# Auto racing question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644 "2011-11-21T15:04:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/21 "2011-11-22T12:57:25Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > This isn’t true. The engines run at full throttle for nearly 75% of the lap at Monza, and they last for several races. I have strong doubts that an F1 engine can be run for four hours (excluding pit stops). They may tell you that they last for three races, but I’m certain that they are not left untouched between races. Perhaps the major assemblies are the same, but are they sealed engines? Perhaps they run at 75% at Monza but that’s just one track. At Talladega they run a longer distance for a longer time at speed without touching the engine I don’t have a cite as to what percent of throttle they use but I would not be surprised to find that they run at the rev limiter through the entire oval. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/22 "2011-11-22T13:31:50Z")
From the FIA rules: > [@](#): > > c) After consultation with the relevant engine supplier the FIA will attach seals to each engine prior to it being used for the first time at an Event in order to ensure that no significant moving parts can be rebuilt or replaced. > Within two hours of the end of the post race parc ferme exhaust blanking plates (with one 10mm diameter inspection hole per cylinder) and further seals will be applied to all used engines in order to ensure that these engines cannot be run between Events. Upon request to the FIA these additional seals will be removed after the start of initial scrutineering at the next Event at which the engines are > required. All such engines must remain within the team’s designated garage area when not fitted to a car and may not be started at any time during an Event other than when fitted to a car eligible to participate in the Event. > d) If any of the FIA seals are damaged or removed from an engine after it has been used for the first time that engine may not be used again unless they were removed under FIA supervision. ---
**Author:** ![Dave.B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9f8e36/32.png) [@Dave.B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave.B)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/23 "2011-11-22T13:50:58Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > The record for an F1 car with the wings removed is 259 MPH. > [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Highest recorded speed in a race legal F1 car was 229.8MPH, back in 2004. Do you have cites for either of these figures? Not that I don’t believe you, I’m just interested in when/where/who. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/24 "2011-11-22T13:58:38Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Perhaps they run at 75% at Monza but that’s just one track. At Talladega they run a longer distance for a longer time at speed without touching the engine I don’t have a cite as to what percent of throttle they use but I would not be surprised to find that they run at the rev limiter through the entire oval. For all practical purposes, the restricted engines (a plate with holes in it is placed between the carburetor and the intake manifold) is run at WOT (wide open throttle, 100% RPM) during all green flag laps. This year, with cars running in pairs, brought them up to 200mph or so. Without the restrictor plates, the engines would be about twice as powerful. 'Dega & Daytona are 500 mile races (400 for the July Daytona race). All 3 series of cars, F1, Indy, & NASCAR Sprint Cup are all specialized cars. Just like airplanes, a bomber is built differently from a fighter, and neither will play well in the others arena. But the Cars series of movies are a cartoon, and just plain fun. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/25 "2011-11-22T14:24:29Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > I have strong doubts that an F1 engine can be run for four hours (excluding pit stops). They may tell you that they last for three races, but I’m certain that they are not left untouched between races. Perhaps the major assemblies are the same, but are they sealed engines? I was refuting your statement that “they could only manage short bursts of power over 90 minutes”. In addition to the race, they also clock up considerable mileage in the practise and qualifying sessions over a race weekend. The oil is topped up between sessions and races, but they can’t perform any major maintenance or replace any major parts. > [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > Perhaps they run at 75% at Monza but that’s just one track. At Talladega they run a longer distance for a longer time at speed without touching the engine I don’t have a cite as to what percent of throttle they use but I would not be surprised to find that they run at the rev limiter through the entire oval. At Talladega, NASCARs do not run on the rev limiter throughout the entire lap, the links above show a considerable difference between the top recorded speed and the average lap time. You couldn’t have a race if the cars were constantly on the limiter. I expect an F1 engine probably could be run for 4 hours close to it’s rev limit. They routinely run for much longer than this in total. Remember, the gearing keeps the engine in a small power band and high revs at all times, even at a slower track. Cooling would not be a problem, as there is maximum airflow at high speed. The drivers also have various engine mapping settings at their disposal, allowing them to trade reduced performance for increased engine life. Oil consumption could well be the limiting factor, a larger reservoir might be required. A NASCAR engine probably could run for longer than an F1 without exploding, but that’s not surprising. The F1 engine has a much higher power to weight ratio, so runs with much higher temperatures and stresses. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/26 "2011-11-22T14:50:15Z")
> [@Dave.B](#): > > Do you have cites for either of these figures? Not that I don’t believe you, I’m just interested in when/where/who. I got both from the [F1 Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_car#Top_speeds) article, but the links that it references are broken. 229.8 MPH was set by Antônio Pizzonia in a Williams car at Monza in 2004. I managed to get the figures for the BAR/Honda (Honda took over the BAR team in 2006) record attempt at Bonneville salt flats slightly mangled. 246.9 MPH is the official [FIA record](http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/21/honda-f1-sets-land-speed-records-at-bonneville/), but 249 MPH was manged on a one-way run. 257 MPH was achieved the previous year by the BAR team when preparing for the run at Bonneville, but that wasn’t an official test. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/27 "2011-11-22T14:51:24Z")
Would fuel consumption factor in? Even with wings removed it seems to me the F1 car would be less aerodynamic than the Stock Car. Any comparable fuel consumption numbers? ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/28 "2011-11-22T15:00:44Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Brewha, I do remember that, but it seemed to me that the dirt portion was pretty insignificant in relation to the rest of the track. If the dirt was Lightning’s only advantage, and the relative speeds of F1 vs NASCAR is what I thought it was in my OP, then it shouldn’t have compensated enough to allow him to keep pace with Francesco. Yeah, I know it’s not a perfect explanation. But it is an explanation. If you question is, “can a stock car keep to an F1?” the answer is no. But, if the question is, “Can Lightning McQueen beat Francesco?” the answer is, OF COURSE! > [@Diz](#): > > Don’t be too sure 🙂 > > From a recent publicity event, [F1 car on dirt.](http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110823/F1/110829958) > > In the real world both F1 and stock cars would be pretty terrible on dirt. They’re designed to run on pavement, with low ground clearance and slick tires. If the stock car was faster at all, it likely wouldn’t be by much… That might be true for a normal stock car. But, a stock car trained under the tutelage of the great Doc Hudson, dirt tracker racer extraordinaire, could beat a rally car on dirt! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644/30 "2015-06-26T01:45:44Z")
That link has been stuffed into just about every thread on the internet that even mentions race cars. Reported. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-racing-question/603644.md?page=1)