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Old 07-09-2008, 02:24 PM   #71 (permalink)
texanidiot25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MechEngVT View Post
NASCAR Monte Carlos have next to zero downforce. An LMP car should produce tremendous downforce at high speeds. Increasing downforce will increase Cd (I guess the opposite of lift/drag ratio....anti-lift/drag ratio?) so at say 170mph the stock car is probably weight-neutral and pulling through the air but the LMP car's tires are about flattened and suspension bottomed and drag-limited which isn't a problem in their racing series since the fastest those cars ever go is down the Mulsanne at LeMans but typically go much slower through tight turns without banking. Different cars for different purposes.
That's pretty much the same conclusion in the article. Despite the Porsche having more power, and a much more aerodynamic shape. They did swap the rear body on the Porsche to the one with the least amount of safe down force for the track. The Monte still went 190-200+ mph.. I'll dig it up when next week..

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