Renesisfury

Hey all, for anyone that runs a timed event, Time Trial, or any flat out racers:

What is your strategy for cool down laps? I need to try and figure out what I should be doing to get my tires back down to a reasonable temperature so I can crack out some hot laps.

Thanks in advance

Fury

wrankin

I'm not sure what you mean - the cool down laps meant that I am heading back to the pits. I am actually more concerned about letting the engine and brakes cools back down for when I have to park it. i guess the tires come in there also. To that extent:

1) Back off the engine (once I'm well past the checker), bring the revs down, short shift.

2) I try to avoid using the brakes at all for that lap. I should be going slow enough to take each corner at a easy pace. This will also let the tires cool down.

3) Keep an eye on the temps, oil pressure and do a once over check on things to make sure that I didn't break anything out there.

4) If things are still hot when I get back to the paddock, I'll crank up the cooling fans an take her for a short drive around the paddock or nearby access roads.

Thats about it.

-bill

Re-Speed.com

iTrader: (3)

Agreed. One of my pet peeves... when the dill hole in front of me gets all the way off the gas two feet after the flag. The other one is when the cars in front of you do not attempt to catch up with the pack under a yellow.


-billy

jgrewe

iTrader: (1)

I once lost a lap in a race in an ITC car when the leaders of the group blew by me on their cool down just passed the finish line. I crossed it first, then they crossed it going a lot faster and coasted passed me into turn one. Their race was done but I still had to finish the lap I started before they finished.

wrankin pretty much covered the cool down at the end of a race. During a session if you just back off a little or pull through the pits that will help your tires.

Renesisfury

So just backing off my braking zones and maybe give myself a little more room on the turn in? Also the pass thru the pits sounds like a good idea, will that short amount of time just rolling really reduce the tire temp that much?

Speed Raycer

I'm a little confused. As others have said, a cool down lap is when you're done.

If you're doing some sort of TT event where fastest lap wins, and you've got other cars out on track with you...

Common thought is that most tires tend to have 3 lap cycles where they get a little grippier.

You can always duck down into pit road and wait for a clear spot. That kills 2 birds with one stone, gives you a good cool down and gets everybody up in front of you.

Renesisfury

It's for Time Trial, my tires have about 3 laps in the golden area.

Ok, I guess I will just try and drive at 70% or thereabouts on my "off" laps

FortyFiveD

iTrader: (2)

to keep your tires in the green you could run a few laps at the beginning of the day and pit in (around the starting grid) and get your temps after a few laps along with your pressure and use that to make your adjustments througout the day. this is easier if you have some friends or co workers to help you get readings and you have the proper tools too. thats just my two cents