How fast can Indy cars go? – Automotive Racing

How fast can Indy cars go? Well, to give you an idea, Indy cars can go the length of a football field and then some in less than a second. Takeoff speeds for jet aircraft range from 160 to 180 miles per hour. Throw some flaps or slats and a pair of wings on an Indy car, point it into the wind and take off; that’s how fast Indy cars can go.

In 1911, Ray Harroun won the first Indianapolis 500 averaging just 75 mph. However, how fast can an Indy car go today? Average Indy car speeds today range from 185 to speeds of over 230 miles per hour. Rating speeds range from 215 to 227 miles per hour. The lowest qualifying speed was recorded in 1912 when Theodore Pilette ran 75.52 mph for a quarter mile. Back then, you had to run at least 75 mph in a quarter mile to qualify. Kenny Brack achieved the fastest speed recorded in qualifying with 227.598 mph in a quarter in 2005, followed by Billy Boat in 2002, running a quarter at 226.589.

So when you ask how fast Indy Cars can go, think about this. Indy cars can accelerate from zero to 100 mph in less than three seconds and burn through a gallon of gas in less than two miles. Drivers experience the G-force while driving around curves on the track equal to what the space shuttle leaves behind on a launch pad. At speeds of 220 miles per hour, Indy cars generate 5,000 pounds of downforce. At that speed, the tread of racing tires takes on a tar-like consistency, which helps the car stick to the track.

Indy cars have evolved over time to higher levels of sophistication. In the early 20th century, speeds of 125 mph on the track were considered impressive. The rules have changed as technology has improved and racing organizations ensure the safety of drivers and fans alike. With the strict rules and regulations, today’s Indy cars are much safer than their earlier counterparts such as roadster designs.

In 2010, the Indy Racing League will implement new engine rules that will allow the return of turbocharged engines rated at around 750 horsepower; Have 4 or 6 cylinders. The current specifications in the regulations are a power of 650 CV. 3.5-liter Indy cars on average produce over 675 horsepower, which is four times more than the average car. So when you ask how fast Indy cars can go, an average of 220 mph is pretty fast, but we can expect to see even faster accelerations and speeds on the racetracks in the near future.