How do race car drivers draft?

Answer 1

Great question. The easy answer here would be to say that the front car punches a hold in the air, and the second follows through that hole, then requiring less power to go the same distance. If you notice when jets fly, they fly side by side. A plane requires air to propel, and for lift under the wings. If they flew one behind the other, the second would not have air for these issues. Thus, falling out of the sky. Now, this is where things get a little deep. As the air passes over, and down the side of the car, when t gets to the end of the vehicle, the air swirls, like a whirlpool, thus "sucking" backward on the car. The second car keeps the air going straight over, or down its panels, and removing that "dirty air," or suction, from the rear of the front car. This is why two cars hooked up going down a straightaway, can go faster than one. You can model this at home with a small fan, a couple of model cars, and a smoke emitting object. Chuck......