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[Shaneus]

Further reports show that it was not some man made object but there are signs he collided with an animal while traveling at high speed. GPS showed 93 MPH to 0 almost instantly. Really terrible news, it is always tough when one of the best is killed.

Jesus, that's some hard fuckin' luck

 

[thefro]

New 2015 Indy Lights chassis design unveiled

http://indylights2014.com/2013/andersen-promotions-unveils-dallara-il-15-car-renderings-2/

PALMETTO, Fla. (November 22, 2013) – Following an announcement on October 31 that Dallara Automobili had been selected to design and develop the next-generation Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires chassis which will compete in 2015, Andersen Promotions today unveiled renderings of the Dallara IL-15. The car’s design is a joint effort between Dallara’s Italian headquarters in Varano Melegari (Parma) and Dallara LLC in Speedway, Ind. The car will be assembled at the company’s U.S. headquarters located near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“The new Indy Lights Dallara IL-15 will be built to the highest safety and reliability standards that Dallara is known for and offer a modern stylish appearance that we know our drivers and fans will love,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “We’ve been working with Dallara to present a car that will perform well, provide the proper training required for drivers in our series as the final step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder and still be exciting to look at. We believe the designers have accomplished all of our goals. Seeing it on the track next August in testing cannot come soon enough for us.”


Dallara is the manufacturer of the present spec Indy Lights chassis which debuted in 2002. Updates to the current chassis will be utilized next season as the series transitions to the new Dallara IL-15 the following year. Teams competing in 2014 as well as all teams placing orders by March 15 will receive a reduction in pricing on the new chassis. Dallara is also offering a finance/lease option to spread costs over a three-year period to defer initial ownership expenditures.

“We are honored to support Andersen Promotions in developing the new IL-15 racecar,” said Andrea Pontremoli, CEO of Dallara. “Styling targets have been achieved so far, and we can’t wait to start working together with all the other partners involved in the project. We will soon be ready to provide a modern, safe, reliable and stylish race car. Many of the innovations introduced in the IndyCar Series (i.e. driver protection devices, anti-interlocking features, paddle shift, etc.) will be transferred to this new project, as well as all our knowledge of single-seater race car design. We can’t tell how excited we feel about this new cooperation, and we look forward to testing the brand-new car on the racetracks next year.”

Long-term partnerships with industry leaders Performance Friction (PFC) on a brake package and Cosworth for electronics (looms, steering wheel and data system) for the Dallara IL-15 have been confirmed. A new engine partner will be announced in the coming weeks.

This is the level below IndyCar on their ladder system, by the way. Really sounds like they're gunning to compete with GP2/GP3, World Series by Renault, etc and offer a much better value for drivers.

 

[friday]

Anything (not nascar) to watch this weekend?

 

[Shaneus]

The last race of the F1? Webber's last appearance in an open-wheeler?

 

[Chris R]

Anything (not nascar) to watch this weekend?

NASCAR is over until the duels next Feb.

Sydney 500 still to come right? Might try to stream it to get my racing fix.

 

[pixelated]

Some of my photos from the races at COTA.

Set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7418894@N07/sets/72157637856621795/

 

[Dave_6]

Fantastic photos!

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

From the team that races it, Joest Racing, comes the first shot of the 2014 R18 e-tron quattro, built to next year's new FIA WEC regulations:

Mulsanne's Corner notes that it was deliberately shot with a short focal length to make comparison of the proportions difficult, but it seems to continue the evolutionary design development from R18 TDI -> Ultra -> e-tron quattro.

I fully expect Audi to give Porsche all they can handle next year, and then some. Can't wait.

 

[Big Takeover]

This VAG battle can't come soon enough. Audi have been as good a king to have ever sat on the throne. I don't see them rolling over for anybody. That little black beauty will bring the heat. I have no doubts.

 

[Shaneus]

So that's the one that Porsche are competing against, yes? With Toyota?

