04/2010 MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY DALLARA INDY 500 THE LEGEND, THE TECHNIQUE, THE SHOW: THIS IS HOW DALLARA BECAME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE MOST FAMOUS RACE IN THE WORLD GP2 FROM BARCELONA TO MONTE CARLO GIACOMO RICCI REVEALS THE “TRICKS” AND SECRETS TO WINNING ON TWO VERY DIFFERENT TRACKS WS RENAULT EMMANUEL ESNAULT, MANAGER OF THE CATEGORY’S FRENCH HEADQUARTERS, TELLS US ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH DALLARA, WHICH CELEBRATES SIX SUCCESSFUL YEARS IN 2010 magine that you are driving 235 miles an hour, over 100 metres experimental trails that we carry a Dallara at Indianapolis, a second. Lose control and in a few out daily at Dallara. I have mental- Iout on the track at full spe- milliseconds you hit the wall, you’ll ly gone through the assembly ed with the accelerator to probably be stunned for a few instructions prepared for the engi- the floor. The car seconds but will be able, with help neers, but in particular I feared for weighs a little over from the officials, to get out of the the safety of many drivers whose life 800 kg, a top car without serious injury, even if depends on how we work. speed of you’ve just wasted over 8 megawatts In those moments when the driver INDY 500 INDY around of energy, the same amount of waves to the public, to reassure power installed in a village of them of his health, I am proud that around 2000 inhabitants! Dallara has always put safety above I’ve seen this scene happen often, performance, always, without com- with my own eyes, and I have promise, and that we have firmly thought about how effective the followed this value, regardless of projects and calculations are, cost and convenience. the quality tests, and AWKWARD IN THE P A CHEETAH ON THE T TO WIN ON THE MOST FAMOUS OVAL CIRCUIT IN THE WORLD YOU NEED TO BUILD AN APPARENTLY “WRONG” AND ASYMMETRICAL CAR. THE SOPHISTICATION OF ITS TECHNICAL IDEAS IS ONLY REVEALED IN THE RACE. IT IS AN EXCITING PROJECT THAT IN DALLARA’SCASE, IS BORN OUT OF THE COMMITMENT TO THE GIVE THE DRIVERS A VEHICLE THAT IS FAST, TRUSTWORTHY AND, ABOVE ALL, SAFE 2 An Indycar is a strange animal. Building a competitive car for the and the ability to react to unexpec- When it stops in the pits it looks American oval circuits in 1996 in ted situations when using the cars wrong, all twisted and asymmetri- Italy, was a very difficult challenge, on new circuits. cal, in certain ways it looks absurd. because of the language barrier, Dallara is now considered by the The left camber is positive, the rear measurement units, a highly specia- entire community of Indianapolis as left wheel is smaller in diameter list technical vocabulary and for the brave and courageous; known for than the right. The steering wheel clear mistrust that the Americans taking on technical challenges; is bent, the bottom of the car is til- show when they use a foreign pro- famed for knowing how to say no ted, with one side lower that the duct. Today however, after almost when it is necessary; and that knows other and the two front wings are fifteen years, Dallara has without how to start anything, but won't do at different angles. It looks like a any doubt become synonymous anything at any cost. walking albatross, clumsy and with safety and performance. For unwieldy; but at full speed, when it drivers, engineers and the cham- goes round a bend without hesita- pionship organisers it is impossible Andrea Toso, tion, it becomes an elegant and to imagine a future without Dallara, Head of R&D majestic cheetah in pursuit of prey. for its experience, reliability, service and US Racing Business Leader With audacity one can undertake anything, but not do everything. PIT LANE, Napoleone Bonaparte TRACK 3 INDY 500 INDY LA NOVITÀ A MIXTURE OF SPECTACLE AND EMOTION Alessandro Santini “Ladies and gentlemen, start your family. The race is unparalleled by engines!” This is the ritual command any other racing competition, for its that is given at the start of one of excitement, the emotions it evokes the most important and exciting and in particular for the cultural events in the history of racing, the values that it reaffirms. Indianapolis 500 mile race. The date of the race coincides every First said by Wilbur Shaw, president year with Memorial Day, the day in of the Speedway between 1946 and which Americans remember and 1954, the legendary circuit that has celebrate all those they lost in war, hosted the competition since 1911, at home and abroad, regardless of the phrase is still used every year by race, social status, or religious Mari Hulman George, current owner beliefs. The