Secrets of the Fastest Lola IndyCar w/Craig Hampson

In this interview, Craig Hampson, a renowned race engineer and four-time consecutive champ car champion, shares insights into the development of the 2005 Lola IndyCar that secured seven race wins and the 2006 champ car title. Hampson discusses the era's unique challenges and opportunities, highlighting the car's aerodynamic features, such as the innovative front wing design, the 'thumbprint' air inlet, and the rear wing's 'diamond tip' for enhanced downforce. He also touches on the mechanical aspects, including the car's suspension, the one big turbocharger, and the dynamic dampers with spool valves for adjustable damping. The summary of the Lola's engineering prowess and the team's creative problem-solving to achieve success on the racetrack is a testament to the golden age of motorsports engineering.

Takeaways

• 🏎️ Craig Hampson, a renowned race engineer, discusses the secrets behind the success of the Lola IndyCar that won seven races and the 2006 championship.
• 🏁 The Lola IndyCar from 2005 was a product of extensive development, allowing for significant changes to the car's suspension and aerodynamics compared to the more restricted 'spec' era.
• ⚙️ Teams could develop their own suspension and aerodynamic components, leading to a competitive environment where innovation was quickly copied by rivals.
• 🔩 Front pylon mounts were designed to allow more air to flow underneath the car, improving aerodynamics and performance.
• 📐 The front wing height was adjustable based on the car's ride height, with materials evolving from milled aluminum to a lighter carbon fiber and aluminum composite.
• 📉 The car featured turning vanes and extensions to the main plane of the front wing to adjust downforce and aerodynamic balance.
• 🚗 The underwing inlet, or 'thumbprint,' was a key design feature that reduced front ride height sensitivity and contributed to the car's friendly aerodynamics.
• 🔧 The rear suspension and aerodynamics were intricately designed, with titanium push rods and a flexure mount that offered a low spring rate and minimal friction.
• 🚦 Mirror placement was optimized for reduced drag, with different shapes tested in wind tunnels to find the most efficient design.
• 💨 The rear wing featured a 'diamond tip' design and vortex generators to increase downforce, with a focus on efficiency and aerodynamic performance.
• ⛽️ The car was powered by a V8 2.65L methanol engine with a single large turbocharger, a setup that has since evolved in modern IndyCar racing.
• 🔧 Dynamic dampers with spool valves allowed for fine-tuning of the car's suspension, with adjustments for high-speed and low-speed damping and a blow-off feature for large bumps.

Q & A

Who is Craig Hampson and what is his significance in the context of the Lola IndyCar?

Craig Hampson is a renowned race engineer and a good friend of the speaker. He is significant because he won four consecutive champ car championships with Newman/Haas racing and played a crucial role in developing the Lola IndyCar discussed in the script, which achieved seven full positions and seven race wins in the champ car.

What changes were allowed to the Lola cars by 2006 that made them different from the spec era of IndyCar racing?

By 2006, teams were allowed to make significant changes to their Lola cars, including creating their own suspension, aerodynamic components, and bodywork. This was a departure from the spec era of IndyCar racing where such modifications were more restricted.

How did the front wing design of the Lola IndyCar contribute to its performance?

The front wing design allowed more air to go underneath the car into the underwing. The team made pylon mounts for the front wing and used spacers to vary the front wing height based on the car's static or cornering ride height. This adaptability contributed to the car's aerodynamic performance and handling on different tracks.

What is the 'thumb print' air inlet for the underwing and how did it affect the car's aerodynamics?

The 'thumb print' is a tall air inlet for the underwing of the Lola IndyCar. It made the car less sensitive to front ride height, allowing for adjustments without significantly affecting the car's aerodynamics. This design feature contributed to the car's friendly aerodynamic characteristics.

How did the rear wing design of the Lola IndyCar with the 'diamond tip' enhance its downforce?

The rear wing had a 'diamond tip' design which set off vortices coming off the wing tips, increasing the downforce. The trailing edge of the rear wing end plate had a radius that made the wing more effective, especially when combined with the wicker.

What was the significance of the sequential shift lever in the Lola IndyCar?

