0% found this document useful (0 votes)
3K views27 pages

Iracing Setup Guide

The document is a draft iRacing setup guide written by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Barry Waddell that defines chassis adjustments for road course and oval cars. It explains the purpose of the guide is to define each adjustment listed in the garage and explain how adjustments can address understeer or oversteer through the corner. Key points emphasized are that it is better to start with the baseline setup and make small, deliberate changes while establishing a baseline lap time to evaluate changes.

Uploaded by

noroardanto
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
3K views27 pages

Iracing Setup Guide

The document is a draft iRacing setup guide written by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Barry Waddell that defines chassis adjustments for road course and oval cars. It explains the purpose of the guide is to define each adjustment listed in the garage and explain how adjustments can address understeer or oversteer through the corner. Key points emphasized are that it is better to start with the baseline setup and make small, deliberate changes while establishing a baseline lap time to evaluate changes.

Uploaded by

noroardanto
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

DRAFT

iRacingSetupGuide
(WithTechnicalContributionsbyDaleEarnhardtJr.&BarryWaddell)

Contents
1) Purpose:................................................................................................................................................2 2) ImportantPoints:..................................................................................................................................3 3) Definitions:............................................................................................................................................4 4) RoadCourseChassis.............................................................................................................................5 a) Tires...................................................................................................................................................5 i) FrontandRear..............................................................................................................................5

b) Camber..............................................................................................................................................5 c) Caster................................................................................................................................................6

d) Toe....................................................................................................................................................6 e) RollBars............................................................................................................................................7 f) g) BrakeBias..........................................................................................................................................8 SpringPerchOffset...........................................................................................................................9

h) CornerWeights.................................................................................................................................9 i) j) k) v) Wings..............................................................................................................................................10 Springs.............................................................................................................................................11 Dampers(Shocks)...........................................................................................................................11 Compression(Front)...................................................................................................................12

vi) Compression(Rear).....................................................................................................................12 vii) viii) l) m) Rebound(Front)......................................................................................................................12 Rebound(Rear).......................................................................................................................13

Gears...............................................................................................................................................13 PushRodLength(InsertGraphicDepictingPushRod)...............................................................13

iii) Front:...........................................................................................................................................13 iv) Rear:............................................................................................................................................14 5) OvalChassis ........................................................................................................................................14 . a) Front:...............................................................................................................................................14

DRAFT

Page1of27

DRAFT
b) LeftFront: .......................................................................................................................................16 . c) RightRear:.......................................................................................................................................17

d) RightFront......................................................................................................................................17 e) LeftRear..........................................................................................................................................18 6) RacingTerms.......................................................................................................................................19 7) QuickReferenceGuide.......................................................................................................................26

DRAFT

Page2of27

DRAFT
1) Purpose:
a) [Link] MotorsportSimulation. b) Explainsthefunctionofeachadjustment. c) Explainshowtoselectadjustmentsthatmayaddressthecarsdeficienciesinthebeginning, middleandendofacorner.

2) ImportantPoints:
a) [Link] [Link] repeatablelaptimethatwillserveasabaselinetodeterminewhetherachangehelpsorhurts. UtilizingtheTimeTrialsessionswithinthesimulationisagreattooltohelpestablishabaseline. Whenyouclearlycantdecreaseyourlaptimewiththecarasitis,thenyoucanbegintoadjust thecar. b) Ifyoumakeseveralmajoradjustmentsatonce,youwillalmostsurelymakethecarworserather [Link],oneatatimefashion,sothatyoucan [Link]! c) Driveability,whichisdefinedasmakingthecarrespondbettertothedriversinputs,isoftenthe [Link]! d) [Link] maymakeanadjustmentforaparticularproblemontrackandcreateanegativeresponse [Link] potentialnegativeeffectinthecarsbehaviorisalwaysinvolvedinevaluatingthevalueofa [Link]:Theexceptionisbrakebiaswhenthereisnobrakepedalpressure. e) [Link] continuum,[Link]! f) Youcouldthinkofthecargoingthroughthecornerastheproverbialrockonastring,butits moreusefulinthisanalogytothinkofitastworocksandtwostrings,wherethefrontaxleis [Link],generally, [Link] first,itfeelstothedriverlikehe/[Link] tireslosegripfirst,itfeelstothedriverasthoughthebackendofthecaristryingtocome [Link].

g) Ovaltrackandroadracersuseslightlydifferentvocabulariestodescribetheadjustmentsmade [Link] torememberisthatthelawsofphysicsarethesamewhetheryouareracingonanovalora roadcourse.

