MFW podcast episode 65
More Front Wing podcasts, Podcasts — By More Front Wing Staff on April 25, 2012 10:19 pmThis week on the More Front Wing podcast, Paul and Steph welcome fellow INDYCAR Nation contributor and editor of IndyRacingRevolution.com, Chris Estrada. The three review some of the talking points coming out of the 38th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, including the contact between Josef Newgarden and Dario Franchitti and whether Will Power can be stopped. They also comment on the week’s headlines, such as BHA and D&R parting ways with Lotus and the protest launched by Chevrolet against the changes to Honda’s turbocharger. Finally, they offer a review of the entry list for the 2012 Indianapolis 500 and preview the Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestlé.
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Tags: Long Beach, Sao Paulo
Great podcast,It so refreshing to hear a conversation about more than 1 engine Manufacturer’s.And yes TURBOCHARGER’S.
Hey, just a quick comment here RE: your question about power discrepencies from different turbos vs. just different engine design. The best (or easiest, I suppose) way to figure out if a turbo (which, as Paul points out, is a 3rd party product, and not really Honda’s problem) is costing one manufacturer power, you run back to back tests on a dyno. First, you run the “normal” approved turbo. Measure torque, power, and from what I’ve heard is the main bugaboo in this whole kerfluffle, intake manifold pressure (i.e. boost, which Honda has been claiming they are not getting full amounts of). Next, switch out the turbo for the “new” turbo unit. Again, measure torque, power and manifold pressure. If the manifold pressure was lower than what is being allowed by the Series with the original turbo but hits the boost target with the “new” turbo, it’s pretty cut and dried: you can’t penalize Honda for getting stuck with a turbo design that will not allow them to make full boost. Honda gets the new turbo.
Now, I’ve been severely short on time lately, and I’m possibly not properly read up on the actual issues at hand, but if what was going on was a boost shortage for the Honda, that’s the way to deal with it. If I’m off base in any way here, I’ll be happy to sit back down and let somebody smarter than me answer the question.
Good show, by the way. As always.
Listening to your latest podcast where you were talking about Power being able to come from deep in the pack (ie pass on track). One thing I didn’t hear mentioned was that it’s one thing to KNOW you’re starting 12th or 9th, but it’s another thing entirely to end up back in the pack for whatever reason.
I think he’s got the ability to ‘steel’ himself for a ‘come from behind drive’ when he’s prepared for it, but the ability to RECOVER an on track setback is something he hasn’t shown as much of. Is this where we have two different opinions that are both right?