senor honda

INDY 500: Chevy uses final aero kit development box

FWEP=Front End Wing Plate
Wednesday, 18 May 2016


Marshall Pruett (words & images)
Chevy has used its third and final aero kit development box for 2016 with a new addition to its superspeedway front wing package. Chevy's aerodynamic team has reworked its front-wing endplate (FWEP) design in numerous ways, starting with a move away from the curved floor profile seen 2015 (BELOW). The new, flat FWEP floor and exit profile and dimensions appear (BELOW) to have increased to improve flow, and the most noticeable change involves the insertion a small cone-like piece (TOP) into the cone-shaped exit that helps to concentrate the air as it leaves the area by creating vortexes.

Chevy has added vertical walls for the cones – like a tiny inner endplates – to further focus the air departing the FWEP (BELOW).

With those vortices spinning and hugging the inside of the FWEP thanks to the mini cones, Chevy has found yet another aerodynamic device that increases efficiency and reduces drag. The cone-within-a-cone aero kit update could be described as something similar to the use of strakes within the underwing's diffuser where the strakes help to concentrate the air flowing beneath the car into more refined – and efficient – streams.
This final development piece for the season follows the revised road course/short oval FWEP Chevy introduced at the Grand Prix of Indy, and revised rear wheel pods that first appeared in Spring Training.
Honda has also exhausted its three development boxes for 2016, with the third and final also coming in the form of its superspeedway FWEP.
The new piece has a more pronounced curve to help divert air around the front tires (ABOVE), whereas last year's units had a more gradual curve (BELOW).

Honda previously introduced a Chevy-style road course/short oval FEWP and new rear wheel pods for its first and second development items, and those were in addition to the Rule 9.3 allowances it was granted by IndyCar. Under 9.3, Honda was able to redesign its engine cover, after section of its sidepods, and the related rear road course/short oval tire ramp system.
Despite those 9.3 changes, IndyCar has required Honda's teams to revert to its 2015 sidepods and rear tire ramp solutions for Indy and the other superspeedways.
With Chevy's cone-in-a-cone FWEP update, IndyCar's aero kit development cycle has ended for 2016, and with the series confirming it is considering abandoning aero kits for 2017 and beyond, the little cones could go down as the last new aero kit piece produced by both manufacturers.

senor honda

A few days ago this was the aero kit
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/g...-aero-kit.html