Aero

Ford 222

Ford 222

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I’m no expert, or even remotely schooled in aerodynamics but it’s amazing to me that the Mustang can race and even lead with that flat wall on their nose. The Yoda and Camaro have some slope that seems to me would allow them to cut through the air more efficiently? What am I missing here?
 
Ford 222 said:
I’m no expert, or even remotely schooled in aerodynamics but it’s amazing to me that the Mustang can race and even lead with that flat wall on their nose. The Yoda and Camaro have some slope that seems to me would allow them to cut through the air more efficiently? What am I missing here?
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Aero is weird stuff, the bike wheel below is the best wheel to use on the back of a track bike :idunno:



a.jpg




beats a wide open wheel all to hell, I always thought that it was kind of weird
 
When the top half of an open bike wheel is rotating forward, the spokes are pushing against the air and pushing the bike back ever so slightly.
 
Ford 222 said:
I’m no expert, or even remotely schooled in aerodynamics but it’s amazing to me that the Mustang can race and even lead with that flat wall on their nose. The Yoda and Camaro have some slope that seems to me would allow them to cut through the air more efficiently? What am I missing here?
Click to expand...

There are several possibilities;

1. The "slope" of the other cars could be an optical illusion and aren't really as "sloped" as they appear. For example, the flat panel only extends maybe 2/3rds of the width of the car while the headlights are extremely sloped. Compare that to the camaro which has their fake intake across the entire front of the car.
2. The size of the flat panel on the front of the mustang may be smaller than the size of the fake intakes on the other cars. So if you account for the entire front end and not just the small flat panel area or sloped area, the cars may create the same amount of downforce/drag/etc.
3. Nascar might not be looking at the aerodynamics of just the front end of each car, but the overall drag of the entire car in a wind tunnel. Ford may be taking advantage of this with the designed flat panel possibly creating more downforce at the front of the car rather than the rear of the car. Ford may see that as a handling advantage that drivers like, or maybe there is a true advantage there that Nascar has overlooked.

At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure Nascar has taken wind tunnel measurements from all over each car to ensure a level playing field.
 
LouieLouie said:
There are several possibilities;

1. The "slope" of the other cars could be an optical illusion and aren't really as "sloped" as they appear. For example, the flat panel only extends maybe 2/3rds of the width of the car while the headlights are extremely sloped. Compare that to the camaro which has their fake intake across the entire front of the car.
2. The size of the flat panel on the front of the mustang may be smaller than the size of the fake intakes on the other cars. So if you account for the entire front end and not just the small flat panel area or sloped area, the cars may create the same amount of downforce/drag/etc.
3. Nascar might not be looking at the aerodynamics of just the front end of each car, but the overall drag of the entire car in a wind tunnel. Ford may be taking advantage of this with the designed flat panel possibly creating more downforce at the front of the car rather than the rear of the car. Ford may see that as a handling advantage that drivers like, or maybe there is a true advantage there that Nascar has overlooked.

At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure Nascar has taken wind tunnel measurements from all over each car to ensure a level playing field.
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Interesting possibilities...thanks!

Yes I’m sure NASCAR has the numbers and is doing what they can to keep things legal. Just goes against everything I thought I knew about aero to have that big flat upright area not killing them at a track so sensitive to aero. But your 3rd note is intriguing..
 
kyle18fan said:
Aero is weird stuff, the bike wheel below is the best wheel to use on the back of a track bike :idunno:



View attachment 40228



beats a wide open wheel all to hell, I always thought that it was kind of weird
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Yes, noticed that in videos I’ve seen. That makes sense to me though as it seems it could cut through the air easier that a spoke wheel. Agree, aero is weird stuff...
 
Ford 222 said:
That’s interesting...wonder how much actually translates to the NASCAR version because the on track grille is a big sealed plate where the road version is recessed and open? Shows Ford did some homework.
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The Nascar version appears to work, its beyond me how it does
 
kyle18fan said:
The Nascar version appears to work, its beyond me how it does
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Something is there. Can’t tell me Johnson and Ku Busch forgot how to drive. Chevy does have a huge group of young drivers. And Suarez has made a huge jump in performance but he came from arguably a better car in a Gibbs Toyota.

The new rules for 2019 probably set everyone back some, forgot about that.
 
Once a car passes through the OSS -- NASCAR and lucky race fans should be able to get a replica from a 3D Printer. Just choose your % scale and hit the button. Color 3D printer for extra $.

Soap for the fans would probably be popular and functional. Wax candles. Butter...
 
Ford 222 said:
I’m no expert, or even remotely schooled in aerodynamics but it’s amazing to me that the Mustang can race and even lead with that flat wall on their nose. The Yoda and Camaro have some slope that seems to me would allow them to cut through the air more efficiently? What am I missing here?
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Better drivers :D
 
SlicedBread22 said:
Better drivers :D
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I think Ford has the adv now with accumulated talent but Joey Logano isn’t doing anything to make a car competitive at a TS track. David Ragan lead laps with it so the car is the advantage. Just baffles me how.
 
Ford 222 said:
I think Ford has the adv now with accumulated talent but Joey Logano isn’t doing anything to make a car competitive at a TS track. David Ragan lead laps with it so the car is the advantage. Just baffles me how.
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I'm assuming TS means tapered spacer.. and by TS track Im assuming you're referring to what used to be referred to as a plate track.. although tapered spacers are used at all tracks over 1 mile (maybe 1.3).. though I do think that Joey is better than most on superspeedways I'm really just throwing some banter around.
 
SlicedBread22 said:
I'm assuming TS means tapered spacer.. and by TS track Im assuming you're referring to what used to be referred to as a plate track.. although tapered spacers are used at all tracks over 1 mile (maybe 1.3).. though I do think that Joey is better than most on superspeedways I'm really just throwing some banter around.
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I did not know that? I thought it was just used at Tona and Dega replacing the plate? Damn I feel dumb now. Well, dumber...
 
Ford 222 said:
I did not know that? I thought it was just used at Tona and Dega replacing the plate? Damn I feel dumb now. Well, dumber...
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Well the way they made such a big deal about it its understandable. I think it was just because they weren't using the restrictor plates that made it such a big deal at Dega.
 
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