***The Official 2011 Formula 1 Thread***
- Thread starter Supafly
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I wish. That was one of the most exciting periods in the history of open wheel formula car racing. Both turbos and normally aspirated engines were allowed back then. Unlike today, Indy was pretty much a "run what ya brung" race. Now, dumbed down, normally aspirated, V8 spec engines are the rule.They now keep the horsepower down (the 2.65 turbos could top 1000 horsepower), and glue the cars to the track with massive downforce to keep the formula easy enough, so even half-talents like D@nica Patrick and Marco Andretti can look like they know what they're doing.
Turbo 4's and 6's were used in Formula One in the 80's... and that was also one of the most exciting periods in F1's history. The BMW turbo 4 was said to have roughly 1300 horsepower in qualifying trim. The engines under the current 2.4 V8 formula probably have 750 horsepower on a good day (cool, damp air on qualifying day). Ayrton Senna won his first World Driving Championship in the McLaren/Honda turbo 6 in 1988. The turbo era was fantastic, though I also loved the V12's (especially the Ferraris). But the V10 formula was quite boring (IMO) and this rev limited V8 formula is the absolute worst, as far as technical innovation and excitement. When was the last time anyone talked about F1 engines during a race broadcast? The only engine formulas more boring than what F1 uses now is the IRL formula and the NASCAR formula. Even the Grand Am formula is more exciting (IMO).
I look forward to the new turbo era. Unlike the old turbo formula, now that we've come SO far in electronics, I expect the turbo lag to be less. And I think the racing can be as good or better than last year because of the KERS addition. F1 is about innovation and staying on the edge of the curve. I say, bring it on!!! :nanner:
You forgot also to speak about the yellow teapot era with the 1977 yellow renault turbo and with 1985 the mc laren tag porsche. It was an era that was brilliant by its technology and capacity of innovation.
You also forgot to mention about transam and canam, two highly respect disciplines from the late sixties till the mid seventies.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
Schumacher never won a WDC with Ferrari V8's or V12's in F1. He won two WDC's with Benetton (one with the Ford V8 and one with the Renault V10) and five with Ferrari V10's. Ferrari went to V10's the year that he got there and Alonso beat him for the WDC crown both of his remaining years at Ferrari under the new 2.4 V8 formula.
The Cossie DF series of F1 engines (and the Indycar derivatives) was the backbone of open wheel formula car racing for many years. And yes, it was a very fine engine series. But I have never in my life heard anything as sweet as the sound of a Ferrari V12 grand prix engine - although the 2.65 liter turbocharged V8 CART formula (including the Ford-Cosworth) comes VERY close. I really miss that! Damn you, Tony George! Damn you to hell!!! I've not been so lucky to hear Aria Giovanni screaming my name and begging me not to stop, but I'd say the Ferrari 3.5 V12 would still be a close second to that.
As a matter of fact, I'd say even Aria would have to wear some special perfume and a really sexy negligee to top this!
Not so much that I forgot about them. I was just speaking to the post that suggested that 4 cylinder turbo engines were somehow yesterday's news or were irrelevant. I have a 2.0 liter turbo 4 in my daily driver. It's just mildly tuned and it puts out just shy of 300 horsepower. That's on par with the horsepower (though not the torque) of a 5.3 liter V12 that I have in an older car. If I decided to go with a bigger turbo, bigger CC injectors and a front mount intercooler, I could easily be at 350-375 horsepower without really stressing it. Turbo 4's have come a LONG way... even in street cars.
But yes, the engines and series you've mentioned were quite amazing. That's why I love going to vintage races.
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
Sorry if I read you wrong. You meant this as a good thing? :dunno:
Miscommunication happens. Years ago, after having a drink or ten, I said to my (now ex)fiancee, "baby, you got a big ass." Now... ya see... she took it one way (the bad/"you need to lay off the donuts" way), when I meant it another way (the good/"I want to ravage you" way).
Anyway, I didn't mean to paint you into a corner. That you even know about 1970's Indycars and you're here among us makes me happy. Seriously, no hard feelings.
I don't follow it anymore. If it was up to me I would get rid of almost every car construction rule with the exception of electronic driver aids. The driver should always be the one driving it. The only rule I would have would be a general volume limit for the entire size of the car, and it would have to be safe enough to not kill anybody in the crowd or other drivers on the track. That would be it. Anything else that could make the car go faster would be allowed if they could be creative enough to come up with it. :1orglaugh
I was simply drawing a comparison to a bygone era. It wasn't a judgment about whether or not it's a good thing.
In fact, I sorely miss the open formats of the past. Not to the point of run away escalation, but in terms of innovation where teams achieved their success by being clever by choice or by circumstance... not because of suppressive rules.
I feel like F1 is turning into NASCAR more and more.
Supafly
Retired Mod
The complete rules- and regulation-changes are pretty interesting.
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/8692/
Lets see how that will work out
http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/rules_and_regulations/sporting_regulations/8692/
Lets see how that will work out
George Harrson's song about Niki Lauda, Jackie Stewart, and his good friend Emerson Fittapaldi.
I was startled by George suddenly being right there. This is more of a "FASTER!" song-
Supafly
Retired Mod
Master of Faster, I think Lewis Hamilton defines this at the current time. I mean, coming in third best, after Stig and Mansell, but they had dry weather, in the 'Reasonably Priced Car', while he had a wet, oily track.
And he wants to try for a dry lap, guess he will smoke them completely :bowdown:
And he wants to try for a dry lap, guess he will smoke them completely :bowdown:
Lets see them drive around here-ice, snow, potholes, people on CELL PHONES...when I drove my mom to the eye doctor and said "I'm going exactly the speed limit, mother," she looks over-75 isn't THAT fast. "Anyway, you can't even see clearly," I mumble, then she pointed out that we hadn't been there yet. "Oh...forgot...concentrating on road conditions...don't distract me..."
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
:hatsoff:
Rey C.
Racing is life... anything else is just waiting.
Interesting to see Schumacher being fastest at the Valencia tests. Sounds like the W02 hasn't been going so well thus far, but they finally got it going. And I have to say, even though form should follow function, I liked the look of the W01 more than the new W02. I wonder if they're tailoring the W02 to Schumacher, and if so, if that'll hold Nico Rosberg back?
Also interesting that Hugo Chavez's poster boy, Pastor Maldonado, did what I expect he'll be doing a LOT this season: crashing! It's a real shame that a once fine team like Williams had to resort to taking on a ride-buyer, and let a truly talented driver (Nico Hulkenberg) go elsewhere. As much equipment as Maldonado will probably destroy, I wonder if Hugo's checks will cover it all?
AutoWeek - Formula One: Schumacher tops Jerez test
And as others have said, best wishes to Robert Kubica. I've heard the crash damn near severed his hand. While he's out, I'd like to see Bruno Senna get the drive. But I figure they'll give it to Heidfeld.
Also interesting that Hugo Chavez's poster boy, Pastor Maldonado, did what I expect he'll be doing a LOT this season: crashing! It's a real shame that a once fine team like Williams had to resort to taking on a ride-buyer, and let a truly talented driver (Nico Hulkenberg) go elsewhere. As much equipment as Maldonado will probably destroy, I wonder if Hugo's checks will cover it all?
AutoWeek - Formula One: Schumacher tops Jerez test
And as others have said, best wishes to Robert Kubica. I've heard the crash damn near severed his hand. While he's out, I'd like to see Bruno Senna get the drive. But I figure they'll give it to Heidfeld.
Team Orders had always been a part of F1 , so it is nothing that bad.
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