17 replies to this topic

[Vilenova]

hello all,
I was wondering if one of you could explain to me how Cart's "push to pass" button works.
What exactly does it do and what are the consequences should you overuse it? Is there a chance of cooking the motor?

thanks.

[J. Edlund]

If I remember correctly CART is fuel limited, so using the "button" too much would probably mean that you might not have fuel enough to finish the race of you must go to the pit for a refueling one more time. Reliability is the other issue.

A guess is that the fuel/ignition/boost is altered for a higher power output, perhaps higher engine speeds are also used.

[maxie]

Kind of like switching on the turbo boost in F1 cars back in the mid 80s?

[Yelnats]

Originally posted by J. Edlund
If I remember correctly CART is fuel limited, so using the "button" too much would probably mean that you might not have fuel enough to finish the race of you must go to the pit for a refueling one more time. Reliability is the other issue.

A guess is that the fuel/ignition/boost is altered for a higher power output, perhaps higher engine speeds are also used.

CART is rev/boost limited so unless they have suspended these limits for the duration of the pass increases here are out of the question. As for durability, these CART engines formerly ran to 3 to 4k higher rev limits so this shouldn't be a problem. The new regulations have removed the old fuel economy runs by specifying a pit stop window so fuel shouldn't be a problem.

Anyone have more ideas on this button?

[McGuire]

The push to pass allows a momentary increase in manifold pressure, with each car allotted sixty seconds on the button per race.

[Mox]

Nice ... a completely artificial racing element.

Since all has the advantage for the same amount of time, it is just something to change the order for a while until the other car counters.

When all cars have used their time, everything has been level all the way anyway, so they might as well not have it at all.

God, I hate things that "fake" racing instead of actually improving it.

Same goes for the "option tyres" by the way.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by Mox
Nice ... a completely artificial racing element.

I thought I recalled F1 cars having a similar feature. As in modern cars. Some button that advances the timing, injects more fuel, or whatever. It momentarily sets all the engine settings to max for a brief time to hopefully help you get a run on a guy.

[Vilenova]

Originally posted by Mox
Nice ... a completely artificial racing element.

.

Traction control, auto gearboxes....;)

Thanks for the responses guys.

[McGuire]

If it matters the pressure increase is 41.5" Hg to 44," good for 50 hp according to Cosworth.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Thats it? A Formula Palmer Audi (club series in the UK) has 60hp on overboost from a base of 300

[Chevy II Nova]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld


I thought I recalled F1 cars having a similar feature. As in modern cars. Some button that advances the timing, injects more fuel, or whatever. It momentarily sets all the engine settings to max for a brief time to hopefully help you get a run on a guy.

BAR used something like this at Indy. Supposedly they could raise the revs with a button, but only 7 times. Maybe Jacques forgot how to count to 7...

[Wuzak]

Originally posted by Chevy II Nova


BAR used something like this at Indy. Supposedly they could raise the revs with a button, but only 7 times. Maybe Jacques forgot how to count to 7...

Williams also have something like this. It was revealed after the 2002 Canadian GP, where Ralf failed to use his in attempting to pass someone or other!

[Chevy II Nova]

Ralf... passing?

[Ben]

Originally posted by Mox
Nice ... a completely artificial racing element.

Since all has the advantage for the same amount of time, it is just something to change the order for a while until the other car counters.

When all cars have used their time, everything has been level all the way anyway, so they might as well not have it at all.

God, I hate things that "fake" racing instead of actually improving it.

Same goes for the "option tyres" by the way.

Mox mentions the 'option tyres' I'm surprised there hasn't been more uproar about this from the purists. The overboost button has been used many times before.

Ben

[Double Apex]

Originally posted by Chevy II Nova


BAR used something like this at Indy. Supposedly they could raise the revs with a button, but only 7 times. Maybe Jacques forgot how to count to 7...

But that isn't artificial as there is no regulation on maximum revs.

Originally posted by Wuzak


Williams also have something like this. It was revealed after the 2002 Canadian GP, where Ralf failed to use his in attempting to pass someone or other!

And while Ralf might have failed to find the button, JPM couldn't keep his hands off it during the 2001 German GP. I think BMW told both drivers they could use it no more than 5 times during the race and JPM used it almost every single lap! No wonder his engine didn't last.

[Wuzak]

Originally posted by Double Apex

And while Ralf might have failed to find the button, JPM couldn't keep his hands off it during the 2001 German GP. I think BMW told both drivers they could use it no more than 5 times during the race and JPM used it almost every single lap! No wonder his engine didn't last.

Do you have a source for that?

I remember Ralf said something about JPM damaging his engine.

[rodlamas]

Originally posted by Double Apex


But that isn't artificial as there is no regulation on maximum revs.



And while Ralf might have failed to find the button, JPM couldn't keep his hands off it during the 2001 German GP. I think BMW told both drivers they could use it no more than 5 times during the race and JPM used it almost every single lap! No wonder his engine didn't last.

His engine did not have in Germany 2001 because he spent too much time in the pits due to a refuelling rig problem. This caused the engine not to be cooled down in a proper way and consequently in overheating that ultimatly leaded to an engine failure.

But that´s what BMW offically said.

[Bart]

Originally posted by Mox
Nice ... a completely artificial racing element.

Since all has the advantage for the same amount of time, it is just something to change the order for a while until the other car counters.

When all cars have used their time, everything has been level all the way anyway, so they might as well not have it at all.

Not true.

The idea is it will allow you to get past a car which is a little bit slower, but not slow enough to make a pass without this sort of help. As people have said, we had this in F1 in the turbo era, and people didn't complain then.