The sequential shift lever allowed the driver to manually shift gears without lifting, which was a requirement in the last Indy Car champ car before paddle shifters became standard. However, this required the driver to use one hand for shifting, often leading to physical strain such as blisters.

What was the role of the Dynamic dampers (DSVs) used in the Lola IndyCar?

The Dynamic dampers (DSVs) were four-way adjustable, allowing for high-speed and low-speed adjustments. They featured spool valves that could change the shape of the damping with a tiny valve, affecting the car's handling over bumps and during braking.

How did the engine configuration of the Lola IndyCar differ from the current IndyCar engines?

The Lola IndyCar featured a V8 2.65 L engine running on methanol, whereas current IndyCar engines are V6 and do not run on methanol. The Lola also had a single large turbocharger inside the bell housing, in contrast to the two turbochargers found in modern IndyCars.

What were the 'Tire shelf gurnie flaps' and how did they impact the car's aerodynamics?

The 'Tire shelf gurnie flaps' were components that affected the airflow around the rear tire and over the top of the underwing. Teams experimented with these flaps to achieve different downforce levels suitable for various track conditions, such as fast ovals versus slower street courses.

What is the significance of the pre-plenum injectors in the Lola IndyCar's fuel system?

The pre-plenum injectors were part of the fuel system that allowed fuel to be injected inside the plenum. They helped control the boost level and maintain consistent performance, ensuring the car did not exceed the allowed power output.

How did the Lola IndyCar's underwing design contribute to its success?

The underwing design, with its tall 'thumb print' air inlet, contributed to the car's aerodynamic efficiency and downforce. The design was not sensitive to front ride height, allowing for adjustments without losing performance, which was a key factor in the car's success.

What was the impact of the Lola IndyCar's development on Craig Hampson's career?

The development of the Lola IndyCar was a highlight of Craig Hampson's career. It allowed him to be creative and innovative in car design, leading to significant success on the track and a memorable, enjoyable period in his professional life.

Outlines

00:00

🏎️ Championship Winning Lola's Design Innovations

This paragraph discusses the engineering and design aspects of a 2005 Lola race car that achieved significant success in the Champ Car World Series. Craig Hampson, the engineer who helped develop the car, explains the various modifications and innovations that made the car stand out. These include custom suspension and aerodynamic components, pylon mounts for the front wing, turning veins for aerodynamic balance, and a unique 'thumbprint' air inlet for the underwing. The paragraph also highlights the meticulous attention to detail, such as mirror placement and rear wing design, which contributed to the car's performance.

05:01

🚨 Evolution of Champ Car Aerodynamics and Handling

The second paragraph delves into the rear wing design of the Lola, featuring a 'diamond tip' and vortex generators for increased downforce. It also covers the engine specifications, including the V8 2.65 L methanol engine and the single large turbocharger. The narrative moves on to discuss the dynamic dampers used, which were adjustable for various speeds and conditions, and the tire shelf gurnie flaps that affected air flow around the rear tire. The paragraph concludes with reflections on the era of racing when drivers had to manually shift gears, leading to a different driving style compared to modern racing with paddle shifters, and a nostalgic look back at the successes and the fun of developing and modifying the car for better performance.

Keywords

💡Champ Car Championship

The Champ Car Championship was an open-wheel racing series in North America. It is mentioned in the script as the series where Craig Hampson, along with Newman/Haas Racing and driver Sebastien Bourdais, achieved four consecutive championships. This keyword is central to understanding the context of the video, which revolves around the engineering and design of a race car that was successful in this championship.

💡Lola IndyCar

A Lola IndyCar refers to a race car manufactured by the Lola Cars company and used in the IndyCar racing series. In the script, the focus is on a specific 2005 Lola IndyCar that was developed by Craig Hampson and his team, which secured multiple race wins and the championship title. This keyword is essential as it identifies the car being discussed and its significance in the video.

💡Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around objects, particularly in relation to their design and speed. In the context of the video, aerodynamics plays a crucial role in the design of the Lola IndyCar, with features such as the front wing, underwing, and rear wing all being tailored to optimize the car's performance and handling at high speeds. The script mentions various aerodynamic modifications that were made to the car to improve its performance.

