05/2010 MAGAZINE

PUBLISHED BY

GP2 DIDIER PERRIN EXPLAINS THE REASONS BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF THE SERIES THAT PREPARES TALENTED DRIVERS FOR F1 INDY 500 “THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN RACING” HAS SEEN A DALLARA TRIUMPH FOR THE TENTH TIME. ALL THE PILOTS THANK THE SAFETY CELL THAT SAVES LIVES TECHNOLOGY LOOKING AT THE DALLARA TEST BENCH, THE INSTRUMENT THAT GIVES ENGINEERS THE BEST WAY OF TESTING COMPONENTS AND PREPARING THE CAR FOR THE RACE INDYCAR

2 “THE GREATEST SPECTACLE IN RACING”

“The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” was the Reynard and Colt (2). This may now seem title of the article, published last May in obvious, but many of us remember the “Race Tech International” and the 500 Miles effort required to overcome initial of Indianapolis is effectively the biggest wariness, the delusions of defeat, the show in the sporting calendar. Its television ongoing challenges with G-Force, the audience has reached a level that is greater stubborn will to catch up and become the than any other sport. 292 million viewers best. I really think it is these characteristics from 213 countries simultaneously tuned in that are our strengths, and this to watch the race! We also play a role in this determination gives me the hope that we race: this year we won for the tenth time, can compete in Indianapolis for a long time something nobody else had previously to come. achieved. They are as follows: Penske (7 victories), Watson (6), March (5), G Force (4), Gian Paolo Dallara, Lola, Eagle e Deidt (3), Maserati, McLaren, President of Dallara

3 INDYCAR

SAFETY IN THE RACE: MUCH MORE THAN JU

MIKE CONWAY’S ACCIDENT AT INDIANAPOLIS WAS A PERFECT DISPLAY OF DALLARA’S SURVIVAL CELL AT WORK, IT IS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND ALL KINDS OF IMPACT, WITH SAFETY LEVELS THAT GO WELL BEYOND THOSE REQUESTED BY THE REGULATIONS

4 UST CRASH TESTS

5 INDYCAR LA NOVITÀ

hat defines the safety of at the images of the car’s impact an accident. In Italian the word for racing car? The images with the Indianapolis barrier is that safety is “sicurezza” which is more W from this year’s final of the safety is much more than just similar to the English “secure”. 500 Miles of Indianapolis have the passing the regulation crash tests, This is the second meaning, to answer. it means designing a car with safety secure the driver, without worry. The car’s body, otherwise known as in mind, in other words: to think We feel secure in a car when we are the “survival cell”, has to protect about even the rarest situations, to not excessively concerned with the driver and the petrol tank in give safety priority over what is happening around us. Both the event of an impact. Mike performance and therefore work of these aspects exist and must be Conway’s Dallara performed this responsibly, thinking beyond the responsibly taken into account. function well, withstanding an regulations. In short, safety is a “journey” and impact - that is difficult to imagine The word “safety” can be said to we never arrive at absolute safety: let alone reproduce - without have two meanings. The first the details of the situation (new significant injury to the driver and meaning is linked to the word circuits, different tyres, without the fuel tank catching fire. “save”. A safe structure will save improvements in aerodynamic The lesson we can learn by looking the life of the driver in the event of efficiency, engine development,

6 THE DRIVERS THANK DALLARA: “YOU SAVED OUR LIVES” VITOR MEIRA that is an upgrade The g-force of the from the current impact was measured chassis design an incredible that is as safe 214 g's, as the car or safer than the car virtually exploded we have now. from the impact. It With the increased was highest the public profile of the highest series, the IZOD g-force to be recorded IndyCar Series cannot in an impact, ever. “I have taken a few afford to do anything But the safety cell spectacular rides in less”. was intact. an Indy car - The sheer energy Milwaukee and Indy KENNY BRACK from the impact left come to mind - so I me severely injured speak from personal and hospitalized for 3 experience. The months. It's not in Dallara chassis has the nature of saved my life and I motorsports to be believe the lives of "bulletproof", but I many other drivers am convinced that it like Kenny Brack for was thanks to one. As drivers, we Dallara's innovation are just an instant “I've had a long and and safety thinking away from a crippling good relationship that I lived to race accident or worse. with Dallara. I won another day”. Our number one the world's largest safety tool is the car. motor race, the DAVEY HAMILTON The safety of the in chassis is of critical one of their chassis. importance and But performance is should be the not the only thing number one factor in Dallara think about. choosing the new They are also driver expectations) are continually chassis design. extremely safety- changing. For us at Dallara, for the Dallara has proven conscious. businesses that we are in that it puts the I drove one of their competition with (those who work driver’s safety first chassis when I had “Dallara, responsibly) and for the car and they have the the biggest accident I just want to thank industry in general, safety is an track record to in my career at Texas you for the most attitude and a culture that prove it. While I do Motor Speedway, important thing in develops an open minded approach not want to choose when my car was motor racing: SAFETY! to be able to rethink a product, sides, I do want launched into the Not only are your cars anticipating the demands of the those in charge of barriers at 220 miles fast and very organisers and all the clients who choosing the next per hour while competitive, they put their trust in us. generation of Indy battling for the have proven time and cars to make sure podium in the latest time again how safe Andrea Toso, they choose a car stages of the race. they are”. Head of R&D and US Racing Business Leader

