Sure sounded like traction control

[ricknow]

Hi folks. My first post, though I've read many. I was at the St. Pete race and was surprised to hear what sounded very much like traction control. I was sitting at the short straight just before turn 11 (right-left zig-zag just before horseshoe) and many (but not all) of the cars made the very distinct and loud "sputtering" sound as they negotiated the zig-zag. Sounded exactly like traction control which I've heard in person before at the F1 race at Indy last year. What's else could make that sound? BTW, it's amazing how the sound is barely noticeable on TV. Somebody had to tell me what I was hearing when I heard it for the first time in person. Very loud and distinct.

[KC]

What you may have heard is the same thing I have heard at Houston. The boost comes on so fast in the street course mapping the popoff valve stays at its threshold for a few seconds opening and closing rapidly venting the overboost. Usually we hear the popoff valve open and a whistling discharge happens, but the teams and drivers will work to keep the engine right at the edge of the valve opening to get the absolute most acceleration out of the car. From all the slipping and sliding exiting corners and watching Paul Tracy and Bruno Junqueria spool up their rear tires on nearly every lap shows that traction control is not evident.

[macdaddy]

I was also gonna suggest it was the popoff valve. I remember the sounds from Belle Isle. Sometimes they even sound like a shotgun blast!

[gttouring]

yup the pop off valve is what you heard, before every corner, whenever they lift the cannon fire you hear repeatedly is the pop-off or blow off valve. you saw too many spins for traction control to be evident, now that ugly rev limiter- did you hear it during Paul Tracy's 'donuts' wakwakwakwakwakwakwakwak yuck.

[ricknow]

Thanks guys for the info. I didn't really think it was traction control because I knew it was disallowed but I was at a loss as to what it might be. Maybe what I thought was traction control at the F1 race really wasn't. Does traction control make a similar sound?

[Adam43]

The way the cars were sliding would mean that it was very bad tracion control!

[Woolley]

What you heard at F1 would be traction control, because there's no pop-off valve (well, there wouldn't be on a non-turbo engine). Horrible invention. Sounds like the exhaust just fell off and is fouling the valves!