GP2 car setup options - too many

I'm supprised no one has mentioned this yet. Why does GP2 have so many seemingly needles car setup options? Don't get me wrong. I know real F1 teams deal with four times as many variables. However, options like 4-way adjustable shocks and bump ***s at each corner seem pointless when there aren't any bumps on the tracks. Now I know that the European F1 tracks are suppsedly glass-smooth compared to what I'm used to seeing the Indycars race on in the US. But, if Microprose was going through the trouble of all this detail in car setups, shouldn't they also have included more fundemental items like tire temperature readings, camber settings, and toe-in/out settings? Interested in your thoughts. -- ****************************************************************************** Bill Mette | "Thanks to teamwork, I almost stapled something today." ******************************************************************************

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> I'm supprised no one has mentioned this yet. Why does GP2 have so many > seemingly needles car setup options? Don't get me wrong. I know real F1 > teams deal with four times as many variables. However, options like > 4-way adjustable shocks and bump ***s at each corner seem > pointless when there aren't any bumps on the tracks. > Now I know that the European F1 tracks are suppsedly glass-smooth > compared to what I'm used to seeing the Indycars race on in the US. But, > if Microprose was going through the trouble of all this detail in car > setups, shouldn't they also have included more fundemental items like > tire temperature readings, camber settings, and toe-in/out settings?

Monza is actually quite bumpy, but you don't really notice it until your running on the bump ***s. Then your car can judder as it goes over the bumps and you do lose grip. I've certainly noticed this at Monza, but haven't really tried any other tracks much. In real F1, Mangy-Cours is meant to be glass-smooth, and Interlagos the bumpiest. Set your car up with lots of packers and a low ride height and take a run around these two circuits and see if there is any difference. Julian _____________________________________________________________________ University of Oxford

writes: Have a drive round Hungaroring, then come back and say there are no bumps! Pay particular attention to turn 2, the longish left hander. Recommend you visit the garage and look at suspension travel telemetry afterwards - the bumps are all there ... James -- James Bevan NeXTMail & MIME welcome

>BTW - In real life not all F1 tracks are smooth.. Argentina isn't one of the smooth ones. Two big bumps I believe. One at the end of the front stretch, and one in Ascari. Tim http://members.gnn.com/TOlson6275/main.htm

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> I'm supprised no one has mentioned this yet. Why does GP2 have so many > seemingly needles car setup options? Don't get me wrong. I know real F1 > teams deal with four times as many variables. However, options like > 4-way adjustable shocks and bump ***s at each corner seem > pointless when there aren't any bumps on the tracks. > Now I know that the European F1 tracks are suppsedly glass-smooth > compared to what I'm used to seeing the Indycars race on in the US.

Well not really, you see if you notice tracks such as Italy you will notic that the straights are not very smooth , infact you can feel the bumps when you blast across the start/finish line. By adjusting the bumps and other settings (a combination of springs, brake bias ..etc) you can get a better time -> may be one or two seconds (better handling and less Goodyear wear and tear). That's th edifference between top teams in F1 and the Forties .. just the little differences. Yeah, I agree, there are a lot of things that can be included but obviously FIA thinks thats enough for us Schumacher-wanna-bes out there. GP2 is a great sim with good arcade action and little things (sunlight, tilting heads, lock ups ... etc) that shows you that it is made by people who enjoyes and kowns F1 racing... BTW - In real life not all F1 tracks are smooth.. --Ray

>> I'm supprised no one has mentioned this yet. Why does GP2 have so many >> seemingly needles car setup options? Don't get me wrong. I know real F1 >> teams deal with four times as many variables. However, options like >> 4-way adjustable shocks and bump ***s at each corner seem >> pointless when there aren't any bumps on the tracks. Some of the tracks are in fact quite bumpy. Try lowering your ride height, and then watch the plank indicator. The long straight at Australia is a good example. _______________________________________ Tim Wortman NASS '96 Series Director Visit the NASS '96 home page http://www.webcom.com/twortman/nasscar/ _______________________________________

In running at Monza, As I drive faster, and the car gets lower as the suspension collapses from the down force, I can watch my car start to jitter and shudder as it hits numerous bumps and stuff. Another thing, On the back straight, you go down a hill, and then up a hill. Right where the road transitions from down to up, I scrape the plank, then the suspension reacts, and I no longer scrape my plank. Cool little peice of code that handles that bit o transition G force! -Kevin

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>> I'm supprised no one has mentioned this yet. Why does GP2 have so many >> seemingly needles car setup options? Don't get me wrong. I know real F1 >> teams deal with four times as many variables. However, options like >> 4-way adjustable shocks and bump ***s at each corner seem >> pointless when there aren't any bumps on the tracks. >> Now I know that the European F1 tracks are suppsedly glass-smooth >> compared to what I'm used to seeing the Indycars race on in the US. But, >> if Microprose was going through the trouble of all this detail in car >> setups, shouldn't they also have included more fundemental items like >> tire temperature readings, camber settings, and toe-in/out settings? >Monza is actually quite bumpy, but you don't really notice it until your >running on the bump ***s. Then your car can judder as it goes over the >bumps and you do lose grip. I've certainly noticed this at Monza, but >haven't really tried any other tracks much. >In real F1, Mangy-Cours is meant to be glass-smooth, and Interlagos the >bumpiest. Set your car up with lots of packers and a low ride height and >take a run around these two circuits and see if there is any difference. >Julian >_____________________________________________________________________ > University of Oxford

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>>> I'm supprised no one has mentioned this yet. Why does GP2 have so many >>> seemingly needles car setup options? Don't get me wrong. I know real F1 >>> teams deal with four times as many variables. However, options like >>> 4-way adjustable shocks and bump ***s at each corner seem >>> pointless when there aren't any bumps on the tracks. >Some of the tracks are in fact quite bumpy. Try lowering your ride >height, and then watch the plank indicator. The long straight at >Australia is a good example.

Now that I've had the game for a bit longer, I've found the bumps. They're in VGA mode! My SVGA video is too slow for me to see them. Shame. -Bill -- ****************************************************************************** Bill Mette | "Thanks to teamwork, I almost stapled something today." ******************************************************************************