Is it better for a NASCAR driver to be out in front and have the clean air or be...

E

Eaglesfan

New member
...behind another car for draft? I was wondering if a NASCAR driver would get better gas mileage and/or speed if they were out in front or behind another car getting a draft effect?
 
The draft effect, because the car isn't working as hard punching a hole in the air as the lead car, therefore less fuel is needed to power the car, even though the lead car has clean air. It also helps with downforce, because the air coming off the rear of the lead car is coming down onto the nose of the 2nd car, pushing it down into the track. Depending on how well the 2nd car is handling, this could make the handling better or worse, but the 2nd place car will be faster and I think more fuel efficient.
 
The draft effect, because the car isn't working as hard punching a hole in the air as the lead car, therefore less fuel is needed to power the car, even though the lead car has clean air. It also helps with downforce, because the air coming off the rear of the lead car is coming down onto the nose of the 2nd car, pushing it down into the track. Depending on how well the 2nd car is handling, this could make the handling better or worse, but the 2nd place car will be faster and I think more fuel efficient.
 
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