[Big Dave]

I know a guy on Ford's Ford GT design team.

He told me they started with the GT 40 (the 1960s race car). In the wind tunnel the car was trying to fly at 190 MPH. This is why the Shelby Cobra GT with a 289 engine could outrun a GT40 down the Mulsanne straight atLe Mans. The GT40 driver had to lift but the Cobra stayed down.

The Ford GT had a design goal of being stable at 205 MPH. That meant downforce (negative lift). Negative lift is like positive lift in that it generates drag. As pointed out, air intakes needed for cooling also generate drag.

Some interesting trivia.

The GT40 designation referred to the fact its roof stood 40 inches above grade. The production GT required thedriver had to be able to get in easily. Race car drivers are athletes and could easily squeeze into the GT40, but normal human beings could not, so theGT had to be a little taller and have the "Sting Ray" doors.

When they started, they found two guys in Cincinnati somehow owned the name "GT40." William Clay Ford personally called them and offered them a million bucks each and one of the first 25 cars off the line for the rights. These morons turned him down, so the production car is the Ford GT and the old race car is the GT40.

A million bucks and a paid-for Ford GT in the garage? Where do I sign?