Achilles
05-09-2007, 09:27 AM
Formula One Nixes Traction Control for 2008
http://blog.wired.com/cars/images/2007/05/09/f1.jpg
Drivers hate it and Formula One’s sanctioning body, the FIA, is tired of fighting allegations of cheating, particularly regarding cars that are painted Italian racing red. Traction control, a software-based technology that’s widely available on passenger cars as well, cuts power to the wheels when it detects a loss of grip. Theoretically, any loss of traction slows a race car’s lap times. So the technology should only help. The realities of racing aren’t so cut and dry, however, and there are occasions—when a driver comes on brakes too early, when a competitor shoves a driver to the inside of an apex, etc.—when a little wheel spin is an excellent sacrifice for a recovery that will put a car back on its line. Besides, race-car drivers don’t like having software make decisions for them.
http://blog.wired.com/cars/images/2007/05/09/f1.jpg
Drivers hate it and Formula One’s sanctioning body, the FIA, is tired of fighting allegations of cheating, particularly regarding cars that are painted Italian racing red. Traction control, a software-based technology that’s widely available on passenger cars as well, cuts power to the wheels when it detects a loss of grip. Theoretically, any loss of traction slows a race car’s lap times. So the technology should only help. The realities of racing aren’t so cut and dry, however, and there are occasions—when a driver comes on brakes too early, when a competitor shoves a driver to the inside of an apex, etc.—when a little wheel spin is an excellent sacrifice for a recovery that will put a car back on its line. Besides, race-car drivers don’t like having software make decisions for them.