I wonder if we should shift CGRearSetting to something like 0 or 1 on default oval setups. Seems to be the only way to get the rear end to stick properly with the current tires. Newcomers wouldn't be so put-off by the oval performance if they didn't have to go searching for this setup tip.
Indeed Begee, I have been testing and learning more about modding the physics. Understand a lot of steering and suspension geometry now. Just learning how to work with the spread sheet ptool etc. These cars steering is not as tight at others when I compare them to formula NA 2018 and isi f2012. Once I get all the data into the spread sheet I will seek some counsel from some physics members. The spread sheet appears to be the proper way to truly solve geometry. Shows your KPI, scrub, cambers, caster and toes angles and takes the guess work out of tweaking. Will have a sample out some time in sept that will have the ability to select different engines ffb transmissions etc in the upgrades for testing. Focused on road course first then ovals. I re-meshed Milwaukee for the second time and plan to use it as a short track tester. Cleveland became a bigger project than i anticipated but it is re-meshed, and working on the bumps currently. 98 format is really just removing many track objects and adding a few new ones. Belle Isle 98 is at tree and fans stage now.
Anyone else interested in steering geometry i posted a great video series I found in Car Modding https://forum.studio-397.com/index.php?threads/steering-geometry-fantastic-video-series.70280/
Please forgive me if I have or someone else has mentioned it before, but would it be helpful to look at the CART Extreme mod for Automobilista files since it had updated physics over the original CART Factor mod for rFactor? Version 1.5 of it (1.501 is current) supposedly has turbo modeling as well. https://www.racedepartment.com/downloads/cart-extreme.10810/
There will be a Reynard Flex Chassis tester soon... and potentially a 98 track version to rip it up on!
Great work! Look forward to testing it out. I have nearly finished my Penske graphics update, so I will show it off soon.
That is great Diggerhawk. That Lola looked so amazing and I cant wait for you to do the Reynards and Swifts. The Penske is actually the one that needs the most work for the handling. I am entering all the spread sheet data and trying to figure out why the front end has no bite, I have played with KPI Caster in Ptool and it helps some but I think the weight inertia is off on that one. The best cars that year were the Reynard and Swift anyway as the Penske and Lola were not competitive. Penske was better in ovals.
As a biased Al Unser, Jr. and Team Penske fan, here is a Racecar Engineering article that has some good data that the Penske PC27 may have been a pretty good chassis saddled with bad tires and a mediocre engine. If you would like to make the chassis more competitive than it is in CART Factor and CART Extreme, be my guest. Note also that the 2000 and 2001 "Reynske" chassis incorporated many elements from the 1998 PC27 and 1999 PC27B. https://twitter.com/lijianrong64/status/1326161196731432960
Oh yes, I have watched and re-watch many of those 98 races when working on tracks. I also recall at least 5 gear box blowups for JR and Ribiero. Worse was Tracy in a competitive KOOL car couldn't keep it it together having one of his worst years ever lol. Will get the Penske more drivable for sure. It is next to impossible to track any meaningful spec on these cars so unfortunately it will be by basic geometry aero power and feel. The Reynard had no king pin inclination and the front COG didn't ever register a number. So, a few basic geometry improvements plus the flex chassis and other tweaks is where it is at.
Sounds like you've done your homework! 1998 Al Jr. results - Top Goodyear finisher 5x, Top Mercedes-Benz/Ilmor finisher 5x
Like @USCTrojan4JC , I too was a huge Al Jr fan. But NOT so much his time with Penske. (although he did win both an Indy 500 AND a series championship with Team Red/White.) Indeed, going back to 1995, the year Jacques Villenueve won the series championship, Unser Jr was in position to win the Championship DESPITE having horrendous Goodyear tires. One of Penske's business models has always been to buy into suppliers and become a partner. This provided him with direct access to parts and information. Unfortunately, it also tied him to suppliers(Illmor/Goodyear) when the other brand(Honda/Ford/Firestone/Bridgestone) was clearly superior. At that season's final race, Goodyear supplied their teams with what was essentially a modified qualifying tire. For about 10 laps it could match the pace of the Firestone cars and then it would fall off a cliff. It was pathetic. By the time 1998 came around, Little Al, wasn't so little, or motivated.
I completely forgot that Al had to use a 1997 PC26 for the Nazareth race. At least the chassis got figured out for the Milwaukee race.
As promised here is the finished graphics update to the Penske PC-27. A bit of early morning running on a wet Portland track.
I like F1 very much, especially the historic era's. The nostalgia and the politics is always super interesting. It is the variety of the tracks in indy ppg cart champ that has always been super interesting for me. Permanent road Short track Street circuit Speedway Airport Super Speedway 400,000 spectators at Indy has some apparent draw too........
That looks stunning! Hopefully it doesn't take long to transfer the settings to the other cars! Really looking forward to it. Now only if there was more period correct tracks for those...
