Jeff Gordon's Chevy Monte Carlo only seats one. But when number 24 flies around a Nascar track at 200 mph, it's jacked into a well-coordinated team of technicians, engineers, and IT specialists. Here's a look behind the scenes - and under the hood.
ANALYZE THIS
During test laps, a black box on the floorboard collects up to 150 megs of performance data about the engine, chassis, suspension, tires - all of the car's vital systems. After 30 laps or so, the info is downloaded onto a laptop PC server, where it can be analyzed, and used to fine-tune the car on race day. Nascar strictly forbids downloads during competition.
PC ON BOARD
When racing, Gordon's view of the track is severely limited by his helmet and the driver safety cage. To help him, spotters monitor traffic and then radio information and instructions to him ("Crash on turn two. Heads up!"). He also wirelessly receives his stats, such as lap times and speed, via the tablet PC on his dashboard.
IM ADVISERS
Crew members instant-message one another mid-race with suggested tweaks for boosting the car's performance. Using data from earlier tests, engineers pre-assess the consequences of these changes. Adjusting the air pressure in the tires, for instance, might add a little mileage and forestall a pit stop.
SLIPPERY WHEN WET
Weather is critical to Nascar racing, so Gordon's team uses a satellite link to pull down up-to-the-minute forecasts. During its pre-race tests, the crew also connects to team HQ in Charlotte, North Carolina, where engineers run tests on a mechanical simulator called a dyno, then offer advice on further adjusting the car's settings.
COLLECTIVE WISDOM
Engineers working on other cars owned by Hendrick Motorsports - including those driven by Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, and Brian Vickers - share performance data via a Wi-Fi network. Before and after races, they compare stats among cars and use computer sims to come up with the best specs for each vehicle.
- Chuck Lenatti
credit: Photo by Getty Images
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