New Chassis for Champ Car 2007 - It has paddle shift gears
Discussion
But one of the last bastions of driver controlled top level single seater racing has been wiped out. It has a paddle shift gear change, they've dumped the gear lever.
And as they say below "The paddle shifters worked well and will really allow you to drive the car in the corners deeper since you don't have to take your hands off the wheel." So no less overtaking now if they can all go deeper into the corners, isn't that the problem with F1. Have they learnt nothing?
The Panoz DP01, the chassis that will be used in the Champ Car World Series from 2007, has turned its wheel for the first time at the Sebring International Raceway, in the hands of experienced racer Roberto Moreno.
Set to replace the ageing Lola chassis currently in operation, the Panoz DP01 was unveiled a few weeks ago but it is only now that intensive testing to make it reliable has begun, with Moreno putting in over 100 trouble-free miles.
Indeed, there were fears that 92 degree heat would create overheating problems for such a new model but the DP01 did not miss a beat, while Moreno used his experience to not put a foot wrong over the seven-hour test.
"I am extremely impressed with how quickly we got the testing program running and running well," Moreno said. "All of the new systems showed great promise and should provide the teams and drivers with a car that they can really work with.
"The paddle shifters worked well and will really allow you to drive the car in the corners deeper since you don't have to take your hands off the wheel. The brakes worked well, the cooling systems did a great job and I am excited about running even more testing tomorrow."
"Everything is going according to plan," added Champ Car Director of Technology Scot Elkins. "We are very happy with the results and we feel confident in our ability to complete our test plan. We are looking forward to increasing the length and the intensity of the testing as we go along."
Designed in a way that keeps costs down, the chassis has already prompted at least one new team to join the grid in 2007 in the shape of Atlantics squad Gelles Racing, although more have been hinted as following. Meanwhile, the DP01 will continue its testing program as the Champ Car competitors head to Montreal for the eleventh round of the championship.
And as they say below "The paddle shifters worked well and will really allow you to drive the car in the corners deeper since you don't have to take your hands off the wheel." So no less overtaking now if they can all go deeper into the corners, isn't that the problem with F1. Have they learnt nothing?
Crashnet said:
The Panoz DP01, the chassis that will be used in the Champ Car World Series from 2007, has turned its wheel for the first time at the Sebring International Raceway, in the hands of experienced racer Roberto Moreno.
Set to replace the ageing Lola chassis currently in operation, the Panoz DP01 was unveiled a few weeks ago but it is only now that intensive testing to make it reliable has begun, with Moreno putting in over 100 trouble-free miles.
Indeed, there were fears that 92 degree heat would create overheating problems for such a new model but the DP01 did not miss a beat, while Moreno used his experience to not put a foot wrong over the seven-hour test.
"I am extremely impressed with how quickly we got the testing program running and running well," Moreno said. "All of the new systems showed great promise and should provide the teams and drivers with a car that they can really work with.
"The paddle shifters worked well and will really allow you to drive the car in the corners deeper since you don't have to take your hands off the wheel. The brakes worked well, the cooling systems did a great job and I am excited about running even more testing tomorrow."
"Everything is going according to plan," added Champ Car Director of Technology Scot Elkins. "We are very happy with the results and we feel confident in our ability to complete our test plan. We are looking forward to increasing the length and the intensity of the testing as we go along."
Designed in a way that keeps costs down, the chassis has already prompted at least one new team to join the grid in 2007 in the shape of Atlantics squad Gelles Racing, although more have been hinted as following. Meanwhile, the DP01 will continue its testing program as the Champ Car competitors head to Montreal for the eleventh round of the championship.
stockhatcher said:
Luddite
What's luddite got to do with the way they change gear, it's not a technology it's just the relocation of the mechanical control from one lever on the cockpit side to two paddles under the wheel.
I see it as giving them a lever to pull which they have to take their hand off the steering wheel and you've the need for good car control with the other and it has been proven longer braking distances. They say there that their braking distances are now shorter because they can go deeper into the corner with better control. A lot of people have been saying they should get rid of paddle shift levers in F1 to bring back more driver control and better opportunity for braking & overtaking.
Although I do see it's a backward step, the techy stuff will still be the same.
Edited by FourWheelDrift on Thursday 24th August 16:13
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