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Why are so many IndyCars crashing? Why are so many IndyCars crashing?
(about 5 hours later)
The Indianapolis 500, America’s premier open-wheel race, has always been known for raw speed. Drivers circle around the track using a daredevil mix of drafting, handling and strategy to wind up in victory lane. But in 2015, the month of May at Indianapolis has revolved around a different type of buzzword.The Indianapolis 500, America’s premier open-wheel race, has always been known for raw speed. Drivers circle around the track using a daredevil mix of drafting, handling and strategy to wind up in victory lane. But in 2015, the month of May at Indianapolis has revolved around a different type of buzzword.
Survival.Survival.
No less than four drivers have lost control and seen their IndyCars flip over this month, causing the type of carnage the track is no longer used to. The latest victim, Canadian James Hinchcliffe, escaped near-death when a major artery was punctured by debris once his No5 Honda skidded into the wall, then turned over as the car made its entrance into turn three. Thankfully, he’s expected to make a full recovery although it’ll be months before he drives a race car again. Helio Castroneves, Ed Carpenter and Josef Newgarden have escaped similar flips uninjured while Great Britain’s Pippa Mann endured a hard wreck of her own. No less than four drivers have lost control and seen their IndyCars flip over this month, causing the type of carnage the track is no longer used to. The latest victim, Canadian James Hinchcliffe, escaped death when a major artery was punctured by debris once his No5 Honda skidded into the wall, then turned over as the car made its entrance into turn three. Thankfully, he’s expected to make a full recovery although it’ll be months before he drives a race car again. Helio Castroneves, Ed Carpenter and Josef Newgarden have escaped similar flips uninjured while Great Britain’s Pippa Mann endured a hard wreck of her own.
IndyCar has deemed the situation so serious they shut down practice after Hinchcliffe’s wreck, an unprecedented three-hour step as they launched a full-scale investigation into what’s happening. Track officials were alarmed recent moves to cut speed, reducing the ‘turbo boost’ each car had at their disposal (costing them about 40 horsepower) hadn’t changed the ability for cars to lift. Monday’s crash still occurred as teams transitioned to race setups, a switch to more downforce and stability while they work on surviving a full 500-mile race instead of a few short qualifying laps. In theory, a full fuel load should keep cars grounded but instead a simple suspension failure left Hinchcliffe’s life in the balance.IndyCar has deemed the situation so serious they shut down practice after Hinchcliffe’s wreck, an unprecedented three-hour step as they launched a full-scale investigation into what’s happening. Track officials were alarmed recent moves to cut speed, reducing the ‘turbo boost’ each car had at their disposal (costing them about 40 horsepower) hadn’t changed the ability for cars to lift. Monday’s crash still occurred as teams transitioned to race setups, a switch to more downforce and stability while they work on surviving a full 500-mile race instead of a few short qualifying laps. In theory, a full fuel load should keep cars grounded but instead a simple suspension failure left Hinchcliffe’s life in the balance.
Some drivers, anxious over a pattern that won’t go away have blamed the flips on rising speeds. Laps this year were cracking the 230mph barrier in practice as the sport’s new aerodynamic package looked to challenge old records that haven’t been touched in nearly two decades. The four-lap average of Arie Luyendyk, who paced the track at 236.986mph was what drivers were shooting for, a mark set in 1996 when the sport was near the height of its popularity. It’s also the last year a driver died in Indy 500 practice, when pole sitter Scott Brayton crashed hard into the outside wall in a move that led the series to back off that type of chassis. The ‘230’ magic number is seen as a ceiling for open-wheel cars the same way Nascar views 200mph as a danger zone at their biggest tracks, Daytona and Talladega. Stock car racing uses restrictor plates to strip horsepower at those places the way IndyCar was stripping engine boost in the wake of these wrecks. Some drivers, anxious over a pattern that won’t go away, have blamed the flips on rising speeds. Laps this year were cracking the 230mph barrier in practice as the sport’s new aerodynamic package looked to challenge old records that haven’t been touched in nearly two decades. The four-lap average of Arie Luyendyk, who paced the track at 236.986mph was what drivers were shooting for, a mark set in 1996 when the sport was near the height of its popularity. It’s also the last year a driver died in Indy 500 practice, when pole sitter Scott Brayton crashed hard into the outside wall in a move that led the series to back off that type of chassis. The ‘230’ magic number is seen as a ceiling for open-wheel cars the same way Nascar views 200mph as a danger zone at their biggest tracks, Daytona and Talladega. Stock car racing uses restrictor plates to strip horsepower at those places the way IndyCar was stripping engine boost in the wake of these wrecks.
