Formula differences

[Stu Graham]

Without wanting to get into the issue of why Indycar split from CART I am curious to know what differences there are between the cars being raced in each series.
I presume they race under a formula specifying engine capacity and chassis or fuel restrictions.
I am aware from earlier discussions that Indycar only race on oval circuits - do the CART cars which are racing at the Indy 500 have to be modified to comply?
I have only recently got interested in these series because I am a New Zealander and we have a young driver, Scott Dixon racing over there in CARTS having previously raced in Indy-lights so I am ken to learn more about this whole are on North American single-seaters.
I am also very keen on F1 where we hope Scott Dixon can end up.

[SevenGrain]

Hi Stu,

The CART competitors in the Indy 500 are not running modified CART equipment, they have purchased IRL equipment.
The IRL specifies a flat bottomed car with a normaly aspirated 3.5 litre engine with a rev-limiter. There are two engine suppliers GM (Oldsmobile) and Nissan (Infinity). Toyota will join as an engine supplier in 2003. The IRL Chassis are provided by either G-Force or Dallara.
CART rules call for a 2.65 turbocharged engine. Suppliers are currently Ford, Honda, and Toyota and chassis are supplied by Lola or Reynard. The CART formula is much less restrictive with aerodymanics and electronics, and therefore more expensive. The IRL formula is simpler and therefore cheaper. The IRL is very nearly a spec seroes, but I'm sure that Toyota's involvement will raise the bar.
Well Stu, that's the very simple version without being too technical. Enjoy the race.

[tanalised]

Good on ya Stu

I'm a kiwi too and am just learning about CART as I follow Dixon's rise through the formulae(?) Lets hope he will get to F1 but on his own merits and not through having to buy a drive. I'm certainly enjoying the racing so far, seems to have more passing than F1!

Tanalised

[R]

... or is this forum starting to get flooded by New Zealanders?

Welcome to both of you!

[Liz]

We welcome all Open Wheelers with open minds. And I must say it was a nice change (although I love my Brazilians) to hear that New Zealand accent on the podium not so long ago.

Although Champ Cars race on some ovals of varying degrees of difficulty, in the main it is a road and street course series. Pilots from the Other Series do not generally go on to higher levels of racing (in fact, many are now descending from higher levels of racing). Their concentration on ovals limits them to where they are, or NASCAR and other American tintop series.

Some people like both series. Some like only one. All are welcome to post here, but we don't get many IRL people.

Also you are both welcome to field cars in our Fantasy Champ Car Grid if you want to - 4 races are run, but with the points system being quite generous, and the outcomes of the races usually in doubt until the chequered flag drops, you are not unduly handicapped by starting now.

[floid2000]

Champ or Indy cars started in America.They raced on lots of differant ovals,Most of which are tricky in thier own ways. Cart origanally began racing on road courses in an attempt to draw foreign fans.It worked (too well) .Now the series is leaning towards ovals in other countries.
Go Figure

[SevenGrain]

The reason that CART races on ovals in other countries has to do with a ruling by the FIA that limits CART's overseas expansion to only running on ovals. The exception is Surfer's Paradise, which works under a grandfather clause. However, the European Union Anti-Trust laws have just recently forced the FIA to rescind this ruling. This opens the door for CART to run at the great European road courses, it will be interesting to see what happens next.