15 replies to this topic

[quintin cloud]

hi guys

I am just wanting to know what is the rules for the indycar engine capacity , we all know that a F1 car is 3.0L NA but is there turbos on the a indycar? and any other noted differences ?

[Engineguy]

2.65L maximum, 8 cylinder/32 valve maximum, VERY light boost controlled by electronic wastegate, but if exceeded, CART supplied pop-off valve opens (you don't want that to happen... it dumps all your boost pressure and takes too long to close). Power is a big secret but generally believed to be around 870-900HP. Intercoolers are not allowed, but the use of methanol for fuel helps somewhat in that regard. Takes about twice as much methanol (vs. gasoline) flow for a given HP level. Cars must consume less than 1.85 miles/gallon to finish race on allocated fuel.


Type: Turbocharged aluminum alloy block V-8

Displacement: 2.65 liters (161.7 cubic inches)

Horsepower: More than 800 BHP at 15,000 RPM and 37 inches (Mercury absolute) turbocharger boost pressure

Crankshaft: Alloy steel, five main bearing caps

Pistons: Forged aluminum alloy

Connecting Rods: Machined alloy steel

Ignition System: CDI

Fuel System: Electronically controlled injection
Fuel: Methanol

Valve train: Dual overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder

Lubrication: Dry Sump

Gear Box: Six or Seven speed sequential shift

[Engineguy]

I assumed you are talking about CART indycars, and not the Formula Tony spec racers that currently run at the IRL 500 (3.5L NA, restricted bore size, 10,700RPM limiter, 625HP, spec transaxle, spec suspension uprights, MINIMUM wing sizes AND angles for lots of downforce to allow untalented drivers to go as fast as the few talented ones, etc.).

[Rainer Nyberg]

Are still production-based pushrod turbo engines allowed in CART?
(like the 3.4L OHV Buick V6)
How about normally aspirated engines?
(I don´t recall any such since the 1980s though, but maybe despite this, still allowed by the rules?)

[david_martin]

I think Roger Penske and Ilmor's little stunt at Indy a few years back caused CART to tighten up the engine regulations and take some of the historical anomolies out - including stock block pushrod engines, normally aspirated engines and bespoke single team engines.

[swoopp]

I am almost sure that CART doesn't allow pushrod motors.

The pushrod motors where allowed by Tony George, for use at the 500.

[Ali_G]

Do any of ye guys know the new amount of boost being allowed for next season. I hear they nearly halfed it but I can't be certain.

Niall

[Arneal]

Ali_G,

Assuming Engineguy is correct about the boost being 37 inches of mercury absolute then the boost relative to sea level pressure (29.92) would be 7 inches of mercury.

Converting the 7 inches into psi:

(14.7/29.92)* 7 = roughly 3.5 psi

where 29.92 is sea level pressure in inches of mercury and
14.7 is sea level pressure in psi.

This is a very minor boost. My old Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo ran a max boost of 11.1psi. Also, I read in Car & Driver that some new Saab is running roughly 20psi.

Arneal

[Arneal]

Ali_G,

To better answer your question the boost was reduced from 40 inches last year (2000) to 37 for this year and will go down to 34 for next year.

Arneal

[quintin cloud]

That's Great Guys , thanks for that infomation:)

[Top Fuel F1]

At one time there was just Indy Cars. I don't remeber the complete story behind this, but these split off into the IRL (Indy Racing League) and CART (Champ cars). The URL www.CART.com use to have a listing of CART's technical rules; but I don't see that on the Web site now. I don't know if the IRL has a Web site. In any event,for the year 2000:

Champ Cars:
1. Engine: 2.65-liter (162 cu in) V-8 mildly turbocharged to a max. of 40 in., Hg absolute (4.95 psi gauge). TI valve springs with Revs to 16,000 and producing up to 900 HP.
2. Gearbox: Similar to F1 only with mechanical linkages
3. Fuel: Methanol in a 35 gal. fuel cell. Milage calculated at 1.85 mpg
4 Brakes: Ferrous alloy discs except for 500-mile venues where carbon fiber is allowed
5. Weight: Min. 1550 lbs., 1525 on Supperspeedways
6. Chassis: Material and techniques similar to F1
7. Tires: Slicks

IRL:
1. Engine: 3.5-liter (214 cu in) V-8, normally aspirated. Initially the engine designs where stock-block derived; but this is no longer required. RPM held to 10,7000 by electronic rev. limiter. Nominally 650 HP, flat crank firing order
2. Fuel: Methanol
3. Weight: Min. 1550 lbs.
4. Tires: Slicks

The design and operation of these cars are greatly more economy minded than F1. I don't follow either of these forms of racing but do get some information in that I watch RPM2NITE So I'm just guessing when I say that the IRL was even more economy minded than CART. I base that on the fact that originally their engine had to be derived from stock engine blocks.

Rgds;

[XHawkeye]

The Roger Penske and Ilmor's Indy motor was legal because Indy was run under USAC, not CART rules. USAC gave stock blocks/ pushrod motors a boost and displacment break. This allowed the V-6 Buick to always on the front row but would hardly ever lasted more then 250 miles into the race. Ilmor designed an engine to the Buick's specs and built a 209 cid (3.4-liter) pushrod turbo V8 engine with 55 inches of boost. The next year USAC cut the boost to 48 inches.

[PDA]

The complete CART regs ARE available on www.cart.com. Look harder.

[Engineguy]

Originally posted by PDA
The complete CART regs ARE available on www.cart.com. Look harder.

I think you are getting the old site still (by Quokka).

Here's what the new site says about the rulebook and other missing features:

6. Where are the [insert feature here]?
We will be adding a lot of features in the next few weeks. On the list include track information, manufacturers information, Technical Specs and Rule Book, CART Corporate Information, and historical data. If we can do it, it will be done. Maybe not right away, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but our job is not done until there is nothing left to do and that means it will never be done. Our timeline on most of the key features is 30 days. If there are features you can't live without, please let us know and we'll add it to our list.

[Top Fuel F1]

Originally posted by PDA
The complete CART regs ARE available on www.cart.com. Look harder.

Hint please. One would expect to see something in the selection menu such as "Regs", "Technical", "rules" etc. just like their 2000 Home Page had.

[PDA]

Oops. My apologies. I hadn;t realised that they had a new web site. I just looked at and it has damn all on it. The FAQ is half a page long and seems more concerned with fantasy games. I tried the feedback, and that doesn't work.

Again, my apologies for teh false info.