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I was reading an article on Kyle Larson today, a very good NASCAR driver that is making his debut into Indycars at the Indy 500 this year (a tough place for your maiden Indycar race). He said this about the 2024 NASCAR cars: "I feel like these new cars have really transitioned to an Indycar".
OK, Kyle, whatever you say. The stats say an Indycar weighs around 1600 lbs, while a NASCAR Cup car weighs essentially twice as much at 3200 lbs. The engines are totally different in each series but pretty close in horsepower, w/ the Indycar engines getting max HP in the high revs and the Cup cars at much lower RPMs.
Obviously, the Indycars are a lot more aerodynamically advanced. They hug the ground w/ a much lower center of gravity and have a better weight distribution due to their rear mounted engines. Top speed for Indycars can reach 240 mph, NASCAR Cup cars run in the low 200's.
I haven't raced in along time, but can't see how these cars are very much alike. Each series has cars that have to be driven in completely different ways. It's quite rare to see a driver who can successfully cross over. Carlos Montoya was successful in F1 as well as Indycar, but he was clearly out of his depth in NASCAR. Love him or hate him, he was a very talented driver who was not adverse to trying risky moves and flinging finicky, open wheeled race cars around the tracks sideways like a dirt track car. I never saw any driver who went so deep into the corners at high speeds before finally braking. It just never worked for him w/ the Cup cars.
Last edited by stephenMM; 02-12-2024 at 03:20 PM..
I don't understand the reason for this thread. I think Kyle understands the differences between the two types of race cars.
First you start out by saying Kyle is a "very good driver". Most people in the industry say that Kyle is "one of the best all around drivers ever".
Have you driven an Indy or Cup car? A lot of people have "raced" in their lifetimes.
If Kyle said what he said, then I would be more trusting of that due to his success over multiple car platforms, than to just dismiss it. I'll need to understand more of what he quoted above in context.
Kyle's comments could be due to the fact that most of the aero on the NextGen car comes from the diffuser underneath the car. SVG said getting used to the aerodynamics of the Cup car was a challenge. With a SuperCar the aero is generated on top, and on the Cup car it's generated down below.
To know what Kyle Larson actually said, I'd like to see the article the OP referred to.
As a side note, Kyle attended the Phoenix Supercross race with his family. They interviewed him on TV during the intermission. They had a clip of his Indycar test at the Phoenix Speedway.
I was reading an article on Kyle Larson today, a very good NASCAR driver that is making his debut into Indycars at the Indy 500 this year (a tough place for your maiden Indycar race). He said this about the 2024 NASCAR cars: "I feel like these new cars have really transitioned to an Indycar".
OK, Kyle, whatever you say. The stats say an Indycar weighs around 1600 lbs, while a NASCAR Cup car weighs essentially twice as much at 3200 lbs. The engines are totally different in each series but pretty close in horsepower, w/ the Indycar engines getting max HP in the high revs and the Cup cars at much lower RPMs.
The cars are as different as a brick and a rocket
No comparison, other than maybe speed, and that's not really close
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike1003
The cars are as different as a brick and a rocket
No comparison, other than maybe speed, and that's not really close
Well, a professional race car driver, who has won titles in a multiple of racing car type and series, thinks there is something comparable. I think I'll take his word for it.
Unless, of course, you have more actual racing experience in Indy and NASCAR?
I was reading an article on Kyle Larson today, a very good NASCAR driver that is making his debut into Indycars at the Indy 500 this year (a tough place for your maiden Indycar race). He said this about the 2024 NASCAR cars: "I feel like these new cars have really transitioned to an Indycar".
OK, Kyle, whatever you say. The stats say an Indycar weighs around 1600 lbs, while a NASCAR Cup car weighs essentially twice as much at 3200 lbs. The engines are totally different in each series but pretty close in horsepower, w/ the Indycar engines getting max HP in the high revs and the Cup cars at much lower RPMs.
Obviously, the Indycars are a lot more aerodynamically advanced. They hug the ground w/ a much lower center of gravity and have a better weight distribution due to their rear mounted engines. Top speed for Indycars can reach 240 mph, NASCAR Cup cars run in the low 200's.
I haven't raced in along time, but can't see how these cars are very much alike. Each series has cars that have to be driven in completely different ways. It's quite rare to see a driver who can successfully cross over. Carlos Montoya was successful in F1 as well as Indycar, but he was clearly out of his depth in NASCAR. Love him or hate him, he was a very talented driver who was not adverse to trying risky moves and flinging finicky, open wheeled race cars around the tracks sideways like a dirt track car. I never saw any driver who went so deep into the corners at high speeds before finally braking. It just never worked for him w/ the Cup cars.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mike1003
The cars are as different as a brick and a rocket
No comparison, other than maybe speed, and that's not really close
Larson qualified 6th fastest today. Will compete for pole tomorrow. Not bad for somebody who doesn't even know how different cars handle.
Well, a professional race car driver, who has won titles in a multiple of racing car type and series, thinks there is something comparable. I think I'll take his word for it.
Unless, of course, you have more actual racing experience in Indy and NASCAR?
Larson qualified 6th fastest today. Will compete for pole tomorrow. Not bad for somebody who doesn't even know how different cars handle.
Maybe mike1003 is a premier Indy Car driver on the circuit today?
If not, then I'll hedge my bet that one of the most talented drivers in the world, knows what he's talking about.
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