7 INTERVIEW ANDREA PONTREMOLI FACE TO FACE WITH THE CEO AND MD AT DALLARA: THE CURRENT CHAMPIONSHIPS, PROJECTS AND FUTURE CHALLENGES TO WIN, MAKING INNOVATIONS

une. Mid-year and time to look at performance and reliability on the completed after the first free practice the results of the Dallara cars. track, all over the world. A very session by Maldonado for the Rapax JResults that we want to discuss with satisfying feeling. team, would have given the driver the the engineer Andrea Pontremoli, CEO 22nd place on the F1 starting grid, and managing director of Dallara. Another series where there is free putting the car ahead of three others. Together we will look at the situation competition is Grand Am. How is that for all the competitions in which the going? You have always been major players in business is operating.

Let’s begin with Formula 3, one of the classic Dallara cars. You won the first Italian F3 championship in 1980, what about more recently? Our successes and achievements continue to grow in this competition. In Italy, for example, the great work done by the Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana (Italian Racing Authority) together with Ferrari, will allows for the top three drivers in F3 to enter into testing with Marinello’s F1, providing opportunities for many young drivers. Nowadays there are around thirty cars, compared with The number of cars gives you an idea the IRL in the States. It is only a few thirteen only three years ago. Of these of how competitive the series is. Luck weeks since the 500 miles, how was thirty, nine belong to the competitor has not been on our side this season. the race? (Mygale, ed) which has spiced up the Up to now, we have only managed one The race was, as ever, an incredible competition: up until this year Dallara victory, it could have been so many spectacle. For the first time there were has always managed to win. more. Let’s hope that the second part four women on the starting grid and of the a season gives us something to there was excitement and suspense And abroad? smile about. In the Mid-Ohio race, right up until the end. There were We compete in Spain and Japan (17 there will be a third Dallara starting, some serious accidents but once again cars), in Britain (21 cars), in Brazil and that of team Michael Shank Racing. the safety of our car saved the drivers the Euro Series (13 cars), and in from having tragic consequences. The Germany (20 cars). A complete And GP2? result being that we can never lower monopoly abroad, except Germany The car is definitely closer to F1 and is our guard and we continue to invest in where there are three other great test for drivers and teams, before safety competitive cars. Every week, over a the leap to F1. To give an example, the hundred Dallara F3 cars guarantee best time at the Montecarlo GP2, Firestone is another

8 American competition. How is the development of the ME2 that you believe will see the most Indy Lights is to the IRL as GP2 is to car going? growth in the future? F1. We are present there and the Very well. It will be designed by the We are continuing to recruit people to series is proving to be a great training Dallara engineer and will be an strengthen our expertise in car ground for young drivers who are economic, open top car for people aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics. confronted with both oval and road who want to rediscover the beauty of The engineering and consultation circuits. The best, who will later driving. The first virtual tests are businesses continue to grow, a transfer into the Indy series, are showing exceptional performance. testament to all the good work put in. achieving very good results. For confidentiality reasons we cannot Are you working on any other give names of clients, but we have So you have a large presence in many projects? been satisfied with their responses. competitions… Development of the Dallara simulator Yes, and we haven’t yet mentioned is in progress, it has already been How has Dallara been affected in a the World Series, a powerful successfully tested. In the coming year in which the economy has marketing tool for Renault. An months we will decide about the struggled to get back on its feet? enjoyable series, high-performance development of cars and circuits so In a period when costs are being cut cars and large numbers of spectators that we can make it available to the everywhere, Dallara is continuing to at the races. Then there is Formulino, market. In the future it will become invest in research and innovation: two a dependable car, at a low price, that an indispensable instrument for car concepts which cannot be overlooked allows very young drivers to development, both in reducing costs if we want stay competitive in the a experience the track in a car whose and researching innovative solutions. high performance sector. And characteristics are not so far removed continue to win. from F3. Which are the areas of your business Alessandro Santini

