DRS introduction in IndyCar Series for only road/street courses in the future? Agree?

[Therius94]

The Drag Reduction Systems (DRS) in every auto racing tournaments.

The trend of Drag Reduction Systems (DRS) was started since 2011 when FIA Formula 1 World Championship was the first major auto racing tournament to adopt the Drag Reduction Systems (DRS) and later other auto racing tournaments like World Series by Renault Formula 3.5 since 2012, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since 2013 until 2020, Japanese Super Formula since 2014, GP2 Series later FIA Formula 2 Championship since 2015 and GP3 Series later FIA Formula 3 Championship since 2017.

I hope IndyCar Series must follow the trend of Drag Reduction Systems (DRS) but the system only used in road and street courses because DRS won't fit in all oval tracks in IndyCar Series due to safety reasons. DRS can be applied by attaching the DRS lifter in the upper-side of road/street course rear wing but in an event of rainy conditionsReception

the DRS systems is not allowed.

Here are the breakthrough of DRS in auto racing:

"In motor racing, the drag reduction system (DRS) is a form of driver-adjustable bodywork aimed at reducing aerodynamic drag in order to increase top speed and promote overtaking. It is an adjustable rear wing of the car, which moves in response to driver commands. DRS often comes with conditions, such as the pursuing car must be within a second (when both cars cross the detection point) for DRS to be activated.

DRS was introduced in Formula One in 2011. The use of DRS is an exception to the rule banning any moving parts whose primary purpose is to affect the aerodynamics of the car.

The system is also used in the Formula Renault 3.5 since 2012, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters since 2013, Super Formula since 2014, GP2 Series later FIA Formula 2 Championship since 2015, GP3 Series later FIA Formula 3 Championship since 2017. An adjustable wing was also used by the Nissan DeltaWing at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, although with free usage.

Formula One

In Formula One, the DRS opens an adjustable flap on the rear wing of the car, in order to reduce drag, thus giving a pursuing car an overtaking advantage over the car in front. The FIA estimate the speed increase to be between 10–12 km/h by the end of the activation zone. When the flap is closed it increases downforce, giving better cornering.

The device can only be used during a race after two racing laps have been completed, and when the pursuing car enters a designated "activation" zone defined by the FIA.

In 2011, the FIA increased the number of DRS zones to two on some circuits featuring multiple long straights. In Valencia and in Montreal, two zones were endorsed on consecutive long straights, while in Monza and in Buddh, two zones were created on separate parts of the circuit. Two zones had originally been planned for every race with multiple long straights from Montreal onwards (depending on Montreal/Valencia success), but this was not implemented. However, at the penultimate round of the 2011 season, two zones on consecutive long straights saw a return at Yas Marina.

When usage of the DRS remained legal for the 2012 season, a second zone was added to the opening round's track in Melbourne. A third DRS zone was added during 2018 and 2019 seasons in Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Austria, Singapore and Mexico.

Functional description

The horizontal elements of the rear wing consist of the main plane and the flap. The DRS allows the flap to lift a maximum of 50 mm from the fixed main plane. This reduces opposition (drag) to airflow against the wing and results in less downforce. In the absence of significant lateral forces (straight line), less downforce allows faster acceleration and potential top speed, unless limited by the top gear ratio and engine rev limiter. Sam Michael, sporting director of the McLaren team, believes that DRS in qualifying will be worth about half a second per lap.

The effectiveness of the DRS will vary from track to track and, to a lesser extent, from car to car. The system's effectiveness was reviewed in 2011 to see if overtaking could be made easier, but not to the extent that driver skill is sidelined. The effectiveness of DRS seems likely to be determined by the level of downforce at a given circuit (where the cars are in low drag trim at circuits like Monza, the effects may be smaller), by the length of the activation zone, and by the characteristics of the track immediately after the DRS zone.

Rules on use

Use of DRS is restricted by the F1 rules; it is permitted only when both:
The following car is within one second of the car to be overtaken, which may be a car being lapped. The FIA may alter this parameter, race by race.
The following car is in an overtaking zone as defined by the FIA before the race (commonly known as the DRS zone).

Further:
The system may not be activated on the first two laps after the race start, restart, or a safety car deployment.

The system cannot be used by the defending driver, unless within one second of another car in front.

The system may not be enabled if racing conditions are deemed dangerous by the race director, such as rain, as was the case at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.

For the 2020 season, the drivers are only permitted to use DRS in the designated overtaking zones. A dashboard light notifies the driver when the system is enabled (the driver can also see the system deploy in his wing mirrors). The system is deactivated when the driver releases the button or uses the brakes.

There are lines on the track to show the area where the one-second proximity is being detected (the detection point) and a line later on the track (the activation point), along with a sign vertically marked "DRS" where the DRS zone itself begins.

Reception

There has been a mixed reaction to the introduction of DRS in Formula One amongst both fans and drivers. Some believe that this is the solution to the lack of overtaking in F1 in recent years while others believe this has made overtaking too easy. Former Formula One and current Team Penske IndyCar Series driver Juan Pablo Montoya described it as "like giving Picasso Photoshop". The principal argument for the opponents of DRS is that the driver in front does not have an equal chance of defending his position because they are not allowed to deploy DRS to defend. The tightening up on the rules for a leading driver defending his position has added to this controversy. 2018 Scuderia Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel at one point stated he preferred throwing bananas 'Mario Kart Style' over the use of DRS."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_reduction_system

Your opinions?

[bjohnsonsmith]

IndyCar are intending to introduce the new chassis, which will replace the DW 12, in 2023 and there has been no mention of IndyCar incorporating DRS with it.

