Some days ago I had a nice race at Michigan:
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Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, MI
30 Laps
Temp: 85?F Wind: NO WIND
NO RAIN
Michigan Final Standings (30 Laps)
1. 0 * J. B. Penske93/Buick 237.476mph
2. 5 Mario Andretti Lola T9300/Cosworth XB -12.6
3. 4 Emerson Fittipaldi Penske93/Chevy C -24.5
4. 12 Paul Tracy Penske93/Chevy C -24.9
5. 25 Mark Smith Penske92/Chevy B -1L
6. 90 Lyn St. James Lola T9300/Cosworth XB -2L
7. 99 Fred Jones Lola T9300/Cosworth XB -2L
8. 92 Didier Theys Lola T9200/Buick Electrical
* = Polesitter
J. B. Best Lap: 0:29.940 240.477mph
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I ("J. B." :-) wanted to get a high average speed, so I decided to fight
a few 110 percent opponents...
Some general observations (for Michigan):
For a full distance race, boost 9 (= 5 pitstops) is best.
(you can go 1.5 sec./lap faster than at boost 3 (= 3 stops),
so you have 250 * 1.5 = 375 seconds for 2 additional stops)
For a lap record, 100 F seems to be the optimum environment
temperature: You can use a hard RF tire, and get all tires
to more than 200 F. (I think, it is important to reach
a nice operating temperature for all tires, especially for
the left front (LF))
Tire life time (boost 9): 70 laps with lots of skids and squeeling
(I really tried to kill the tires...)
90-110 laps with my 'normal' driving style
(both tests at normal tire temperatures < 290 F)
--> I prefer to change the tires every pitstop.
Strange effect: Somebody reported a strange effect here
(like 'car hitting an invisible wall')
I never observed this during several thousand laps at Michigan.
Yesterday I did 2 things I never did before:
I switched 'automatic detail' ON and I had another track
loaded before Michigan, After a few laps my car hit the 'invisible wall'
near the start of the pit lane... (v1.04)
Happy racing
Herbert (243.050 mph top lap at Michigan)
PS: If you want to discuss various setups or tracks (or simply want to know
my Michigan setups), send email.
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