IndyCar
CHAMPCAR/CART: Racing Electronics Pt. 4
The Electronic Senses of a Champ Car The Final Installment of a Four-Part Series Relating Racing Electronics to the Human Body PLYMOUTH, Mich. (Sept. 2, 1998) -- As human beings, we rely on five critical senses to monitor our surroundings: our ...
Edited: Mar 27, 2008, 5:34 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Electronic Senses of a Champ Car
The Final Installment of a Four-Part Series Relating Racing Electronics to the Human Body
PLYMOUTH, Mich. (Sept. 2, 1998) -- As human beings, we rely on five critical senses to monitor our surroundings: our sense of smell, hearing, touch, sight and taste gather important information.
Champ cars rely on senses as well. They have approximately 45 electronic sensors which monitor their environment. On the eight Mercedes-Benz powered Champ cars utilizing the IC108E engine, these sensors are located throughout the engine, transmission and chassis.
These sensors provide information to the Magneti Marelli electronics and fuel management system, which was developed specifically for the IC108E. They can monitor movement, temperature, pressure, and even determine the chemical properties in the intake and exhaust gases.
"When you read your fuel or temperature gauge on the dash of your personal car, you are reading information gathered by a sensor," said Giancarlo De Angelis, manager of Magneti Marelli's motor sports program. "The sensors on a street car let the driver know the car is working properly. It is the same on a race car. Our sensors collect information that is crucial for the engine management system to operate properly.
"The most important sensors are located inside the engine to tell us exactly what is happening at all times. This information is fed to the Magneti Marelli engine control unit and data logger, as well as to the engineers in the pits for monitoring.
"There are sensors for engine temperature, various pressures, fuel consumption, speed, rpm and many other parameters," continued De Angelis. "All of this information tells us exactly what is happening with the engine at all times."
Depending on the application, one sensor can range in price from just a few dollars up to $2,000. Considering the value of the data these sensors supply, it is not a high price to pay -- especially when you consider the value of the engines and race cars they help protect. Race-ready Champ cars each cost in the neighborhood of $1 million.
What is most remarkable is the sensors work despite being exposed to extreme heat and vibration, as well as to fuel, oil and water. "Our engineers spend several hours a day, sometimes seven days a week, analyzing the data these sensors provide," said Paul Ray, vice president of Ilmor Engineering, the race-engine design and manufacturing arm of Mercedes-Benz. "We use this information to improve the performance of the car, prevent problems on the track and to keep the driver safe. If we see a problem, we can bring the car in before it gets to the point where it could be a safety hazard."
Various sensor types which feed information to the Magneti Marelli Engine and Fuel Management System on the Mercedes-Benz IC108E:
* Temperature * Pressure (oil, fuel, water) * Acceleration * Braking * G-force (gravity) * Steering Angle * Suspension (shocks) * Load Cell (on suspension, measures the weight on the wheels) * Pitot Tube (measures air speed)
Based in Milan, Magneti Marelli is an international supplier of automotive components and systems, including: engine control systems, instrument panels, air conditioning systems, lighting, fuel delivery systems, mirrors, exhaust systems, mechanical and electronic components, shock absorbers and lubricants. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, Marelli's clients include Chrysler, Ferrari, Fiat, Ford, General Motors and Harley-Davidson, contributing to combined worldwide sales of more than $3.9 billion.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article IRL: Brack Looks to Second Race at Texas
Next article IRL: Steele Fresh Start at Texas
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
Latest news
Red Bull finds ‘disconnect’ in RB22 in F1 Mexico GP practice
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
13 min
Red Bull finds ‘disconnect’ in RB22 in F1 Mexico GP practice
MotoGP Malaysian GP: Full starting grid after Jorge Martin's withdrawal
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
25 min
MotoGP Malaysian GP: Full starting grid after Jorge Martin's withdrawal
Why tensions between MotoGP and riders have escalated amid Qatar row
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
41 min
Why tensions between MotoGP and riders have escalated amid Qatar row
Alex Marquez considering surgery next week, could miss Qatar GP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
Alex Marquez considering surgery next week, could miss Qatar GP
Feature
Discover prime content
How Spanish engineering and Alex Palou brought IndyCar to Barcelona
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
How Spanish engineering and Alex Palou brought IndyCar to Barcelona
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
IndyCar
By Joey Barnes
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe