new chassis rules?

[DanJR1]

whats happening about new chassis etc? any news on that front?

[Kicking-back]

The current package will remain in 2005.

There's still debate about the direction to go in in 2006.

Time will tell.

[nsxr]

they have a chance to do something really cool and different with the rules. I hope they dont screw it up. hopefully it will be something as good as the A1GP car. thats how they should do it. or maybe a spec tub develpoed by lola with two or more different sets of bodywork. with lola r&d the cars would be equal but could look different. well I hope

[jjspierx]

I personally think they have good thing going with the chassis's. I don't see why they have to adopt something new. Why not just open up development on the current chassis's and let them evolve over time like they always have in the past, and of course let any other chassis manufacturers come into the series if they wish and can make a chassis meet the current specs.

[Snrub]

There was talk of going to a lighter chasis, etc. in 2006. I can't see how they can do that. The current Lola and Reynard were designed to take the impact of a 250mph+ crash into a concrete wall on an oval. In order to continue to run on both ovals and street courses, they can't really go to a lighter chasis. Even most of the road courses aren't up to FIA standards so would they really want to go with a flimsy chasis?

I agree with jjspierx regarding the current chasis. The one thing I could see changing would involve a redesign to lower costs.

[Kicking-back]

Flimsy is a relative term Snrub.

[Snrub]

Ofcourse flimsy is relative, but we saw a very clear example of the difference with the extra protection of the current champ cars when Ralf hit the wall at Indy.

[dubby99]

Are the chassis now mostly suited to circut racing or are they suited more to oval racing?

If road and street races are going to be main priority in owrs, why not build a chassis that suits road and street courses, so it may improve the racing in that area.

I think for some reason that these chassis are overweight which hinders there true performances around a road or street course.

Any suggestions???

[Kicking-back]

Don't do oval racing, and get Lola to supply a batch of its A1 GP cars.

[dubby99]

I agree with you kicking-back, no ovals.
But When was the last time Lola build GP cars, back in 97?
you are talking about F1 cars?

[Kicking-back]

No. I'm talking about the cars Lola are building for A1GP - which is a series beginning in the Middle East during the winter.

They've been designed to encourage overtaking and should offer performance similar to a Champ Car.

[dubby99]

Sounds good to me.
But i would really like to see champcar with its own unique style of openwheel racecars, just like what they have now but much improved.

[Kicking-back]

These cars are like a "next generation" Champ Car - and being spec would contain costs.

[dubby99]

can they handle 750BHP+ and are they safe enough for ovals

[esorniloc]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
Don't do oval racing

The champ car series has always been about racing on different tyres of tracks, from the board ovals in the 1920's to the dirt ovals of the 1950's to the paved ovals and road courses.

If anything the series needs a few more ovals, say 5 max.

[Snrub]

Going back to the Lola/Reynard design roots, the chasis would be a compromise between the two. The newest aero parts are probably more aimed at circuit/street racing.

The weight is required. Street racing is very dangerous, just like oval racing. While the average speeds are lower, the only thing stopping you is a concrete wall! Absolute top speeds are similar to those on 1-1.5 mile ovals. A proper road course prevents cars from ever directly hitting a wall because of gravel traps, grass and tire walls. Thus if CART was all FIA spec road courses you could drop 200lbs. As for hindering performance, I suppose you could say that the extra weight hinders performance. You could also say that the artificially low engine power or harder tires hinder performance. Ferrari's F1 cars are constructed substantially under the weight requirements and then balast is added. (I can't remember how much, but I believe it's well over 100lbs)