOD IndyCar Series driver Robbie Buhl: "From the team owner side of things, as we look to the future we have to get things in line with what the cost is to compete here. And if we can do that, it's going to open us up to a lot more people being a part of this business, and that opens up to a greater fan base, too."

[tubebender]

Win on Sunday and sell on Monday?

[Red Badger]

Ordinary car does NOT need hundreds of pounds of downforce to hold the road while cornering.

You haven't seen my wife drive.................

[The Free Engineer]

Everything old is new again The 1953 Firebird 1

[Jeff F]

Pretty stealthy looking. Do you suppose they could add a pair of internal weapons bays to hold a few sidewinders? Could be pretty helpful in Indy Races and even better in a NASCAR event.

[Reaganesque]

I know I would watch if the cars were weaponized. lol

[TN4Liberty]

Pretty soon you’ll be saying “That’s sick” as our California teenagers do.

Or "That's f---ing retarded" like Rahm Emanuel does.

[Petronski]

So then this silly bit here:

Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....

It's just not true, is it?

[frposty]

One problem: it’s not open-wheeled.

I’m still disappointed that NASCAR standardized their cars. Has Indy done it also?

[IYAS9YAS]

I’m thinking great for the straights, not so good in the twisty-turny stuff.

[Red Badger]

There’s no reason that these cars cannot have a diesel engine underneath all that Batcar makeup................

[KarlInOhio]

When was the last time significantly different designs raced at the Indy 500? I was looking at some pictures and it looks like they changed from the cigar shape to something resembling the current front-fins/rear spoiler designs around 1972. I didn't see if both were on the track, or if everyone changed because of a rules change at that time.

[When do we get liberated?]

That would be “wicked pissah”

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Spooky.

This design passed over because Homer didn’t have:
1) A helmet
2) Shoulder harness
3) A Hans Device?

[Petronski]

But they don’t now.

I mean, we still use billions and billions of spark plugs every day.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Must have more Cow Bell!

[Ace of Spades]

Looks pretty cool, but I don’t know, I’m just not feeling it for IndyCar. They should run an open series, like F1 used to be, for cars like these. I’d watch that.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

The stabilizer fin is only one part of the solution. The huge amount of downforce created by the body’s shape, and the greatly increased ground effects will play a big part in cornering stability. I’ve driven trikes and bikes with side cars. One disadvantage they have is a pretty high center of gravity. These cars will have a very low COG. I’m still trustin’ the engineers and designers on this ‘un!
BTW, I haven’t seen a sidecar bike race on the tube in a long time. They were a blast to watch!

[madamemayhem]

i have lived in Indiana my whole life and never once set foot inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. if that car was on the track i might be inspired to go.