💡Suspension

Suspension refers to the system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. The script discusses how the team at Newman/Haas Racing developed their own suspension for the Lola IndyCar, which was a significant aspect of the car's performance. The suspension's design allowed for adjustments to cater to different track conditions and contributed to the car's handling and speed.

💡Downforce

Downforce is the force that pushes a car's tires onto the road, improving traction and stability at high speeds. The script mentions several modifications made to the Lola IndyCar to increase downforce, such as the design of the front and rear wings and the use of vortex generators. These changes were aimed at making the car faster and more competitive in races.

💡Sequential Shift Lever

A sequential shift lever is a type of gear-shifting mechanism used in manual transmission vehicles, particularly race cars. As mentioned in the script, the Lola IndyCar featured a sequential shift lever that allowed drivers to change gears without lifting their foot off the accelerator, a technique known as 'shift without lift.' This contributed to the car's performance by allowing for faster gear changes during races.

💡Turbocharger

A turbocharger is a device that increases an internal combustion engine's efficiency and power output by forcing more air into the combustion chamber. The script describes a large turbocharger used in the Lola IndyCar's V8 engine, which ran on methanol. The turbocharger played a vital role in the car's performance by providing the necessary boost to the engine's power.

💡Dynamic Dampers

Dynamic dampers, also known as adjustable shock absorbers, are used to control the movement of a vehicle's suspension. The script discusses how the Newman/Haas Racing team used four-way adjustable dynamic dampers with spool valves, which allowed for fine-tuning of the damping characteristics based on the track conditions. This technology contributed to the car's handling and adaptability to various racing environments.

💡Vortex Generators

Vortex generators are small devices that create vortices in the air flowing over a vehicle, which can enhance the aerodynamic performance. In the script, Craig Hampson explains how they experimented with different positions and designs of vortex generators on the Lola IndyCar to optimize the car's aerodynamics and maintain downforce as the car's ride height varied during a race.

💡Rear Wing

The rear wing, also known as the spoiler, is a part of a car's aerodynamic package designed to create downforce and improve stability. The script mentions a 'diamond tip rear wing' used on the Lola IndyCar, which, along with the vortex generators, increased downforce and improved the car's grip on the track. The design of the rear wing is an example of the meticulous attention to detail required in racing car design.

💡Tire Shelf Gurney Flaps

Tire shelf Gurney flaps are small vertical tabs or 'flaps' attached to the rear of a car's side pods, near the rear tire. As described in the script, these flaps affect the airflow around the rear tire and over the underwing, which can be adjusted to suit different downforce levels required at various racetracks. The use of these flaps is an example of the fine-tuning that goes into optimizing a race car's aerodynamics.

Highlights

Craig Hampson, a four-time consecutive champ car champion engineer, shares insights on the 2005 Lola IndyCar.

The Lola IndyCar was developed with significant aerodynamic and suspension innovations.

In 2006, teams were allowed to modify many car components, leading to unique developments like custom suspension and aerodynamic parts.

Pylon mounts for the front wing were designed to allow more air to pass underneath the car.

The front wing height was adjustable based on the car's ride height for optimal performance.

Innovative turning vanes were added to improve downforce and aerodynamic balance.

The unique 'thumbprint' air inlet design for the underwing contributed to the car's aerodynamic efficiency.

Vortex generators were positioned to optimize ride height characteristics and downforce.

Mirror placement was carefully designed to reduce drag, with shapes tested in wind tunnels.

The sequential shift lever required drivers to manually shift gears, a demanding task that led to physical strain.

The rear wing featured a 'diamond tip' design to increase downforce with set-off vortices.

Engine covers were removed to reveal the V8 2.65 L methanol-fueled engine with a single large turbocharger.

Dynamic dampers with spool valves allowed for precise control over the damping characteristics.

Tire shelf gurney flaps were used to manage airflow around the rear tire for different downforce levels.

The Lola IndyCar's success was a result of creative part development and the ability to implement new ideas.

The car's performance was impressive, particularly when cornering, but required careful management of rear tires.

Craig Hampson reflects on the era with nostalgia, noting the joy of developing and modifying the car.