GP2 Serial Startline Stall Saga

[TWRv12]

Has there ever been a top single seater or FIA C'ship with more stalled cars and aborted starts in history.

There has to something seriously wrong for there to be so many stalled cars on the grid. Could blame the drivers if happened on the odd occasion, but it happens alot more than that.

Why has the problem with the cars not been sorted?

Luckily no one has been seriously hurt yet...

[Jackman]

Does the fact that it's the same drivers who keep stalling not come into the equation? I think the other drivers know it, and factor that into their starts when they see who is in front of them.

[Russfeld]

I hope the new car is better for starts because as it is it looks silly seeing everyone leave the grid like they were intentionally doing dragster burnouts. It seems like you can either stall a GP2 car or press the smoke button. The only time I've ever seen someone hook up was when Villa pulled about the length of a football pitch on the field at Nurburgring(?). Though they seem to get out of the pits without too much drama...

[Jackman]

The speed differential between a race start and a pitlane exit is reasonably big, of course.

[Russfeld]

Its still a first gear start from 0mph

[Jackman]

With a speed limiter.

[Russfeld]

Someone should try doing a race start with the limiter on then, if it is acting as a faux TC, and then turn it off a fraction later.

[bradrive]

Originally Posted by TWRv12

There has to something seriously wrong for there to be so many stalled cars on the grid. Could blame the drivers if happened on the odd occasion, but it happens alot more than that.

There are various issues:

1) the mandatory clutch is a sintermetalic clutch, which if seeing too much heat will cause the frictionplates to stick, hence the clutch will not disengage anymore, if called to do so. Then a gearbox protection mode will not allow you to engage first or any other gears. That is catching some of the less experienced drivers out
2) the byte point of the clutch is changing in function of heat (drivers doing a practice start on the formation lap to feel where the clutch bites and not finding the point at the race start, because it has moved due to the heat in the clutch... and stalling)
3) antistall strategy (if improperly set by the team) causing a delay in getting into 1st gear after having called for and staying with neutral when the red lights go off.
4) engine water and oil temperatures too high when waiting at the startline, causing the engine ecu to go into protection mode. Everybody is using dryice on the dummy grid too keep the temps down. If people exagerate the cooling procedures the ecu goes into protection mode as well...
5) reliability of the clutch position sensor causing the engineers to set the clutch paddle incorrectly
5) high flywheel wear and some teams possibly not changing the flywheel causing a very harsh engagment of the clutch causing stalling.
Often the teams deal with various of these problems simultaniously
It is a major job to keep the car in the correct operating window at the start, and you basically spend much more time than with any other cars (except F1)to deal with the starting procedure.
Some teams have it more under control than others, and some drivers have more brains than others to deal with this delicate situation... It is really not easy.
Next year there will at least be a carbonfibre clutch.
Sorry to be that technical, but that is the way it is.

[bradrive]

Originally Posted by Russfeld

Someone should try doing a race start with the limiter on then, if it is acting as a faux TC, and then turn it off a fraction later.

Tried in February 2005, does not work...

[Alex K]

I think, governor should issue special test session for newcomers to the series. This would help solve some problems, not only with starts but with speed of newcomers, etc. Sligtly off-top, but I hope you get my point.

[TWRv12]

Originally Posted by bradrive

There are various issues:
Next year there will at least be a carbonfibre clutch.

But its still the same Meccachrome gearbox setup otherwise

[roachy101]

bit embarrasing for the drivers especially isport. didn't do glock any favours

[Sev]

To be honest, whilst GP2 is low tech and all, I can't help thinking that putting in a formula 1 style anti-stall mechanism might be a good idea. Not a start-assist, just something to stop them cocking it up.

[Jackman]

The problem is all five of them did the same thing: the Spa grid is on an incline, the new tarmac there is super grippy, they all had max throttle which cuts the engine down to one (variable) cylinder, and so the trumpets had too much fuel in them when it came time to go.

In much the same way that Zuber was the quickest guy through Eau Rouge despite being off the power for the longest to sort his car's line (Filippi was the only one to go flat), for the start they'd be better off on half throttle before the start so their engine works efficiently to get away properly.

[Suze]

they need to sort it out, Lapierre stalled at the start of the sprint race....