Secrets of the Fastest Lola IndyCar w/Craig Hampson
TLDRIn this fascinating discussion, Craig Hampson, a renowned race engineer and four-time consecutive champ car champion, shares the secrets behind the high-performance Lola IndyCar from 2005. Hampson details the car's aerodynamic innovations, such as the unique pylon mounts for the front wing, the adjustable front wing height, and the aerodynamically shaped push rods. He also highlights the car's underwing design, which was less sensitive to front ride height, and the rear wing's diamond tip and vortex generators for increased downforce. The conversation delves into the meticulous attention to detail, including mirror placement and engine covers, that contributed to the car's success. Hampson reflects on the era of racing where teams could innovate and modify parts, leading to a thrilling and competitive environment that was both challenging and rewarding.
Takeaways
- 🏎️ Craig Hampson is a celebrated race engineer with four consecutive Champ Car championships with Newman/Haas Racing and driver Sébastien Bourdais.
- 🛠️ The 2005 Lola car discussed was highly successful, earning seven pole positions, seven race wins, and the 2006 Champ Car title.
- 🔧 Teams in 2006 Champ Car series could heavily modify their cars, including suspension and aerodynamics, unlike the more restricted spec era of current IndyCar racing.
- 🌬️ Newman/Haas developed unique aerodynamic parts like pylon mounts for the front wing to improve air flow, and custom front wing spacers to adjust height based on ride conditions.
- 🏁 The car's design included several innovative aerodynamic features like aerodynamically shaped front suspension links and vortex generators in the underwing.
- 🔍 Detailing played a crucial role; even small components like mirror shapes were optimized in wind tunnels for minimal drag, reflecting the competitive advantage of meticulous engineering.
- 🔩 The car used a V8 2.65 L turbocharged engine running on methanol, which differed from today's V6 engines and alternate fuels in IndyCar.
- 🔧 Adjustable and innovative suspension components were crucial, including dynamic dampers with spool valves allowing precise control over the car's handling.
- 📈 The rear of the car featured elements like diamond tip rear wing wickers and louvered end plates for optimized downforce and drag balance.
- 🎯 The era allowed for significant engineering creativity and part development, leading to a highly personalized and competitive race car.
Q & A
Who is Craig Hampson and what is his connection to the Lola IndyCar?
-Craig Hampson is a renowned race engineer who won four consecutive championships with Newman/Haas racing and the driver Sébastien Bourdais. He was instrumental in developing the Lola IndyCar that is discussed in the transcript, which was used to earn seven full positions and seven race wins in the Champ Car.
What era of racing is Craig Hampson referring to when he discusses the Lola IndyCar?
-Craig Hampson is referring to the era of racing around 2005-2006, which was characterized by a more open rule set where teams could make significant changes to their cars, including suspension, aerodynamic components, and bodywork, compared to the more restricted 'spec' era of IndyCar racing that followed.
What was unique about the front wing setup on the Lola IndyCar?
-The front wing setup on the Lola IndyCar featured pylon mounts that allowed more air to go underneath the car, and the ability to vary the front wing height depending on the car's ride height. They also used larger turning veins on the main plane trailing edge extensions to adjust the car's aerodynamic balance.
How did the Lola IndyCar's aerodynamics contribute to its performance?
-The Lola IndyCar had an aerodynamic shape with specific design elements like the 'thumb print' air inlet for the underwing, which was tall and made the car less sensitive to front ride height. The car also featured vortex generators and adjustable rear wing end plates to optimize downforce and drag.
What was the significance of the mirrors used on the Lola IndyCar during the Indy 500?
-The mirrors used on the Lola IndyCar during the Indy 500 were designed to reduce drag. Different shapes were tested in the wind tunnel to find the most aerodynamically efficient design, even saving as little as one pound of drag at 200 mph.
How did the Lola IndyCar's gearbox work during that era?
-The Lola IndyCar used a manual sequential shift gearbox during that era. Drivers had to operate a shift lever with one hand, which could lead to physical strain, such as blisters, by the end of a race.
What was the engine configuration of the Lola IndyCar?
-The Lola IndyCar was equipped with a V8, 2.65-liter engine that ran on methanol. It featured a single large turbocharger inside the bell housing, which compressed the air and supplied it to the engine.
How did the Lola IndyCar's suspension system differ from current IndyCar designs?
-The Lola IndyCar's suspension system was developed entirely by the team and included aerodynamic push rods with a specific angle setting. The suspension used titanium-made components that were rigid to the chassis with a very low spring rate and no friction, which is different from the more standardized components used in current IndyCar designs.
What role did the 'Tire shelf gurney flaps' play in the Lola IndyCar's performance?
-The 'Tire shelf gurney flaps' affected the airflow around the rear tire and over the top of the underwing. Teams experimented with these flaps to achieve different downforce levels suitable for various track types, from fast ovals to slower street courses.
How did the Lola IndyCar's dynamic dampers contribute to its handling?
-The Lola IndyCar used four-way adjustable dynamic dampers (DSVs) that allowed for fine-tuning of the damping characteristics at high and low speeds. They also featured a spool valve that could change the damping shape, and a blow-off feature to flatten the damper curve over big bumps, improving the car's handling on various track conditions.
What does Craig Hampson consider the most rewarding aspect of working with the Lola IndyCar during that period?
-Craig Hampson considers the ability to develop, modify, and get creative with the car parts as the most rewarding aspect. He enjoyed the freedom to come up with new ideas, realize them, and see them improve the car's performance on the track.
Outlines
🏎️ Engineering Excellence in Champ Car Racing
This paragraph introduces a highly skilled engineer and friend who has won four consecutive Champ Car championships. The speaker, Craig Hamson, discusses the 2005 Lola car's advanced features that contributed to its success in racing. The era of racing described allowed for significant modifications to the Lola, including custom suspension and aerodynamic enhancements. The team at Newman Haas Racing developed innovative features such as pylon mounts for the front wing to improve airflow, adjustable front wing heights, and turning veins for aerodynamic balance. The front suspension and aerodynamic design were entirely developed by the team. The 'thumbprint' air inlet for the underwing was a key design element for aerodynamic friendliness and performance. The paragraph also touches on the meticulous attention to detail, such as mirror placement and the sequential shift lever for manual gear shifting, which was a characteristic of that era's racing.
🔧 Rear Wing Innovations and Engine Performance
The second paragraph delves into the rear wing design, highlighting the 'diamond tip' and the vortex generated by the wingtips to increase downforce. The design of the rear wing end plate, inspired by F1 cars, was optimized for effectiveness. The engine, a V8 2.65 L running on methanol, is described along with its turbocharger and the air plenum that controls the boost level. The fuel injectors and pre-plenum injectors are mentioned, emphasizing the dynamic dampers with spool valves developed in collaboration with Dynamics, which allowed for adjustable damping characteristics. The paragraph also discusses the Tire shelf gurnie flaps that affect airflow around the rear tire and the different configurations used for various downforce levels on different tracks. The speaker reminisces about the car's performance, particularly its impressive cornering abilities and the need to carefully manage rear tire wear. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the joy of developing and modifying the car during that period, which is described as the most enjoyable and successful part of the speaker's career.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Champ Car Championship
💡Lola IndyCar
💡Aerodynamics
💡Suspension
💡Sequential Shift Lever
💡Turbocharger
💡Dynamic Dampers (DSVs)
💡Underwing
💡Vortex Generators
💡Rear Wing
💡Tire Shelf Gurney Flaps
Highlights
Craig Hampson, a race engineer and four-time consecutive champ car champion, discusses the secrets behind the fastest Lola IndyCar.
The 2005 Lola IndyCar was developed with significant aerodynamic and suspension innovations, leading to seven race wins and the 2006 champ car title.
In 2006, teams were allowed to make their own suspension and aerodynamic components, leading to a high level of customization and competition.
The front wing of the Lola IndyCar featured unique pylon mounts and spacers to optimize airflow and adjust to different track conditions.
The Lola IndyCar had a distinctive 'thumbprint' air inlet for the underwing, which contributed to its aerodynamic efficiency and ride height insensitivity.
Vortex generators and turning veins were used on the car to enhance downforce and aerodynamic balance, especially as the track conditions changed.
The front suspension was fully designed by the team, with an aerodynamic shape and titanium push rods for rigidity and low friction.
Mirror placement was carefully considered for drag reduction, with different shapes tested in the wind tunnel to find the most efficient design.
The Lola IndyCar featured a sequential shift lever for manual gear shifting, a different approach from modern paddle-shift systems.
The rear wing had a 'diamond tip' design and specific trailing edge radius to increase downforce and aerodynamic efficiency.
The engine cover and air plenum design allowed for consistent boost levels and efficient fuel injection in the V8 2.65 L methanol engine.
Dynamic dampers with spool valves were used for four-way adjustable damping, offering precise control over the car's suspension performance.
Tire shelf gurney flaps were employed to manage airflow around the rear tire and over the underwing, affecting downforce levels for different tracks.
The Lola IndyCar's success was attributed to the ability to develop, modify, and implement creative ideas, setting it apart from the competition.
The car's performance was characterized by impressive cornering and the need for careful rear tire management to avoid wear.
Craig Hampson reflects on the era of the Lola IndyCar as the most enjoyable and professionally rewarding part of his career.
The Lola IndyCar's design and development process allowed for a high level of creativity and innovation in motorsports engineering.
