Scientists at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom on Tuesday unveiled a Formula 3 race car powered by vegetable oil and waste from the manufacture of chocolate, and constructed partially using plant-based materials.
Kerry Kirwan, assistant professor in the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, says his team recognizes that people like to drive fast and don’t want to be told that they can’t do certain things to be ecologically correct. As engineers and scientists, he and his team are trying to deliver technology that meets the need for speed while still mitigating environmental damage…Â Details
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 The Spanish Grand Prix will be the real litmus test for the FIA’s brave new rules to promote overtaking in F1. The slick tyres, the cartoon rear wings, the oversize front wings will all get the ultimate test at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend.
Because the Spanish GP is one of the traditional snore-fests in F1. There used to be three you could bank on: San Marino, which was beautiful and boring; Spain, which was windy and boring; and Hungary which was just wake-me-up-in-65-laps’-time boring…Â Details
Danica Patrick has already become the first woman to win an Indy-car race. Now she hopes to become the first to capture the sport’s ultimate prize – the Indianapolis 500.
The 27-year-old American beauty won last year’s Indy Japan 300 for her series breakthrough and will begin her quest to conquer the famed 2 1/2-mile Indy oval when practice starts here on Wednesday for Saturday’s pole qualifying.
“It’s a good opportunity to really just focus on qualifying,” Patrick said. “All the rest of the year we tend to not really be so heavily focused on it, and we kind of do maybe a qualifying practice run or two, but that’s about it.
“Here we get a few days to really focus on it. It’s about getting the car comfortable. You want to start out with a good balanced car, and hopefully you can even take the downforce off and just get faster.” … Details
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Goodyear has tested tires at Indianapolis Motor Speedway four times since last year’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and plans at least two more, trying to prevent a repeat of the caution-filled debacle that last year’s race became from the chosen tire compounds’ failure to perform.
The tire company held its initial test in September and then had a 14-car session in October. Four teams tested April 21-22, and another was held last Wednesday as a one-day follow-up. Both April sessions were rain-hampered, with the four teams last Wednesday limited to just an afternoon’s practice by rain…Â Details