heroes, whose bravery of the oval together with all her was responsible for the success of 4 The pride to be part Borg-Warner Trophy that has been lifted by the winner since 1936. It weighs 45 kg At the side, the many faces of Indianapolis of Indy’s history Fifteen years ago we did not the circuit for two days, think we could win at mixing their passion for cars Indianapolis. It was such a with their love of life, music distant and improbable and even beer. It is an possibility that it did not opportunity to escape for so even feature in our dreams. many families that come to Then, through a good Indianapolis from all over rapport with Andy Evans, the States to camp on the who raced in Indycar lawns around the track. and in the Ferrari SP333 There is a two hour parade of that we designed, the main universities’ bands came the meeting with to celebrate the event but the owner of the also to acknowledge the Indianapolis circuit Tony national spirit and remember George, and the proposal to those who died at war. construct a new car for Indianapolis will allways Formula Indy. remind me of the emotion Since then, we have that Caterina and I felt strengthened our position in helping with that parade and the most important racing the pride we had for the event in America, perhaps winner on the finishing line, even the world, and our on Monday morning as string of victories has tradition dictates. become our crowning Unforgettable memories that achievement. always leave with me However, the“500 Miles” is emotion and nostalgia. not only a competition, it is an event for young people, Gian Paolo Dallara, who occupy the area around President of Dallara Auto 5 INDY 500 INDY A MIXTURE OF SPECTACLE AND EMOTION the American “melting pot”, and Governor of Indiana, the senators of qualifying was called Bump Day, who accompany the legends of the and heavily decorated veterans, whoever was still in a position to track in a mixture that almost has a actors and directors (this year Jack challenge could go out on the track religious aspect. Nicholson will be the guest of and attempt to grab last place from Thanks to its one hundred year honour), rappers and musicians, the person who is slowest in the history the competition is at the right up to the U.S. President. qualifying classification, described same level as the NBA and NCAA “God Bless America”, is sung by as being on the bubble. In the new basketball finals and the Superbowl; Florence Anderson, friend of regulations, Bump Day is also with enviable organization and Hulman-George family, underlining extended to the qualifying, which festival atmosphere, around 400,000 the pride of Americans who feel makes the race build up very people mainly from the Midwest, theirs is the nation chosen by God exiting. descend upon the speedway with to represents the values of liberty And so was born the drama of many more following on television and democracy to the world. drivers without cars and cars at home. The 500 Miles traditionally takes without drivers, fear of exclusion The pre-race build up is an event in place over the month of May, with and worry for those who risk not itself: from the impressive military the whole month being reserved for qualifying in a race where only the parades each with its own band and testing and qualification: around speed of the car is rewarded, anthem, to the veterans to whom forty cars compete for a place in the regardless of who is driving. In fact, the drivers honour (they start the finals in which only the top thirty- at Indianapolis it is possible for a race from the same spot a couple of three participate. Nowadays, due to driver to use a car that someone hours later) plus all the civil and budget limitations, the event is else qualified in. religious leaders, the bishop, the restricted to two weeks. As far as the actual race is Mayor of Indianapolis and the With the previous rules, the last day concerned, the cars begin with a 6 At the side, Scott Dixon’s crew during the pit stop and underneath, Tony Kanaan experiments with the famous Indianapolis walls: thanks to the safety of the Dallara car he got out without any consequences 7 LA NOVITÀ A MIXTURE OF SPECTACLE AND EMOTION rolling start, that is comprised of heroes. has been covered with asphalt, all eleven rows each with 3 cars. This At the end of the race the winner except the finishing line which year there will also be some two- and car are raised together on a remains intact and the winner still seaters where the driver will be platform almost five metres high, a kisses the bricks at the end of the accompanied by a chosen member metaphor that transforms the hero race.