It helps to have friends in the business, especially if that profession is auto racing.
We recently got access to the pits at the American Le Mans Series raceway in Elkhart Lake, Wis., and at the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, Calif., thanks to Avnet Express and Mouser Electronics, which sponsored cars at the respective events.
Le Mans became a stop for the Chevy Volt that EE Life editorial director Brian Fuller is taking cross-country on the Drive for Innovation. The trip is a partnership between Design News parent UBM Electronics and Avnet Express. The Volt drove a parade lap around the historic speedway, and then we stuck around to get some shots of the races and 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal.
Seven days later, we were at the Infineon Raceway for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. We met driver Ho-Pin Tung, who was driving Mouser-sponsored car 88 (pictured below).
Click the image below to view our slideshow of the two races:
Driver Ho-Pin Tung in his Indy car at Infineon Raceway for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. (Photo courtesy Mouser Electronics)
For Further Reading
To keep up with our Chevy Volt coverage, go to Drive for Innovation and follow the cross-country journey of EE Life editorial director, Brian Fuller. On his trip, sponsored by Avnet Express, Fuller is driving a Volt across America to interview engineers.
EV races, for me, wouldn't cut it as a fan driven sport. Maybe when everybody, and I mean everybody, drives an electric car, and the speeds for racing were exceptional, would it be acceptable. For a lot of race fans, the sights, sounds, and smells of these 750+ HP machines are as much a part of the experience as the competition.
What you're seeing in the photo's is just the tip of the iceberg. Compared to the technology in Formula One, this is kindergarten stuff. Before it was outlawed, F1 had bidirectional telemetry - the car could be remotely modified by the engineers in the pits and, on occasion, from the factory. Also, since real computers are needed in the pits, you won't be seeing too many iPads and such - not enough power or screen real estate - F1 engineers monitor upwards of 100 data points during a race.
Without rules, more rules and more rules again, races would be won by the team with the most money. When you're dealing with the technological comlexity of an Indy car, only the wealthiest teams can compete and even then, the team with the most money usually has a significant edge. A team that can drive a million dollar race-car to destruction and have a ready spare is going to push harder than a single-car team. The most successful racing teams are the ones that can bend the rules without quite breaking them. Nice article and pic's.
Racing used to be a contest between one car and driver against another car and driver with speed being the deciding factor.
Now there are so many rules, regulations, exceptions, etc. that you need a lawyer to win a race. Often races are decided in arbritation long ofter the fact. They say it makes racing safer.
The tracks are obsolete for modern racing. They need to design tracks to take on the new techonology in racing instead of outlawing it.
Drag racing, air racing and motocross are still pure enough to enjoy.
all electric Indy racer? NOT IF THERE SMART naperlou I agree that IS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION, but disagree that it is the PRO BUILDER, OWNER & DRIVER perception. I say this because the state of the art was DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, AND PAID FOR NOTBY INDYbut, all the others involved in RACE CARS WORLDWIDE.
Indy Motor Speedway over the last 2 decades has inflated costs on everything to the extent a LARGE part of the public can't aford to attend EVEN WITH THE TV & COMMERCIAL UNDER WRITING. And if you think I am kidding check out the cost of a summer nylon jacket in their Track Store next time you go there.
Names like OFFENHOUSER, CURTIS, CHEVY, FORD,HONDA, and the list goes on, longer than your memory will hold, left their MARK and BLOOD on tracks arround the world. As I see it the LAST PLACE EVs will be RACED, AFTER THEY are proven, is gasoline alley ...to mark thepassingof an era.... and CELEBRATE THE END OF FOSSIL FUEL.
Ozark, I am not sure of what you are getting at, but Jack is correct. Most of the racing circuits are a way for manufacturers to show off their product in extreme conditions. This is the challenge.
As a lifetime fan of professional big-time car racing (and sports fan in general), I was interested to read the various comments by engineers concerning IndyCar racing. I've attended several IndyCar races, and many NASCAR races over the years.
First of all, professional auto racing is a sport, and all sports have rules. It's really all about the sports competition, not the equipment. Every team must follow the same rules. While it takes a great car to win a race, it also requires a great driver and team. People race cars because people have been racing...well since there's been people (but yes, the manufacturers like the marketing of thier products through racing).
Second, rules in racing is to contain costs and provide safety. With no rules, the cars would be much-much faster! I remember seeing speeds of 270 mph at Indianapolis many years ago, just way too fast! F1 mandated a chicane at Indy to keep the speeds down on the main oval for safety, too fast for the F1 cars and their tires. With no rules, there would be the tendency for one or several drivers/cars/teams that would dominate, those who spend the most money. It takes a great driver to beat the rest when the cars are evenly matched..."sporting event".
For those who desire an electric car Indy race, why not form your own professional race organization for electric race cars? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway may actually like having another feeder race before the actual Indy 500 (or Brickyard 400 for NASCAR). Who knows, maybe it would even be popular and attract attention, further progressing the sport (the way Indy racing started out).
I don't expect a Toyota Prius to perform in acceleration, handling and braking with my 1998 Chevy Camaro Z28, but I can't compete with the fuel efficiency of the Prius. ...but then, the Prius was not designed and engineered to be a competent 2-door sport coupe "performance" car.
The "INDY 500" is a great example of just how many rules can be applied to an activity. The opposite, which is more down to earth, and much farther away from NASA, is "World Of Outlaws" racing. Race cars costing hundreds of dollars instead of hundreds of thousands.
My impression, during the time I was able to look at one of those cars from a touchable distance, was that they are far closer to a military high performance aircraft than to a race car. Many of the components were the same, such as tubing and electrical connectors, and frame attachments. Of course, for driving at those speeds for extended periods of time, it probably is appropriate to use that variety of components.
Yes, Charles, that what I was thinking. It wouldn't work in a "real" Indy race for the rules reasons that you mentioned. It might however work as an exhibition. More likely, however, the technology leaders in electric automotive would probably need to do something like license the "Indy" name as a means of showing off their latest and greatest technologies. However, isn't that sort of how the racing circuits were originally established - to show off the high-end engine techs?
Using almost 200 light-emitting diodes in the front and back of the new 2014 CTS, Cadillac designers are showing how LEDs can change the character of a vehicle.
We looked at a number of sources to determine this year's greenest cars, from KBB to automotive trade magazines to environmental organizations. These 14 cars emerged as being great at either stretching fuel or reducing carbon footprint.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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