> If the teams retro-fitted all these new wings they keep on coming up
> with onto the older F1 cars of theirs, would the older cars go any
> faster?
No.
--
Paul-B Formula 1 - cheat-free version here now.
If you took the 1993 cars, and the 1993 rules, and applied modern
technology to the tyres and modern aerodynamic thinking to the wings
then yes they would, but most of the difference would be in the rubber.
--
Phil
Take Berger's Benetton-BMW that did about 218 through the speed-trap at
Monza 21 years ago... knock the barn-door wings off it.. and how
close could you get to the speeds BAR managed in a straight line
at Bonneville? ;) (I know F1 cars have gone faster than Berger's trap
speed in race trim these days with not much more than half that
power...)
pete
--
pe...@fenelon.com "how many clever men have called the sun a fool?"
The wings are designed to work in beautiful harmony with the other
aerodynamic pieces of bodywork all over the car. So bolting 2007 wings onto
a 1997 (for example) car wouldn't improve performance and would maybe even
make the 1997 car slower because the new wing might upset the parts of the
car it's not designed to work with.
When teams design the aerodynamics they design the whole shape of the car.
They don't just put a nose cone or a rear wing in a wind tunnel on its own.
No? That's it? How unlike you Paul. Gee, having a slow day eh...
--
Cheers!
Dennis
Remove 'Elle-Kabong' to reply
Very easily.
But realize the wings, or especially undercar air
treatment would need different tires.
(If you put 500 pounds of downforce on front
and back, and corner hard, tear old tread right off!
And strength of wheels and suspension pieces
quickly becomes problematical.)
Best example I have figures for is not F1, but related.
Indy, same corners then as now.
The 1963/4 Lotus Ford work showed top speed
at test of 183 mph at 8300 rpm, slowing to 138 mph (?)
at 6300 in turns 1 and 3. Average lap speed 153.
It would not take a whole lot of modern knowledge
of air treatment to greatly increase that 138 mph
cornering speed without equally harming top speed
(including as above stated - the tires to deal with it!).