Anybody know why the road course cars have a 'shark fin'?

[Charlie Spencer]

I've always assumed the fin blocked air from spilling over the left side of the car, using that air flow to push the back of the car to the left. Feel free to correct me but if that's the case, would they be better off with no fin on a lefty-righty course? Do teams have the option to remove it?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[aunty dive]

Good question ... I have no idea.

Will have to look for it on the weekend.

 

[LewTheShoe]

I have no answer, but I wonder if it is just a desire to use the same rules, templates, etc in the name of simplicity?

I used to read the teams' chassis info frequently, before Jayski discontinued publishing that a couple years ago. I was often surprised to see a chassis for a fast intermediate that had last raced at a short track, or vice versa. I wonder if the road races have dedicated chassis, or if the same chassis is used on ovals. This has nothing to do with shark fins, however.

 

[aunty dive]

Most of the teams have dedicated cars.

 

[hidesert cowboy]

watkins glen has some high speeds. it helps with lift off if the cars yaws left or right.

 

[jws926]

Pretty sure the teams do not have the option of removing it.

 

[CalTenn]

Shark week!

 

[Charlie Spencer]

Shark week!

Oooooooooooooooooo-kay. Hard to argue with that kind of logic.

 

[Kyle18fan]

Shark week!

Thats gotta be it