Interesting F1 facts....

[jcamaro]

Originally Posted by Mr CLuTcH

You know the F1's 0-62mph time is crazy!! "1.7 seconds"!!! I really have a hard time comprehending that type of speed. I mean how much distance can you cover in 1.7 seconds with the notion already in mind that only 0.000 seconds ago you were sitting completely still at a stop? Its mind-blowing!

Top fuel dragsters get to 100mph in less than 1 second. It takes them less than 700ft to reach top speed of 280+ mph. That's fast!

I like the part about the F1 motor taking 80 hours to build. Most NHRA motors are torn apart and rebuilt in less than an hour. It just goes to show you how different motor sports can be. NHRA relies on raw motor power and extreme forced induction to go that fast where as the F1 engine relies on precise measurements and the latest technology has to offer.

Both really fun races to watch. Seeing an F1 car go around a tight corner at 100+ mph or watching a Funny Car with 8000hp get to 300mph in 1000 feet in just 4 seconds, amazing.

Edit: Also, F1 was originally to go the way of the turbo 4 cylinder but recently changed that to be turbo V6 from 2014 on. Here's the info

[wylde1]

Originally Posted by TOMS1SS

To give you an idea about how fast that 1.7 seconds is ESPN did a race between an F1 car a fighter jet. The fighter jet isn't even close to the car until it hits the afterburners.

That's actually an indy car in the video, which are just a touch slower than an F1. Not by much though, In fact I'd maybe venture that the straight line performance would be very similar. Indy's are a bit heavier though.

EDIT: just looked it up, similar power numbers between Indy/F1. Indy = 3.5L V8 ~700 hp, limited to 10,500 rpm, F1 = 2.4L V8, ~800+hp limited to 18,000 rpm. The weight is the big difference though. Indy = 691 kg ovals/ 725 kg road tracks. F1 = 640 kg

[Captain Vlad]

Originally Posted by wylde1

That's actually an indy car in the video, which are just a touch slower than an F1. Not by much though, In fact I'd maybe venture that the straight line performance would be very similar. Indy's are a bit heavier though.

I think the old Champcar cars were a little closer to F1's, though still a little slower. I remember reading something that said the US open-wheel cars tend to be built lower and heavier because they run on ovals. Need to be a bit more planted for those, I think, IIRC.