rec.autos.simulators

Anyways, I did a 100% length race in GTR2002 using the Ferrari 360 at Spa
with AI at 96%, and managed to come in 16th with a full field of GT and NGT
cars. I used the setup that I downloaded that came with the game. I think it
was "360_DA_V2" or something like that. I did a 3-pit strategy, so my friend
and I could divide the race up into two times at the wheel each, so
12/12/12/13 laps. 16th sounds impressive, but it was second last of the NGT
class :)

Here's my observations:

- About half the field didn't finish, Mostly due to failures it seemed. I
can't imagine that being too accurate. I had failures and all the
wear-related settings at "normal".
- Through Eau Rouge, the AI seems to slow down way more than it should have
to. Making it pretty dangerous since I'm going significantly faster (no, I
don't cut off the track on the exit).
- Cars infront would sometimes spin out or make little mistakes, very cool
and scary.
- Blue flags are a bit excessive. I understand them and all, but it seems
like it applies in situations where it shouldn't. Example, It's hard to gain
a lap back from the cars in your own class. A caught up to a Porsche that
was a lap ahead of me, and when I passed him, I got blue flagged to let him
pass me back. So, to avoid being Black Flagged, I would have had to pass
him, and pull away really far in only a few corners.
- The Porsche's break lights are really hard to see.
- It seems like cars in a pack seem to go significantly slower than when
they are spread out.
- GT cars seem to hang up for a long time before passing NGT cars. I noticed
a few sections it seems where the NGT car probably should have got Black
Flagged.
- The game rocks.
- What's with the qualifying times? GT and NGT cars seem to be qualifying at
close to the same speed.
- I also find their qualifying times hard as hell to beat, and I qualified
in last place. But, I was just using the race setup, since I don't have a
qualifying setup.
- The game rocks.

Here's a few subsequent questions:
- Do the cars have their own pit strategy, or do they do whatever you are
doing?
- Say I pit a lap early, will the pit crew adjust the amount of fuel they
give me to cover for that extra lap?
- What should I do to increase my qualifying time? Cause I'm stinkin'
- Why do I exit the game when I pull into the pit with a knocked off
spoiler? Seems like an easy fix to me, instead I get retired. Or is that GT
regulations?

Anyways, full props to everyone that worked/contributed to the Mod. I can
see why everyone has been gushing about it for so long. Full props to me for
doing a 100% race without serious incident, even though I only drove 50% of
the race and my friend did the other half :)

Mike
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

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I also have all the controls mapped to my wheel (and labelled, thanks to my
g/f). I just for some reason remember not being able to change the pit fuel
level for some reason. I'll try again next race though.

As for the qualifiying, I'll start working on a setup. THanks!

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

The fact it's an F1 game underneath also goes some way in explaining the
blue flag problems, although F1 2k2 also suffers from the unlapping problem.
There's an option to turn off the "Flag Rules" though (which I'm really
considering using at this point as I haven't been able to complete a race
without getting a stop&go penalty at some point).

Hit P to pause the game and do it at your leasure. It works.

Jan.
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My NGT 360 Qualifying setups are Arnao's with the following changes:

Radiator down to 3.
Brake duct down to 1.
Rev Limiter up to 8700
Rear Wing Down to 10
Fuel for 5 Laps (it's good to run a bunch of laps in Qual or while
hotlapping because getting the tires/brakes heated up is important)
Gearing - set it up so you're just clipping 8700 at the fastest point
on the track.  At most places you can accomplish this most easily by
just lowering the final drive all the way.

Tweaking the camber/tire pressure to maintain optimum temperatures
would be a good idea too, I'm just too lazy to deal with that usually.

Jason

Also diff down to 25%.  That and dropping the rear wing should
actually make the car turn when you want it to.

Jason

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

    See there we go again.  How do you go faster?  Drive slower.  ALL the
ALIENS will tell you this.  IT's a damn *** I tells ya.  If I go
slower I get rammed up the old Wazzu!  (go Cougs!)  If I go faster I slide
past the turn.  Next they'll tell me Downforce which is measured in pounds
doesn't slow your car down.
dave henrie

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   Nice report Mike, thanks.  To bad the online aspect isn't better; most of
the problems listed wouldn't exist <g>

John

No, the drag created by the stuff that generates the downforce slows you
down. And, again, no: even though downforce is measured in pounds, it
doesn't "weigh" your car down either. To the tyres' contact patches it seems
as if there's more weight is pressing down on it, but no mass is actually
added, as evidenced by the car not gaining inertia to match the downforce.

And what the aliens say about going slower to drive faster is true. You need
to make fewer, slower and more controlled control actions. You, as a driver,
slow things down, but the car goes faster. Ask Mansell.

Jan.
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