All the F1 and Indy cars as well as production Ferraris use belly pans to
exert additional downforce.
In F1 and CART they modified the rules to reduce but not eliminate their use
as did other forms of racing. I think they raised the cars to reduce their
effects.
Remember the "sucker" Chapperals from the 60s? And the old F1 cars with the
sliding side skirts?
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary K. McCormick" <gkmcc@netgate.net>
To: <CalSpeed@aol.com>
Cc: <9laser3@bright.net>; <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 2:07 AM
Subject: Re: aerodynamics of racing?
> ...and the reason why that is A Good Thing is that the underside of a
normal
> car is a very untidy, drag-inducing kind of place. Routing the air around
the
> car (with a little diverted to the front brakes for cooling) reduces drag.
When
> you get into purpose-built racing cars (Formula cars of various ilks,
etc.) the
> smooth bottom reduces or obviates the need for an air dam. I think that it
was
> in F1 (or maybe indy cars - I can't remember) some years back that some
very
> clever fellows used specifically-shaped channels in the bottom of the car
to
> accelerate the flow of air under the bottom of the car, increasing its
> velocity, which decreases its pressure, creating a negative delta P, or
> downforce.
>
> Gary McCormick
> San Jose, CA
>
> CalSpeed@aol.com wrote:
>
> > In a message dated 8/29/01 6:08:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> > 9laser3@bright.net writes:
> >
> > > Looking for some on line help understanding the benefits of an air dam
and
> > > the best way to install one on a roadster?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > The airdam redirects the air around the car rather then it traveling
> > underneath. For the best airdam contact Les or Dennis at CDM.
> >
> > Calspeed
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