Re: Audi in F1???

[MSV96@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/2/1999 you wrote:

<< I think it limits to 2WD, but FWD wouldn't work well in their situation
anyway. (not to start a thread or anything) >>

Who said anything about FWD? AWD absolutly will help *any* four wheeled race 
car assuming that there is a way of engineering in the driveline in such a 
way as to minimize the losses from extra weight and friction. Not so much in 
raw cornering speed (not much difference there really) but in the key area of 
tire management (recalling Hurley Haywood's QCUSA Monterey Historics Banquet 
speech amongst other sources) over long stints. The only reason F1 cars even 
have pit stops are for tires. They only add fuel because they have to stop 
for tires anyway so they run lighter fuel loads. If one could turn a one stop 
strategy into a no stop strategy simply because of AWD it certainly would 
become an ("unfair") advantage. This was proven in Trans-Am in 1988. No 
reason to think that with small carbon fiber driveshafts this couldn't be 
done in an open wheeled car as well. In fact it was done with much more crude 
technology in open wheeled cars in years past and some were quite 
competitive. Of course the discussion is really moot since AWD (along with 
any other so called "driver's aids") are clearly banned by the FIA. Don't get 
me started on the measurement of barge boards ;-)

Mike Veglia
87 5kcstq

PS: I wanna see an A8 in NASCAR! (now there's a potentially frightening 
thread!)