What is faster Indy 500 car or a Formula 1 car?

Answer 1

Indy cars have a higher top speed then a Formula 1 car. However over a lap a Formulla 1 car is qucker. The main reason fr this is that an Indy car is so much heavier than a Formula 1 car. Therefore an F1 car can brake, accelerate and corner quicker than an Indy car and therefore a quicker llap time.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, Indy cars are bigger, faster and more durable whereas F1 cars are more agile and accelerate faster. As to which is better and which would win a head to head race? F1 cars are better under F1 regs at F1 circuits and Indy cars are better under Indy regs at Indy circuits.

Tracks. Indy uses ovals as well as road and street courses - F1 does not. This, along with the use of the safety car, is the most significant difference between the two series. Whilst making for interesting discussion, the technical differences do not have much of an impact from the spectators point of view. However, Indy's detractors would say that the uniform ovals with the resulting left turns only, produce a sterile racing environment which allows no exciting passing. Furthermore, most accidents will result in the safety car making an appearance which will close up the field. Again, Indy's detractors would argue that this produces an artificial racing environment reducing the race to a series of short sprints which are merely used to establish the grid order for the final sprint to the finish.

On the other hand, F1 detractors would argue that because of the wide difference in performance levels, and the fact that safety cars are rarely used, there is very little close racing or competitive passing in F1 and of course as a spectator you cannot see the entire circuit at an F1 race.

(I must apologize if my cultural bias has become apparent in this section but as a Brit living in the U.S., I am living proof that F1/Indy preference is determined by genes not environment).

Weight. F1 cars minimum weight is 585 kg (1,287 lbs). Indy car minimum weight is 1,550 lbs (704.5 kg).

Brakes. F1 cars use carbon fibre brakes which are lighter and more durable than the steel brakes used by Indy cars. (Indy cars are allowed to use carbon brakes on the 2.5 mile superspeedways at Indianapolis and Michigan. Steel brakes are mandatory at all the other races).

Ground effect. [AS] It is generally said that ground effect cars are no longer allowed in F1 but this is not strictly true. All cars generate ground effect, you cannot 'ban' it, only try to design the rules to limit the downforce that can be obtained from it. In F1 this is done by requiring flat bottoms between the wheels (now with 50mm step). In Indycar they still allow shaped ground effect tunnels, but with strictly controlled dimensions and at a minimum height above the bottom of the chassis.

Turbo charging. Banned in F1 but still allowed in Indy - although at a much lower boost pressure than was used by F1 cars in the 80's.

Semi-automatic gearboxes. Allowed in F1 but not in Indy.

Nationality. Indy is basically a domestic U.S. series as far as teams, venues and drivers are concerned. However, there are 3 venues outside of the U.S. (Surfer's Paradise, Brazil, Toronto and Vancouver) and an increasing number of foreign drivers. F1 is truly international in teams, engines, venues and drivers although there is a strong European influence, particularly British and Italian.

Answer 3

Indy Cars. They reach speeds a little over 230mph. NASCAR Sprint Cup cars are able to reach a little over 200mph on the straightaways on some tracks. They would be able to reach over 230mph on tracks like Talladega and Daytona if they didn't run restrictor plates in the engines which limit horsepower. Nowadays, however, the Indy Cars are a little faster.

Answer 4

A Formula One race car has more horse power, torque, and weighs about 300lbs less than an Indycar (which is build more to stand huge impacts rather than raw speed). A Formula One car costs millions of dollars where as an Indycar cost less than half million. so its a safe bet a Formula One car would be faster at acceleration.

Answer 5

Formual One is entertaining and interesting.

vphd2001@yahoo.com

Answer 6

Indycars do 220-230mph on high speed ovals, V10 powered F1 record is 233mph on the monza straight. Honda took their V10 BAR to bonneville at ran 400km/h 248.8mph with a low downforce setup.

Answer 7

Which race? A dragster is faster than both, but only runs a straight line for 1/4 mile. NASCAR and Formula 1 cars run different races, different tracks.