“We hope to go faster,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Indycar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in announcing the changes Sunday. “But we’re going to do so being responsible. Safety is the first priority.”“We hope to go faster,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Indycar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway in announcing the changes Sunday. “But we’re going to do so being responsible. Safety is the first priority.”
Sadly, those changes weren’t enough to stop Hinchcliffe from flipping; if not for an energy-absorbing Safer Barrier, his incident could have been far worse. Drivers like Carpenter have been outspoken about concerns flipping could weave its way into a crowded racetrack, 33 entrants fighting for space in the race and inevitably making contact over the course of 200 laps. Sadly, those changes weren’t enough to stop Hinchcliffe from flipping; if not for an energy-absorbing Safer Barrier, the accident could have been far worse. Drivers like Carpenter have been outspoken about concerns flipping could weave its way into a crowded racetrack, 33 entrants fighting for space in the race and inevitably making contact over the course of 200 laps.
The problem appears to revolve around design, new 2015 oval aero kits making their debut at the 2.5-mile oval. These kits are an engineer’s dream, over 100 pieces outfitted to speedway cars and designed for ingenuity and to reduce aerodynamic dependence. Chevrolet and Honda, the two competing manufacturers built different kits but they’re connected to the same Dallara DW12 chassis approved for all competitors. INDYCAR implemented the changes looking to build on its last three 500s, each of which have produced a record number of lead changes in the track’s long and storied history (Sunday’s running is the 99th edition of the race).The problem appears to revolve around design, new 2015 oval aero kits making their debut at the 2.5-mile oval. These kits are an engineer’s dream, over 100 pieces outfitted to speedway cars and designed for ingenuity and to reduce aerodynamic dependence. Chevrolet and Honda, the two competing manufacturers built different kits but they’re connected to the same Dallara DW12 chassis approved for all competitors. INDYCAR implemented the changes looking to build on its last three 500s, each of which have produced a record number of lead changes in the track’s long and storied history (Sunday’s running is the 99th edition of the race).
However, adjustments in the rear of the car have changed the way air circles over the rear wheels, in particular where they’re supposed to be covered along with the rear wing. If a car gets sideways, the right mix of air begins to lift the car with no safety net (think NASCAR’s roof flaps) to keep it firmly planted on the ground.However, adjustments in the rear of the car have changed the way air circles over the rear wheels, in particular where they’re supposed to be covered along with the rear wing. If a car gets sideways, the right mix of air begins to lift the car with no safety net (think NASCAR’s roof flaps) to keep it firmly planted on the ground.
“Everyone has opinions,” said Carpenter Monday to the Associated Press. “Whether it’s the aero kit, an underwing issue or whatever it is, we need to find out.”“Everyone has opinions,” said Carpenter Monday to the Associated Press. “Whether it’s the aero kit, an underwing issue or whatever it is, we need to find out.”
Solutions have run the gambit, from installing a fully-concealed cockpit protecting drivers from any potential flips to a radical redesign of the car’s rear. Neither will likely happen by Sunday as the series relies on minor tweaks to slow speed and increase the likelihood cars stay on the ground. Carb Day, the final practice before the race produced no issues as the series moves full steam ahead toward Sunday’s race.Solutions have run the gambit, from installing a fully-concealed cockpit protecting drivers from any potential flips to a radical redesign of the car’s rear. Neither will likely happen by Sunday as the series relies on minor tweaks to slow speed and increase the likelihood cars stay on the ground. Carb Day, the final practice before the race produced no issues as the series moves full steam ahead toward Sunday’s race.
For their part, the drivers are split on potential danger. Some, like France’s Sebastien Bourdais think the media has overblown the issue, sidestepping the truth that racing will always be inherently dangerous.For their part, the drivers are split on potential danger. Some, like France’s Sebastien Bourdais think the media has overblown the issue, sidestepping the truth that racing will always be inherently dangerous.
“We’re going [240mph] in between walls,” he exclaimed Thursday. “Let’s put this in perspective. Did anyone really believe this was safe?”“We’re going [240mph] in between walls,” he exclaimed Thursday. “Let’s put this in perspective. Did anyone really believe this was safe?”
Come Sunday, millions of fans and a few dozen drivers will cross their fingers and hope that answer is still yes.Come Sunday, millions of fans and a few dozen drivers will cross their fingers and hope that answer is still yes.