Oh god, I hope Porsche can bring it. Or at least, stay the distance... that in itself would be an achievement for a team's debut year.

 

[B.K.]

#3 is officially back in the Sprint Cup Series.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The next Audi R18 e-tron quattro: new technology for the World Champions

The 2014-generation Audi R18 e-tron quattro is the most complex race car ever built by Audi. At first glance, the new hybrid sports car appears like a continuous further development of the World Championship winning car and Le Mans winner of the past two years. However, due to the new LMP1 regulations that will come into effect in 2014, Audi Sport factually redeveloped every single component.

In the new Technical Regulations, a large number of principal definitions, which concern the powertrain, body dimensions, safety and aerodynamics, were re- determined. With the new R18, Audi Sport has opted for a similar concept as in the past – albeit with innovative detailed solutions and an additional hybrid system. The key details:

• A further developed V6 TDI mid-engine powers the rear wheels
  
• e-tron quattro hybrid system at the front axle (ERS-K – Energy Recovery System Kinetic, a system to store kinetic energy)
  
• Optimized flywheel energy storage system
  
• Hybrid system with an electric turbocharger in the internal combustion engine (ERS-H – Energy Recovery System Heat, a system that stores energy converted from heat)

Never before has a race car been powered by technology as complex as the one used in Audi’s new LMP1 sports car. The TDI engine, which sets the benchmark in terms of efficiency, remains a time-tested and important element of the overall concept. The further developed V6 TDI unit of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro makes a crucial contribution to the car’s compliance with the energy specifications of the regulations. The new R18 has to do with up to 30 percent less fuel than its immediate predecessor.

In addition to the internal combustion engine, the powertrain concept, for the first time, features the integration of two hybrid systems. As in the past, a Motor- Generator-Unit (MGU), during braking events, recovers kinetic energy at the front axle, which flows into a flywheel energy storage system. For the first time, the turbocharger of the internal combustion engine is linked to an electrical machine, which makes it possible to convert the thermal energy of the exhaust gas flow into electric energy – for instance when the boost pressure limit has been reached. This energy also flows into the flywheel energy storage system. When the car accelerates, the stored energy can either flow back to the MGU at the front axle or to the innovative electric turbocharger, depending on the operating strategy.

Much more at the link.

Dual-hybrid, part-time AWD, turbodiesel; in all, it sounds fascinatingly complex, meticulously engineered, and will, no doubt, be a force to be reckoned with. I know Porsche has a leg up in terms of track-testing their LMP1, but 16 years is a long time to have been away from the top, and Audi meanwhile has established Le Mans as their race. Even the might of Porsche doesn't seem like enough to change that.

Come next year, my money will be on the boys from Ingolstadt.

 

[friday]

Whats my best bet for watching the Dakar?

 

[Arcticfox]

The first practice sessions for the 24 hours of Daytona are this week. Timing can be seen on the IMSA site. Looks like the Mazda prototypes have a long way to go. Kinda disappointed about the low number of GT Le Mans class cars as that is always the most interesting class to watch. While definitely not perfect yet (the Corvette prototypes currently have a small advantage), I am surprised at how close they balanced the Daytona Prototypes and ALMS P2 cars.

 

[Big Takeover]

How sick is the C7.R? Very!

 

[Dave_6]

That is incredibly sexy.

 

[Shaneus]

Jeeesus, that's nice. From that angle, it has a fair bit of an Aston vibe to it... which isn't a bad thing at all.

 

[dubc35]

Whats my best bet for watching the Dakar?

A little late but, here's some info (US related)

 

[nny]

Time for some live WRC!

...driving as fast as this at night...with snow/rain. I love these crazy guys.

 

[nny]

You can barely see anything...turning off most of the headlights because the fog reflects most of it back...scary stuff.

 

[dubc35]

2014 thread in work, should be up soon-ish...

 

[Dead Man]

2014 thread in work, should be up soon-ish...

Looking forward to it, this stale old thing is past due

 

[dubc35]

2014 thread? 2014 thread.