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Post by stuboyle on Sept 1, 2009 10:59:12 GMT -5
If you could point your finger at a single thing which makes Ganassi and Penske so dominant what would it be?
My theory is they have the best shocks/dampers or know how to setup their shocks/dampers better than anyone else.
Agree/Disagree? What are your theories?
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Post by indy on Sept 1, 2009 11:14:11 GMT -5
I think aero is relatively close throughout the field due to the rules. I think the damper thought is pretty close - these red and white cars have this package figured out. Plus, they have the most solid driver lineups of any team in the IRL in addition to some of the best wreches and technical staff available in the sport. Oh yeah, and I think their team chemistry is really, really good at both shops.
Jordan
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Post by stuboyle on Sept 1, 2009 11:39:59 GMT -5
Looking back, I just remember how good AGR was when they had the driver line-up of Francitti, Herta and Kanaan. AGR was still dominant with Francitti and Kanaan. Then Francitti leaves and thing go to "hell and a handbasket". Though, I guess during that time Ganassi and Penske were running Toyota power. It was easy for AGR to be dominant with Honda power. My memory is failing me now but was 2007, the year Francitti won the championship, the first year Ganassi and Penske were running Honda power?
I guess my point about the driver line-up is that you really need a couple of drivers who really know how to setup a car.
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Post by professor on Sept 1, 2009 14:03:16 GMT -5
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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Post by SWT500 on Sept 1, 2009 14:16:07 GMT -5
You are all correct. Penske and Ganassi throw money at everything. That said, the demise of AGR as a dominant team dovetails with the loss of their two best engineers, one each to Ganassi and Penske during the off season of 2008. As for shocks and dampers, it's an exotic science and very subjective. If you permit me a conspiracy theory for a moment, I believe that Penske is the biggest cheater ever. They simply hire people who can defeat attempts to monitor their activities. In the 90s, it was traction control. Lately, I believe it was defeating the rev limiter with an undetectable math curve. For example, watch the end of the race at Indy when Sam Hornish Jr. has the big check-up when Marco blocks him. No way anyone recovers from that in one lap. They had push-to-pass then. Sam was heard on the radio asking, "Can I use it?". Two friends of mine, who were Champcar officials at the time were sitting in turn 4. They looked at each other and said, "I didn't know this series has push-to-pass?" I believe both have found electronic ways to circumvent the rules. The problem is that the IRL can't catch them, so they made push-to-pass legal. Did anyone notice that Briscoe was on the OUTSIDE, was out of push-to-pass but still got by Dixon at Chicagoland? Just my opinion, not trying to poke the hornet's nest.
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Post by indycals on Sept 1, 2009 14:29:30 GMT -5
For example, watch the end of the race at Indy when Sam Hornish Jr. has the big check-up when Marco blocks him. No way anyone recovers from that in one lap. They had push-to-pass then. Sam was heard on the radio asking, "Can I use it?". Two friends of mine, who were Champcar officials at the time were sitting in turn 4. They looked at each other and said, "I didn't know this series has push-to-pass?" I have to disagree with that. Marco doomed himself by pinching the entrance and exit of turn three on the last lap, whereas Sam used the full racing line. Marco srubbed off just enough speed to allow Sam to close up in turn 4 - as Sam was the faster car, that sealed the deal. |
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Post by stuboyle on Sept 1, 2009 14:32:09 GMT -5
Just my opinion, not trying to poke the hornet's nest. Go ahead. Stir it up! I will just sit back and watch. ;D Your comment about dampers being an "exotic science" I agree with. This seems to be the area where engineers can bring their knowledge to the table. Are the ECU's supposed to be locked-down? If they are then the implication might be that they are overriding what the ECU is telling the motor. What about some ceramic bearings or coatings to reduce friction somewhere in the drivetrain? |
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Post by clm1545 on Sept 1, 2009 20:01:40 GMT -5
I think what Sam was asking was "can I go full rich". The main reason Penske and Chip are so successful is.
1 Great drivers
2 In spec racer the small details really count and they have the
money to spend, and the best people.
Spec racing is very expensive because it takes a lot of time and money to get very small gains.
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