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Gary Gibbs · 04-25-04, 08:10 PM

I know. All of the teams are trying it is just Ferrari has really got it figured out. They have tried the downforce limits in the past which of course led to the "flat bottom cars." But as can be seen there are other ways to make downforce. The amazing thing is that The Ferrari budget is on the order of half of the NASA Langley Research Center budget (not all of NASA, but where I work). We employ ~4000 full time people and run a huge amount of test facilities including at one time 44 wind tunnels (now probably ~20). Ferrari has their own new wind tunnel for the past couple of years and I understand they run it 24/7. That is amazing. It is not just the cost of running the tunnel. It is the cost of having "stuff" to test. My god the tought of all of the different models and data that running at that pace would generate and be focused on one car. Wow!

Who knows what the answer would be to make F1 more fun for the fans. NASCARs formula has been moving to makeing the cars more "spec" thus there is less freedom for the rich teams to find that extra edge, etc. It does make for more winners, more lead changes and closer finishes. But the extreme (which I do not like) is the restrictor plate tracks. My saying is that any time you can do an entire hot lap and not let off the gas pedal and not use the brake is not really racing. He with the extra 2 HP and 0.0001 less drag coeficient wins! I think they should make them run the road course at Daytona and get rid of the restrictor plates.

Anyway I do honestly like most any kind of racing. It is all interesting in its own way.

Concerning the technology. I just purchased and am reading an excellent book called "Ferrari Formula 1" by Peter Wright. It is a very in depth look at the 2000 Ferrari F1 car.

04-25-04, 08:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gary Gibbs CCX33911 10 tenths Join Date: Dec 2001 GT40: Virginia Posts: 1,222 Rep Power: 19	Re: F1 is boring me to death!!!! I know. All of the teams are trying it is just Ferrari has really got it figured out. They have tried the downforce limits in the past which of course led to the "flat bottom cars." But as can be seen there are other ways to make downforce. The amazing thing is that The Ferrari budget is on the order of half of the NASA Langley Research Center budget (not all of NASA, but where I work). We employ ~4000 full time people and run a huge amount of test facilities including at one time 44 wind tunnels (now probably ~20). Ferrari has their own new wind tunnel for the past couple of years and I understand they run it 24/7. That is amazing. It is not just the cost of running the tunnel. It is the cost of having "stuff" to test. My god the tought of all of the different models and data that running at that pace would generate and be focused on one car. Wow! Who knows what the answer would be to make F1 more fun for the fans. NASCARs formula has been moving to makeing the cars more "spec" thus there is less freedom for the rich teams to find that extra edge, etc. It does make for more winners, more lead changes and closer finishes. But the extreme (which I do not like) is the restrictor plate tracks. My saying is that any time you can do an entire hot lap and not let off the gas pedal and not use the brake is not really racing. He with the extra 2 HP and 0.0001 less drag coeficient wins! I think they should make them run the road course at Daytona and get rid of the restrictor plates. Anyway I do honestly like most any kind of racing. It is all interesting in its own way. Concerning the technology. I just purchased and am reading an excellent book called "Ferrari Formula 1" by Peter Wright. It is a very in depth look at the 2000 Ferrari F1 car.