IndyCar introduces new aeroscreen cooling option for Road America

Image by Owens/IMS
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emailBy Marshall Pruett | July 9, 2020 11:28 AM

The NTT IndyCar Series has informed its teams of a new aeroscreen cooling option for this weekend’s event at Road America. To date, teams have been allowed to use one side-mounted cooling duct, affixed to the rear of the aeroscreen, to feed air to each driver’s helmet. Starting in Wisconsin, teams can install a second duct on the opposite side, with the hose aimed in whatever direction the driver prefers.

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The series has also tasked entries from Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Team Penske with aiding in additional data gathering for a top-mounted cooling scoop. Installed at the leading edge of the aeroscreen – above the graphics strip where teams have added sponsor logos or their driver’s names – the rectangular duct angles downward to deliver more air to the cockpit.

The top duct was tried during last year’s aeroscreen testing initiative at Barber Motorsports Park, and is only planned for use during the opening practice session on Saturday at the REV Group Grand Prix presented by AMR.

The second side duct and testing of the top duct come in reaction to searing cockpit temperatures experienced at IndyCar’s first and second races of the year, and mark the third and fourth responses to the issue since Saturday’s GMR Grand Prix in Indianapolis.
The side duct – now ducts – work in partnership with the nose ducts located ahead of the aeroscreen. Image by Owens/IMS

Earlier in the week, the series called for relocating each driver’s drinking system from near the radiators in the sidepods to a new forward position in the cockpit to lower fluid temperatures.

IndyCar also gave permission for each team’s aeroscreen pit stop attendant to supply the driver with a drink bottle to draw from during each stop to preserve to volume of liquid in the drinking system for on-track use.

The second side duct and experimental top duct complement two openings in the nose designed to introduce cooling air to the lower extremities, and the primary duct located at the base of the aeroscreen, which feeds air into the cockpit through channels that rest atop the tub that terminate in front of the steering wheel.

Aeroscreen, Road America, IndyCar

 

Cockpit heat a brutal challenge in Indy GP

Phillip Abbott / Motorsport Images
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emailBy Robin Miller | July 4, 2020 2:18 PM

It was 90 degrees outside and at least 120 degrees inside everyone’s Indy car for two hours on Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the conditions and new aeroscreen really tested the drivers’ mettle.

Nobody needed relief and nobody was treated for heat prostration after 80 laps around the IMS road course, but most of the 24 finishers were toasted.

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“I’m not going to lie, man; my neck was toast today,” said Graham Rahal after finishing second in the RLL Honda. “I’m looking forward to some recovery this week. Road America is going to be cool. We’ve got nice straightaways (and a chance) to breathe a little bit compared to here. Today was definitely a physical race. It was a tough one.”

Simon Pagenaud, who charged from 20th to take third, thinks he and his Penske team need to work on trying to get some more ventilation in his Dallara Chevy.

“Personally, we’re probably going to do some work on trying to vent inside the car better because it’s extremely hot and I’m exhausted,” said the 2019 Indy 500 winner. “The air doesn’t circulate well in the cockpit. It’s such a small cockpit, and it feels like the air just stays — doesn’t come out of the cockpit — and there’s no wind. You could actually run with your visor open just to get some air.


“I think we just need to do some work on ventilation, maybe work on the helmet and the tube, and work on also having a bigger drink bottle. I think those were what we had in the past. The heat level — it doesn’t work for me.”

To which Rahal added: “The drink bottles are in the sidepods with all of the exhaust, and the water is hotter than I drink my coffee. Overall it was brutal.”

Winner Scott Dixon lost the cooling in his helmet for a couple of stints before getting it plugged back in during his final pit stop and said: “I didn’t feel too bad considering. But it was steamy.”

Pagenaud is thankful his off-season workout program helped prepare him for days like Saturday.

“IndyCar racing is probably one of the most physical sort of racing that there is. We don’t have power steering. And now it’s also really hot in the race car. Those are the kind of things that you say, ‘Thank you’ to your training. I’ve been training in the heat, but I’m going maybe adjust (the training) a little bit to be even stronger.

“It’s evolving every year. It’s fun, and I’m glad I trained this hard this winter.”