rec.autos.simulators

> On Speedvision's coverage they had a shot of Barrichello approaching a
corner
> and he hit a button on the upper left front of his steering wheel that
caused
> the car to downshift a pre-set number of gears.  Steve Matchett, the
former
> Benetton mechanic who is now a commentator for Speedvision, speculated
that
> the teams would all be using the automatic system for upchanges, but that
some
> teams (if not all) would still downhshift on their own.

> Matchett also mentioned that the reason that power steering is banned now
that
> traction control has returned is because the teams could use the
information
> from the steering input to affect grip levels - a kind of active braking
> system similar to what McLaren were banned from using a couple of years

>   Actually,  I would think a few laps with a data aquistion device
> collecting shift points would be all they need.  The driver could most
> likely run laps with his hands off the wheel.   I'm gonna figure out a way
> to run Rallye races in stadiums...then I'll be in control of the best
> drivers left in racing, I'll get a piece of the parking $$, some from
> Concessions, and I'll be able to sell the local Subaru and Mitsubishi
> dealerships advertising.   All I have to is convince Richard Burns to lose
> his accent, and Tommy Hakkinen to change his name to Tommy Hawk.
>   You heard it here first folks....
> dave henrie

> > > Anyway I don't see the reason why a driver has to change gears.  It's
a
> > > purely mechanical thing that shouldn't be something a driver needs to
> care
> > > about.  I'm talking about a race car, of course.

> > Provided the electronics has a track map, of course - there are times
> > when you want to shift other than at the the optimum max-acceleration
> > shift point...

> > Jonny