Newbie F1 questions

[Ahtong]

Yesterday I watched F1 on TV for the first time and there are some things I don't understand

 

- How come they are racing against the normal flow of traffic?

- How come the drivers must be weighed after racing?

- What is that red light that flash left to right on the steering wheel?

- F1 cars have reverse gear?

 

Can someone explain? Thanks?

[Nullifi3d]

1) So that they won't be distracted with signs on the road e.g. "SLOW"

 

2) To see how much weight they have lost due to excessive water loss from dehydration.

 

3) That is the rev meter; you don't want to over-rev and blow the engine. Not good in a million dollar car.

 

4) No reverse gear; most of the time they depend on their superior torque and lack of traction to do "burnouts" to get them to face the correct direction.

[Klchua]

1.The race circuit is anti-clockwise.

2.They must have a total of X KG along with the car to prevent cheating.

3.That the REV meter.

4.Yes. seem one revrse during one of the practise session.

 

Hope i'm not wrong on this.

[Blackyv]

this helps..

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_car

 

 

http://www.f1technical.net/?sid=07ab4e57ad...b0abbeffc8e023b

 

[Louisckp]

Question - How come they are racing against the normal flow of traffic?

 

Answer as the F1 cars do not have the IU unit, they will be fined for not insert their cashcard, by running against the flow, the sensors will not be able to detect the car so no ERP problem.

 

[Miles]

1. The race track has nothing to do with normal flow of traffic. They should have removed the traffic separation strip in the first place.

 

2. The rule in F1 - Total weight of car+driver must not be less than 600kg (at all times, during full fuel load or low fuel load). Drivers are weighed (with the helmet if you notice) so that can add up the weight and rule that the car passed the weight test. Most cars are about 550kg + drivers weight, which will come up to more than 600kgs... but some cars are so light (about 500ks), they have to put ballast on the car to make the weight... but using ballast (whichever position of the car they wish) helps setup and balance the car, so its an advantage to have a light car, and use the ballast to adjust the weight accdg to the driver so as not to exceed the 600kg limit, but not too low as to fail the weight test at Parc Femme.

 

3. answered already

 

4. generally they dont, but some cars built it into the gearbox in case of bad situation.

[Ahtong]

Talking about Singapore laws, did Barichello (spellling?) get fined and corrective work order for throwing his cap into the sea?

[Watwheels]

1) It is design that circuit must run counter-clockwise. Dun care what normal flow lah.

 

2) So that the car plus driver stay within the total weight given by F1 rules. If the total weight is exceeded or way under-weight, the driver will be disqualified from the race result. They are weighed before and after the race.

 

3)That is the rpm or tachometer. So that the driver can monitor the revs. Their rpm is different from road car. F1 cars idle at 6000rpm and max out at 19000 rpm.

 

4) No. Only forward gears. But can put to neutral so that mechanics can push the 600kg car when they wanna reverse it. If u see a F1 car reverse, most likely it's on neutral on a gentle slope.

[Ahtong]

Is it possible for the driver to dehydrate so badly they fail the weight test by a few grams?

 

I find the racing against traffice flow a bit confusing. The arrows point one way but the cars zoom in from the opposite direction. Maybe the organizers should black out all the signs next time?

Edited September 29, 2008 by Ahtong

[Dankoo]

He unlucky lah...car trouble then want to throw cap to crowd also gone into the sea....

[Watwheels]

That's his gloves. Not cap.

[Watwheels]

It's said that they loose on average around 3kg of bodyweight on every race.

[Josho]

Why is there a hole for some turning point? I saw the car go in there, make a turn and then dash out? Doesn't seem like they go wrong turning. Pls enlighten me.

 

Plus for every car crash, the safety car come out to slow the whole racers for a lap before resuming?

[Watwheels]

Those are often seen as potential "danger zones" where accidents are likely to happen. There are gates there for recovery vehicles like cranes/tow truck/ambulance to enter the track if needed.

 

Safety car come out is to slow down the paced so that ppl on the ground can remove the crashed car/stalled car on the track and also to sweep away the debris. Once all these clearing is done safety car will pit and race resumes.

[Gearoil]

The hole is there for F1 driver to drive in temporarily and insert their cash card lest they forgot to do so when they are about to reach the ERP gantry!

[Longbownet]

Is it possible for the driver to dehydrate so badly they fail the weight test by a few grams?

 

I find the racing against traffice flow a bit confusing. The arrows point one way but the cars zoom in from the opposite direction. Maybe the organizers should black out all the signs next time?

 

 

 

 

When you're going at 280+km/h, it doesn't matter which way the arrows are pointing cos you can't see sh*t! Either ways, the drivers have the whole circuit map in their brains 110% memorised, so they won't get lost.

[Miles]

hole? what hole? which part of the track?

you mean pit lane?

 

Whenever the track is rendered unsafe for the drivers or the crashed car/driver,... safety car will be deployed. But not every crash SC be will deployed.... depending on how bad the crash, will it affect the cars coming, etc... if you notice after Raikkonen crashed at turn 10, there was no SC deployed. ... because the car parked safely outside the chicane near the parliment building which does not impede the on coming traffic... so SC is not necessary.

 

Sometimes, when the rain gets very heavy, SC will also be deployed.

[Miles]

Is it possible for the driver to dehydrate so badly they fail the weight test by a few grams?

 

I find the racing against traffice flow a bit confusing. The arrows point one way but the cars zoom in from the opposite direction. Maybe the organizers should black out all the signs next time?

 

drivers lost as much as 5kg of liquid after each race. depending on how hard they drive.