Its an impossible comparison. Each are different. CART cars are quicker top end than F1 but F1 cars are built to differnt specs and for different kinds of circuits (no ovals). So round Monaco an F1 car is king, round this weekends race in Germany Carts would maybe pull away on the straights although this is about the fastest F1 cars go though - near 220 at Hockenhim.

 

greater horsepower doesnt have anything to do with it. its all horsepower to weigh ratio - that's the idea. top speed of F1 cars, yea they are limited, yea you might see them touch 200mph once or twice a year, but they will reach 100mph much quicker than any other car, and they will generate more downforce than all the other cars combined (generalization, slight exaggeration but some truth to it).

lots of interesting facts here:
http://www.f1mech.co.uk/

 

Here is my take.

Champ cars do have very powerful engines. But, that is the only advantage they are going to have over F1. F1 are lighter, more stream line aero dynamically designed and more sophisticated. Just look at how many wings F1 has on its cars. With all its being said, F1 does corner better, brake faster (unbelievably short stopping distance) and accelerate faster too.

I think F1 is going to win hands down with no contest.

 

Easy.

Racing is almost always equivalent to $$$. Just look at the budget and you should know the winner.

Given the technical changes in a year on F1 cars, they would have tons of tricks up their sleeve to built a car maximized for any given circuit condition, with any kind of rules, anytime.


Seriously, I'd rather have a "Powered by $$$" than "Powered by Honda" (or BMW or what have you).

 

Me thinks you speak of apples and oranges. If they raced at Monoco, F1, no doubt; if they raced at Indy, probably CART. I don't think either could stand up to the rigors of twenty-four hours at LeMans.

 

This is NOT relavant any more but there is a '91 F1 Ferrari that races at the Road America during the Vintage events and there is early 90's CART cars as well. Not to mention the 962's, GT40's and other great racing cars from years past.

Let's just say the the F1 car dominates. Not by a little bit, by alot.

It just blows the door off of everything out there.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Schatten
[B]greater horsepower doesnt have anything to do with it.

 

Seriously, do you think an F1 team would have any problem building a car with 240 mph top speed?? I think not.

The reason that F1 cars "only" have 225 mph top speed is due to race conditions. Most of the circuits are probably too short to allow acceleration to 240 mph. So, if they aren't going to go up to that speed, why waste the gearing??

Second reason is probably the aerodynamic configuration. Downforce might be more important in F1 than it is in CART, so they run their cars with more downforce, which cost them drag for high speed.

Now if Ferrari was challenged to a race in an oval, they can just change the gearing and aero configuration for maximum performance in oval track. And given the budget size, I'm pretty sure they'll come up with something that will allow them to outrun any CART team.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lupin
[B]

 

[QUOTE]First of all, it's not me saying this, I'm just quoting them.