There is one other advantage to skipping gears, which is why we now have paddle shift gears. John Barnard, while telling me how he came up with the semi auto changes on the 640, calculated that each time a driver dipped the clutch, operted the gear lever and let the clutch up, he lost in the region of 15mph through mechanical drag, though going down, that might be an advantage!
I wonder about these figures. Assuming the power was off then on again after half a second, that would still equate to a decceleration of 1.3g during the coasting phase, which seems a bit high. Still, what do I know compared to John Barnard, assuming he really did say it. Maybe these cars really do slow down that quickly when power is taken off, but maybe only at full tilt.
Just a thought: a human body in free fall has a terminal speed of about 120 mph, at which speed the force will equal 1g. If such a body were somehow to be immersed in the same density of airstream at 200 mph, the instantaneous force on the body would be about 2.8g. So maybe a racing car is about twice as slippery as a human body. Seems plausible to me. Perhaps Masten Gregory theorised likewise during his numerous high speed exits.
Reminds me of when Chapman brought out the Lotus 76. It had a little button on top of the gearstick, that could be used to operate the clutch instead of using a cumbersome foot pedal. That also allowed the left foot to be used for braking. In effect it had four pedals, the two brake pedals being connected. The biggest surprise to me was that Chapman claimed this set up would save 2 secs a lap. I thought that was extremely unlikely and it may have owed a lot to Chapman swagger. Again, what do I know compared to the great man. The 76 was a lemon, but probably for unrelated reasons. I guess the electronic shifting and left foot braking have come to pass, but 2 secs a lap gain for a 1970's car? I believe the gear lever still had to be manually moved. Maybe on the Nurburgring,
First time I've ever written any pseudo-technical ravings like this while still sober. Early stages of senility perhaps. Going to the pub tonight to reflect.