[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Back on topic, I would think that like positive pressures, negative pressures take energy to create and therefore the smaller the deviation from neutral the better.

Then again, we want to establish attachment at the bow/front so that we can maintain a resemblance of attachment along the aft body, right?

That's all going to take energy, question is, what is the magic ratio for energy optimization?

The path to least resistance.

I think it's mostly placement/location on the car. Negative pressure with a forward component is a good use of the energy as it is pulling the car forward. You can cancel the upward component of the negative pressure by increasing downforce somehow (belly pan maybe?). I think you have to look at it as an overall lift though, so if you have neutral lift/downforce then you would only have the forward component. Since I don't think it is possible to have a neutral pressure on very much surface area of the car I think that is the best you can try to accomplish.

That is mostly just my thoughts, not based on anything necessarily.