US GP: The Formula One car

THE FORMULA ONE CAR

A look at the technical specifications of the Formula One cars that will compete at the SAP United States Grand Prix on Sept. 27-29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway:

ENTRANTS

*Each entrant must construct its chassis and enter two cars and drivers in all races of the season. Any entrant that misses a race may have to pay a substantial fine unless it can prove extraordinary extenuating circumstances. The total entry is limited to 12 two-car teams. This year, there are 11 two-car teams.

CAR DIMENSIONS

*Height: Overall height cannot exceed 37.4 inches (95 cm).

*Width: Overall width cannot exceed 70.87 inches (180 cm).

*Minimum weight: 1,322.77 pounds (600 kg), including driver.

*Maximum complete wheel width: Front - 13.98 inches (35.5 cm). Rear - 14.97 inches (38 cm).

*Minimum complete wheel width: Front - 12.02 inches (30.5 cm). Rear - 14.38 inches (36.5 cm).

*Maximum complete wheel diameter: 26 inches (66 cm), dry tires; 26.4 inches (67 cm), wet tires.

Note: A complete wheel is the wheel rim with an inflated tire fitted.

TIRES

*Four circumferencial grooves on each dry-weather tire. The grooves are at least .01 of an inch (2.5 mm) deep, and .552 of an inch (14 mm) wide at the top and .04 of an inch (10 mm) wide at the bottom.

ENGINE

*The engine must be a 3-liter (183 cubic inches) V10 four-stroke with reciprocating pistons. Supercharging and turbocharging are forbidden.

*Engines may have no more than five valves per cylinder.

*Basic materials of the crankshaft and camshaft must be made from steel or cast iron. Pistons, cylinder heads and cylinder blocks may not be composite structures that use carbon- or aramid-fiber reinforcing materials.

*Formula One engines generate up to approximately 850 horsepower.

*Formula One engines have a maximum rpm of approximately 19,000.

FUEL

*Formula One fuels are unleaded and composed of components normally found in commercial fuels. Before the event, the competitor must submit a fuel sample for analysis and approval by the FIA. Fuel samples taken during the course of the event must match the footprint of the original sample.

FUEL TANK

*The fuel tank must be a single rubber bladder tank that conforms to required safety regulations and is situated between the driver and the engine.

ELECTRONICS

*Electronic driver aids such as anti-lock brakes, torque steering and "active" suspension are forbidden.

*Traction control and launch control are legal.

TRANSMISSION

*Automatic gearboxes are legal.

*The number of forward gears permitted is four to seven. Reverse gear must also be fitted.

SUSPENSION

*All cars must be fitted with sprung suspension. Computerized "active" suspension systems are forbidden.

COCKPIT

*The driver must be able to undo his safety belts, remove the steering wheel and climb out of the cockpit in five seconds and then replace the steering wheel in a total of 10 seconds.

DRIVER'S SEAT

*The driver seat must be able to be removed from the car with the driver still in it.

RULE CHANGES FOR 2002

*Radio signals may now pass bidirectionally between cars and pits.

*No system that is capable of detecting the race start signal is permitted.

*Electronically controlled power steering systems are no longer permitted.

*The size of the rear-view mirrors has been increased by 20 percent.

*Wheel tether strength has been increased by 20 percent.

*The size of the rear light has been increased by 50 percent.

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