[broadrun96]

There's been zero discussion or mention. And actual Indycar fans would understand it is one, pointless as Indy has chosen to use Push2Pass and 2, unneeded as Indycar does not have a passing problem with their cars on road/street courses.

It's a non-starter and completely unnecessary with the series accounting for a different system that allows defense and offense with a limit on use.

[Woolley]

I sincerely hope not. The system is awful, watching a car breeze past on the straight is dull and I hate it with a passion. Indycars seem to be able to pass each other perfectly well without it.

The only drag reduction system I could be in favour of is one where most of the wings, especially all the complicated ugly bits, are just thrown in the bin permanently.

[broadrun96]

At the risk of being that guy and denying develop options, the return to simpler wings for Indycars made a HUGE difference. The Honda and Chevy aero kits made the racing dull and had problems that even P2P couldn't overcome.

Hopefully F1 with the new car has learned from that but they love to develop the perfect car on its own. Great but only one car is on its own and not that often. Sometimes development just because is a bad thing and you end up with Mercedes and the rest hoping LH wrecks, gets blocked in quali or the team screws up. Indy often has a driver find the great setup for the weekend but it isn't the same guy every week. Ok, Dixie had it last season but that's an anomaly.

[tux]

Please god no. The push to pass system works well enough, DRS is horrible. You literally cruise past the car ahead, theres no way for the car in front to defend. I genuinely think its the worst thing to have happened to F1 in the last 10 years. Still, the way motorsport has gone over the last 5 years it wouldn't surprise me if they introduced it.

[Paradise City]

We've lost the wit/the will to design rules whereby cars can pass each so much so we've to resort to Penelope Pitstop gimmicks.

This is not a good thing.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

We've lost the wit/the will to design rules whereby cars can pass each so much so we've to resort to Penelope Pitstop gimmicks.

This is not a good thing.

Yeah, hoping the reduction in wings and bits for the next car will help but we've seen that story how many times recently? The engineers will find a way and we'll be right back here again

[fieldodreams79]

Not necessary IndyCar. Close thread!

[gert]

Please No.

I'll take P2P over DRS every day ...

[peebee2]

Why would you? What have got against P2P?

You also need to realise the Indycar teams aren’t able to spend millions on spoiler aero, unlike the big F1 teams who throw massive sums at developing aero specifically to adversely affect other cars.

[Therius94]

Originally Posted by peebee2

Why would you? What have got against P2P?

You also need to realise the Indycar teams aren’t able to spend millions on spoiler aero, unlike the big F1 teams who throw massive sums at developing aero specifically to adversely affect other cars.

I mean P2P + DRS combo like in DTM 2019-2020

[macdaddy]

DRS is nonsensical to me. The "D" does not stand for "Defending". It's an unfair advantage given to those who can't lead a race, or pass a car, without artificial help. And an unfair disadvantage to those who can.

P2P puts everybody on equal footing, and I've been surprised that F1 hasn't adopted it in lieu.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by macdaddy

P2P puts everybody on equal footing, and I've been surprised that F1 hasn't adopted it in lieu.

Someone else came up with it so it wouldn't show the best of F1 engineering?

[Woolley]

I'd go the other way. Dear F1, here's your single plane short-cord narrow (within the inside edges of the wheels) front wing and floor-level nose cone. Design your car from there backwards. Oh, and you can't add any body bits that aren't wholly part of the body, so don't even think of deflectors, winglets, etc.

[gert]

Originally Posted by Woolley

I'd go the other way. Dear F1, here's your single plane short-cord narrow (within the inside edges of the wheels) front wing and floor-level nose cone. Design your car from there backwards. Oh, and you can't add any body bits that aren't wholly part of the body, so don't even think of deflectors, winglets, etc.

+1 !

[DomWings]

It's a no from me. However my reasoning is that P2P is completely sufficient with IndyCar's current style of racing - I don't know how I would enjoy DRS being a thing in F1 when refueling was still around.

[NaBUru38]

Push to pass is fair. Anyone can use it at any time, given the specified limit.


DRS is unfair. It can only be used if you are behind another car. Some drivers never get the chance, whereas others get plenty, depending on surrounding traffic.

[Teretonga]

Absolutely not. DRS is an anomaly
Awful gimmick.

[Toecutter]

DRS is nothing new, Penske was using it back in 2007. Legally the IRL said nothing to see here nm that aluminum is flexible and carbon fiber isn't, he did it to "lose weight".
https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...10702/4410702/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Toecutter

DRS is nothing new, Penske was using it back in 2007. Legally the IRL said nothing to see here nm that aluminum is flexible and carbon fiber isn't, he did it to "lose weight".
https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...10702/4410702/

This has nothing to do with DRS. This is about the aluminum pillars failing, which were substituted for the ones made from standard carbon fiber.

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by Toecutter

DRS is nothing new, Penske was using it back in 2007. Legally the IRL said nothing to see here nm that aluminum is flexible and carbon fiber isn't, he did it to "lose weight".
https://www.autosport.com/indycar/ne...10702/4410702/

DRS is certainly not a new concept (see also: Chaparral 2C of late 1965). And I agree with everyone else here - no thank you to DRS in IndyCar (also LOLing at broadrun96's comment about "not showcasing the best of F1 engineering").

[broadrun96]

And it could only fail, it was not bending back up later and failing did not improve the car at all, see spin from the lead or top 5 if I recall

[RWill2073]

Yeah, no thanks. F1 should adopt push to pass. It's actually strategic in its use. Plus, with all the penalties for engine changes and stuff, it may even cause extra stress on teams trying to use it while balancing the extra stress on an engine that may mean it needs replacing sooner.

[jimclark]

More "fair"........neither.