Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X To Pace 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge
Posted by Sixteen-Cylinders@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 38 comments
Posted by Sixteen-Cylinders@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 38 comments
stoned-autistic-dude@reddit
They should run the low drag version and go as fast as the actual competitors lmao
ILoveTabascoSauce@reddit
That brings up a good point - at what point are production cars faster than these racecars? I have to assume a ZR1-X is right?
Waterskier87@reddit
Per article top speed is 233, INDYCAR oval qualifying trim on this track can hit 234.
So close, but the vette would run out of track on the straight before hitting the turn and doesn’t have enough downforce to maintain speed and make the turn on the shallow banking.
IAmWellBehaved@reddit
They can do even better than that. Pato O'Ward hit 243 (speed, not a lap average) a couple years ago during qualifying.
Entirely reasonable for people to ask about this, but there's not a single track on the IndyCar calendar where a ZR1X (a fantastic car) could remotely keep up on lap pace, including a super speedway). It's just not a fair comparison.
Waterskier87@reddit
Ah yeah I probably pulled up the average qual speed and not just single lap
Montjo17@reddit
You pulled the average speed across the 4 lap run, yeah. Which is, as noted, higher than the theoretical top speed of the ZR1...
Pharaoh_of_Aero@reddit
Around the Indianapolis oval? Not even close
Mental_Medium3988@reddit
What about top speed at the end of the straights? Obviously the indy car will be faster since it has a higher min speed, but I wonder how much.
Montjo17@reddit
In qualifying they're north of 240 heading into Turn 1. There's absolutely no way even a trimmed out ZR1X is getting near that, let alone then being able to carry 230+ through the corners
Badfly48@reddit
Yeah nowhere near enough downforce to get around that oval at the same speed as the indycars
Looptydude@reddit
Not just that, but spinning top rpm for 200 laps.
Round_Ad_6369@reddit
I'm pretty sure it would be fine. Engines are stress tested for way worse
3MATX@reddit
Suspension and aero would have to be looked at before it would have a chance. And then there’s the issue of exactly how fast the tires on the corvette can go on the bank without issue.
But in a straight line drag race of any distance I think the vette wins.
Teutonic-Tonic@reddit
Yep Indy cars can corner at over 3G’s. ZR1 can do maybe 1.1 or 1.2.
Top-Dimensi0n@reddit
Whoa, seems like those Indy cars are no joke and are capable a lot more than what people give them credit for. 3Gs? That's insane stuff.
TraderJ1@reddit
Qualifying trim for the 500 they will be averaging almost 240mph over a lap.
ApexCarid@reddit
With no power steering, too
Teutonic-Tonic@reddit
Yeah F1 cars can do 4-5 G’s as they are designed for sharp flat turns. Indy cars are designed for high speed sustained banked ovals so they have lower G’s but have to sustain them for longer periods.
Teutonic-Tonic@reddit
Corvette ZR-1X does 0-100 in 4.1 seconds. An Indy car can do it in 3.
Shomegrown@reddit
Engine isn't a concern. Lack of downforce is.
WrongKielbasa@reddit
Only a 1994 Corolla can do this.
stoned-autistic-dude@reddit
Honestly, it probably can. That and a Miata. Things are tanks.
Spa_5_Fitness_Camp@reddit
And way too heavy. And too big/draggy. It's not even close.
ThatOneBitch02@reddit
I imagine having expensive race slicks versus regular road tires makes a pretty big difference too
TurboFucked@reddit
Do they run street tires on the pace cars? I know the safety cars have track setups.
Badfly48@reddit
At 220mph? Not really. You're relying on aero much more than mechanical grip at those speeds.
CWRules@reddit
Downforce isn't a substitute for mechanical grip, it's a multiplier for it. Not a perfectly linear one, since the suspension and tires will behave differently as the aero load increases, but I'd be very surprised if grippier tires didn't still have an impact with high downforce.
gumol@reddit
aero works increases how much perceived weight is applied to the tires. If the tires are shit, aero will not magically help overcome it.
ThatOneBitch02@reddit
What about longevity and heat? Could the road tires last nearly as long at those speeds as track tires?
Badfly48@reddit
Street tires will last longer. Much less heat generated. I'll be downvoted by a bunch of people that have never tracked a car with racing tires though.
noheroesnomonsters@reddit
Absolutely not lol
Storm_Chaser06@reddit
Doesn’t have enough downforce to do that
noSSD4me@reddit
About time!
Humpdat@reddit
Lol @ presented by gainfridge
Downvoted
SaxosSteve@reddit
Gonna need a Pace Car Edition of this on the streets. Wouldn't even be the most... Interesting color scheme on a Vette Indy Pace Car
imped4now@reddit
I'll be there!
110th running, Cignetti driving the pace car. It's going to be ROWDY.
jrileyy229@reddit
Not a surprise to anyone there.. Chevrolet is an official partner... And the only two brands in the sport are Honda and Chevrolet... And as such you get whatever new model is out. Next year it'll probably be the GS-X
HiTork@reddit
Unlikely, GM has exclusively done Indy 500 pace cars since 1997 or for nearly 30 years. The other thing is that Indy 500 pace cars have exclusively been American vehicles. Back in 1991, there was enough controversy about the Dodge Stealth being chosen as a pace car - essentially a badge engineered Mitsubishi 3000GT/GTO - that they had to switch to the Dodge Viper.