2 replies to this topic

[nosaj100]

I've lurked around here for awhile to know there's some really smart people here so I was hoping maybe some of them could share some explanations. I was wondering how the spoiler on the Cup cars creates more rear downforce than the wing. I just have a basic understanding of fluid dynamics and my gut tells me a properly designed wing should produce more downforce than the spoiler but I keep seeing teams say they see more rear downforce with the spoiler (although, I've seen conflicting statements).

[OfficeLinebacker]

Well the spoiler sticks out the sides of the decklid, but the wing is entirely hidden behind the frontal silhouette of the greenhouse, if you will. right?

[Fat Boy]

I don't know a hell of a lot about taxi aerodynamics, but I do know that spoilers can be much more efficient than their simple appearance. They have a big interaction with the underside of the car and can make some reasonably big downforce. As OLB says, the wing was hidden behind the greenhouse and it was not positioned favorably with respect to the decklid, so it wasn't terribly effective for overall downforce. The endplates did produce noticeable yaw stability, though, so that was a definite positive.

In the end, a stock car should have a spoiler, so give it to them. They still have the rubber mallet to adjust the damn thing with and it seems to make them happy.