Too much of an obsession with just the data desensitises you
#31
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That is an assumption not supported by the data...
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Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
#33
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#34
Originally Posted by ProCoach
That is an assumption not supported by the data...
#35
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#36
A simplified answer to your question
If you consider the maximum grip of the tire as your limiting factor in corner speed and exit speed, you then realize that a low hp car can't use all the potential grip of the tire during acceleration, so you maximize that grip by maintaining more momentum and use as much of the tires' total grip as possible in the form of lateral grip. The tires' total grip (let's use 1.4 g) can not be exceeded, so we have to decide how we can make best use of it. A high hp car can exceed the tires' total grip during acceleration, so to maximize the power of the engine, we have to give up a little lateral grip to provide for more grip during acceleration. If you are cornering at 1.4 g then there is no grip left for applying your 500 hp to the wheels. Therefore, you try to use a little less lateral force through the corner exit in a high hp car by driving a line that gives you a slightly straighter exit. You can see that line on most F1 tracks develop during P3 and qualifying; look at the black rubber trails. Using less tire grip laterally gives you more available grip for acceleration. The Spec Miata on the other hand can barely reach .5g on acceleration, so we drive a slightly different line and maintain more momentum and apply power sooner after we drift through the apex as we try to use all the grip available to us.
#37
So if we define a momentum car as one that goes to full throttle at the apex then just about any car does become a momentum car in higher gear corners because of low acceleration potential. And on the flipside, just about any car can also have a "high powered" type spiral exit if the corner is slow enough.
#38
If you consider the maximum grip of the tire as your limiting factor in corner speed and exit speed, you then realize that a low hp car can't use all the potential grip of the tire during acceleration, so you maximize that grip by maintaining more momentum and use as much of the tires' total grip as possible in the form of lateral grip. The tires' total grip (let's use 1.4 g) can not be exceeded, so we have to decide how we can make best use of it. A high hp car can exceed the tires' total grip during acceleration, so to maximize the power of the engine, we have to give up a little lateral grip to provide for more grip during acceleration. If you are cornering at 1.4 g then there is no grip left for applying your 500 hp to the wheels. Therefore, you try to use a little less lateral force through the corner exit in a high hp car by driving a line that gives you a slightly straighter exit. You can see that line on most F1 tracks develop during P3 and qualifying; look at the black rubber trails. Using less tire grip laterally gives you more available grip for acceleration. The Spec Miata on the other hand can barely reach .5g on acceleration, so we drive a slightly different line and maintain more momentum and apply power sooner after we drift through the apex as we try to use all the grip available to us.
Yeah, the ideal apex is based on the acceleration potential of the car for a given corner and the resulting line will almost always fall somewhere between a circular exit and spiral shaped exit (a line with a continuously expanding radius). More acceleration potential needs a more spiral shaped line. The quick reference chart shows the common things that will affect the acceleration potential as well as the two typical ends of the spectrum. While the lines at the two ends of the spectrum look quite close to each other, the speeds can vary greatly. In the circular exit, the speed at the apex is the same as at exit, but the spiral shaped exit might have a corner exit speed more than double the apex speed.
So if we define a momentum car as one that goes to full throttle at the apex then just about any car does become a momentum car in higher gear corners because of low acceleration potential. And on the flipside, just about any car can also have a "high powered" type spiral exit if the corner is slow enough.
So if we define a momentum car as one that goes to full throttle at the apex then just about any car does become a momentum car in higher gear corners because of low acceleration potential. And on the flipside, just about any car can also have a "high powered" type spiral exit if the corner is slow enough.