9 GP2

EFFICIENCY AND ABILITY

10 DIDIER PERRIN, THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF GP2, EXPLAINS THE REASONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DALLARA AND THE SERIES THAT PREPARES DRIVERS FOR F1

When GP2 look! But seriously, the most was created, important thing for GP2 is to why was ensure that the driver has the Dallare chance to shine and offer the chosen? public a good show. The car “The first needs some restyling so that it GP2 was in looks more like, and also behaves 2005 more like, an F1 car. Reliability replacing F3000 with a series that and affordability remain the basic could provide a more similar car concepts for GP2”. to that of F1. The initial objective was construct a single-seater at a Can you talk a bit about the reasonable cost that could lap relationship between GP2 and around six seconds slower than Dallara during the season? an average F1 car. We chose “We know we have made the best Dallara for its experience and we choice. We have faith in Dallara, haven‘t looked back, it is a great between us there is a great collaboration with a good amount of trust. Great work, working relationship and a great efficiency, the quality is fantastic car”. always very high. All these factors put together make the The first Dallara GP2, which was collaboration very easy”. used between 2005 and 2007, ran for another three seasons in the After six years working together, GP2 Asia Series and finished its what strikes you most about the glorious career in 2010. An Dallara? excellent car, can you tell us its “The efficiency and their ability to secrets? quickly achieve the goals. “Actually it has just been a good Dallara’s ability to understand the car, which has taken part in the demands of this category”. greatest races in the history of GP2. Its retirement has given me Can you make a comparison mixed feelings: half of me is sad between F1 and GP2 in terms of because there are many good performance, safety and top memories connected with the car; speed? the other half is happy because “With regards to safety, the F1 six years is a very long period for regulations are also relevant to a racing car”. GP2. GP2 2011, for example, is subject to the same crash test A third version of the Dallara will regulations as F.1. As for be on the track for 2011. Have performance, GP2 is fractionally you asked Dallara for below F1, with costs that are 100 improvements in terms of times lower. So you could say, it performance, cost or reliability? is money well spent!”. “We want an efficient, less expensive car with a winning Alessandro Santini

11 UNDER PRESSURE… TECHNOLOGY

Performance, Reliability, Safety. long they will last. tests carried out by the Dallara Amongst the various attributes In addition to calculations and bench: isolated components such as kthat characterize a winning simulations, useful in the defining rods, steering columns or race car, these three are the most phase of the prototype, numerous mechanical struts; or alternatively important. In all the different types tests help the engineer to create assembled pieces such as hydraulic of competition – be it Formula One, components with the strength to steering boxes, wings or even entire Le Mans or any other competition – support the forces that occur from suspension sets made up of a winning car will not lack any of time to time during the race, gearboxes, rods, wheel hubs and these qualities. without adding too much weight to suspension. The second of the afore mentioned the car with the resulting The most simple test requires at attributes (always bearing in mind consequences. Here we also least one actuator able to apply the the third) requires knowledge of encounter the impact of the first load which must be resisted (at how the components of a car will attribute, performance. times equivalent to a few tons), for a behave under pressure and how There are various different kinds of set number of cycles, equal to the

Rear suspension of a GP2 car is tested with combined loads

12 HOW THE SPECIAL TEST BENCH WORKS, ALLOWING DALLARA ENGINEERS TO WIN TO TEST SINGLE ELEMENTS OR ASSEMBLED SECTIONS TO PREDICT POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND BETTER PREPARE THE CAR FOR A RACE

duration of the desired operation. The engine). These test answer many of the terms of rigidity, weight, and speed or frequency with which this engineer’s questions: How long will robustness), to optimize the load is applied has an impact on the this piece last? What are the weakest production process (repeatability) and duration of the trial. If it is necessary sections? How much will a component to reduce costs. to test components that must be set in warp under pressure? How does it fare To arrive at the finish line, to arrive more than one direction or installed in under repeated tests? first. different places, then more than one In this way it is possible to try and Ull Thaler, actuator is used at the same time. improve the car’s components (in R&D Engineer Some tests are carried out at high temperatures, this can be set to match the predicted temperature on the track, to test for possible specific problems with materials (for example a carbon rod that goes next to the

Fatigue test of a GP2’s front rocker

“To finish first, you must first finish” , four-times winner of the Indy 500

A fatigue test of a GP2’s rear upright

13 • Consultancies, design and production of racing cars and high performance road cars.

• Aerodynamics: wind tunnel and computational fl uid dynamics (CFD).

• Research & development: vehicle dynamics and driving simulator.

www.dallara.it