From IndyCar.com
Teams and IndyCar officials were at work earlier this week at Texas Motor Speedway in an attempt to define the aerodynamic package for the new IZOD IndyCar Series Dallara DW12 on high-speed ovals in advance of a scheduled March 13 Open Test at the 1.5-mile facility.
The daylong session included Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan and Canadian Alex Tagliani -- driving the Lotus development car for the first time on an oval -- working on individual programs through midday and then running multiple stints running side by side and in drafting situations.
“Today’s test is the first step in determining the right aero package based on team and driver input and data,” INDYCAR vice president of technology Will Phillips said of the session called at the behest of INDYCAR. “Today’s test is the baseline. Nothing negative has really stood out, and none of the drivers had any real complaints. Now we'll decide what our next step is for the test in March.”
Dallara-provided aero bits that were tested in the full-scale wind tunnel last month in North Carolina were utilized on all three cars, which had varying setups.
The production car also is slightly different from the prototype that was evaluated on the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Iowa Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway ovals in autumn (different mirrors, different rear wheel fairings, subtle differences in chassis construction and better integration of the Zylon side intrusion panels).
Altogether, less drag was noticeable.
"It all feels pretty normal right now -- normal in a good way," said Briscoe, the 2010 race winner at Texas.
"We're really just getting a feel for different downforce levels and the different suspension options that we have. We're able to get below (downforce level) where we ran with the old car. With the old car we were limited to a 10-degree free wing angle, and with this car we're free to trim out like Indy-style. We have that freedom and we're trying to explore the limits. The balance feels really good around here," Briscoe added.
Teams and IndyCar officials were at work earlier this week at Texas Motor Speedway in an attempt to define the aerodynamic package for the new IZOD IndyCar Series Dallara DW12 on high-speed ovals in advance of a scheduled March 13 Open Test at the 1.5-mile facility.
The daylong session included Ryan Briscoe, Tony Kanaan and Canadian Alex Tagliani -- driving the Lotus development car for the first time on an oval -- working on individual programs through midday and then running multiple stints running side by side and in drafting situations.
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| Photo: LAT for IndyCar |
“Today’s test is the first step in determining the right aero package based on team and driver input and data,” INDYCAR vice president of technology Will Phillips said of the session called at the behest of INDYCAR. “Today’s test is the baseline. Nothing negative has really stood out, and none of the drivers had any real complaints. Now we'll decide what our next step is for the test in March.”
Dallara-provided aero bits that were tested in the full-scale wind tunnel last month in North Carolina were utilized on all three cars, which had varying setups.
 |
| Photo: LAT for IndyCar |
The production car also is slightly different from the prototype that was evaluated on the Homestead-Miami Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Iowa Speedway and Indianapolis Motor Speedway ovals in autumn (different mirrors, different rear wheel fairings, subtle differences in chassis construction and better integration of the Zylon side intrusion panels).
Altogether, less drag was noticeable.
 |
| Photo: LAT for IndyCar |
"It all feels pretty normal right now -- normal in a good way," said Briscoe, the 2010 race winner at Texas.
"We're really just getting a feel for different downforce levels and the different suspension options that we have. We're able to get below (downforce level) where we ran with the old car. With the old car we were limited to a 10-degree free wing angle, and with this car we're free to trim out like Indy-style. We have that freedom and we're trying to explore the limits. The balance feels really good around here," Briscoe added.