9 replies to this topic

[mavers]

Hi,

This question has been bugging me recently. What is the name of the effect when racing cars get closer together at a braking point and then after the braking point they start to spread out (due to the driver in front being able to accelerate first etc)... I'm sure i've heard it used in the f1 commentary in the past!

Thanks

[alexbiker]

Concertina effect.

[Yellowmc]

The "Martin Brundle can't stop mentioning it" effect?

[Madras]

Ford Cortina effect

[Sydark]

aka the accordian effect

[Crazy Ninja]

I think its called being quicker in qualifying/off the line.

[Beamer]

I think its called being quicker in qualifying/off the line.

[e34fanatic]

Imagine that the time difference between two cars is 0.5 seconds. At the top speed, say in Monza, 360 km/h the cars are travelling 100 meters in one second. It´s easy to calculate that the distance between two cars is 50 meters. But then in the first chicane, the cars have to brake to 72 km/h, by then the car is travelling 20 meters in one second. The distance between two cars, with 0.5 second difference, is then 10 meters. The gap remains constant time-wise, but the distance varies. This is the main reason.

[sreevishnu]

Concertina effect.

this is the correct answer

[cheapracer]

It's called 'the stupid FIA directing F1 over many years to it's current state where passing on track is nigh impossible' effect,.