The latest tests held at Miami-Homestead have shown that progress has been made in trying to make the new DW12 more effective on 1.5-mile oval and everyone involved were optimistic despite the amount of work that still has to be carry out.
Were on hand last week for Chevrolet; KV Racing’s Tony Kanaan and Panther Racing’s JR Hildebrand while Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon was on the track for Honda.
In earlier tests held at the Indianapolis Speedway, drivers found that the new Dallara suffered from big oversteer when turning in corners and bigger understeer when exiting, thus reducing the overall speed.
To the engineers, the problem was mainly due to poor weight repartition; the nose section being too lightweight.
With help from Xtrac, the DW12’s gearbox manufacturer, some lightweight parts were developed to try at Homestead-Miami in an effort to shift some of the weight bias towards the front. The results were encouraging enough that further tests will be held shortly.
In any case, the manufacturer (Dallara) and the series will have to decide how they are going to implement the solution. Will they go thru some redesign solutions that looks to be expensive or will they choose for now to add ballast to the nose of the car.
In another portion of the test, drivers worked while running side-by-side, in a tow and with the DW12 passing each other to evaluate downforce changes for the trailing car. On a positive note, they reported minimal buffeting and, on another positive note, the DW12, at least in 1.5-mile trim, generates a bigger wake, making it easier for the trailing car to draft and pass. Further tests will be done on other ovals, but at least from what was learned at Homestead-Miami, the DW12 appears to be pointed down the right path to reduce the “pack racing” phenomenon.
Were on hand last week for Chevrolet; KV Racing’s Tony Kanaan and Panther Racing’s JR Hildebrand while Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon was on the track for Honda.
In earlier tests held at the Indianapolis Speedway, drivers found that the new Dallara suffered from big oversteer when turning in corners and bigger understeer when exiting, thus reducing the overall speed.
To the engineers, the problem was mainly due to poor weight repartition; the nose section being too lightweight.
With help from Xtrac, the DW12’s gearbox manufacturer, some lightweight parts were developed to try at Homestead-Miami in an effort to shift some of the weight bias towards the front. The results were encouraging enough that further tests will be held shortly.
In any case, the manufacturer (Dallara) and the series will have to decide how they are going to implement the solution. Will they go thru some redesign solutions that looks to be expensive or will they choose for now to add ballast to the nose of the car.
In another portion of the test, drivers worked while running side-by-side, in a tow and with the DW12 passing each other to evaluate downforce changes for the trailing car. On a positive note, they reported minimal buffeting and, on another positive note, the DW12, at least in 1.5-mile trim, generates a bigger wake, making it easier for the trailing car to draft and pass. Further tests will be done on other ovals, but at least from what was learned at Homestead-Miami, the DW12 appears to be pointed down the right path to reduce the “pack racing” phenomenon.