DRAFT

Page3of27

DRAFT
3) Definitions:
a) UNDERsteer:[Link] [Link] thesteeringinputorradiuswoulddictateandthedriverwillneedtoaddsteeringinthe [Link],thedrivercantaddenoughsteeringto preventthecarfromrunningofftheroad,whichitwilldonosefirst. b) OVERsteer:[Link] [Link] OVERsteersteadystate,trailingthrottle,power,brakebiasinduced,andaerodynamically [Link]. Easingoffonthesteeringwithoutmakinganysuddenmoveswiththethrottlecanbringtherear ofthecarbackundercontrol,butifthecarisgoingtoofast,orthedriverdoesntrespondquick enough,thecarwillspin,andtendtogooffthetrackbackwards. c) Committomemorythebasicsequenceofacorner:BrakingPoint,Entry(turnin),MidCorner (apex)andExit(trackout). i) BrakePoint:Aspecificreferenceonornexttothetrackwhichdriversusetostartthe [Link] [Link] BrakingPoint.(Learntomaintainthepressureonthebrakethatkeepsthecarat [Link] downforcethisisasteadypressurejustshortofbrakelockupthroughoutthebraking [Link] needtobemodulated,decreasingasthecarslowsdownandthereislessdownforcebeing appliedtothetires.)

ii) TurnIn:Thepointatwhichthedriverfirstturnsthesteeringwheel,transitioningthecar fromthestraightintothecorner. iii) Apex:Theclippingpointontheinsideofacornerwherethecarisatthecorrectanglefora perfectexitontothenextsectionoftrack. iv) TrackOut:Thepointthatthecartouchestheoutsideedgeoftheroadattheexitofa [Link] throughthewheel.

DRAFT

Page4of27

DRAFT
4) RoadCourseChassis
a) Tires
i) FrontandRear i) (1) Idealtirepressureisdeterminedbytheloadthetirecarrieshigherpressureshandle [Link],inaheaviercar,orabankedturn,orcompressionatthe baseofahill,moregripwillberetainedwithhigherpressures,whereaswithlighter loads,lowerpressurestendtogivebettergrip. (2) IncreasingthepressurewillineffectSTIFFENthesidewallofthetire,whichmakesthe tiremoreresponsivetothedriversinputs,particularlyduringtheinitialturninfora [Link] [Link],bumps,curbsandviolentinputsfromthedrivermayresultin alossoftraction. (3) [Link],the complianceimprovesand,generally,[Link] becomelessresponsivetodriverinputs,(i.e.,thecarfeelssluggish). ii) ColdPressure:Ameasurementofinflationpressure(measuredinpsipoundsper squareinch)whenthetireisatambienttemperatureinthepits,beforehavingbeenrunon theracetrack. iii) LastHotPressure:Thisisthetirepressureasrecordedwhenyouexityourcar,orpullinto yourpitstall,[Link],sodoesthepressure [Link],thispressurewillstabilizeafterafewlaps. iv) LastTempsOMI:Thisisthetiretemperatureasrecordedwhenyouexityourcar,orpull intoyourpitstall,[Link] displayedwithreadingstakenattheouteredge(O),middle(M)andinneredge(I). Generallyspeaking,[Link] ofthumbisthatthetemperaturedifferentialshouldbeabout10degrees(+/5)fromthe outertoinneredgeofthetire,withtheinneredgebeingthehottest. TirePressures:Probablythemostpowerfulyoucanmakeasthetiresperformanceishasa strongeffecteverypartofalap.

b) Camber
(1) AnalignmentmeasurementofhowmuchthetopofatireistiltedINtowardorOUT [Link],suchas1.0to2.0, thetopofthetireistiltedINtowardthecenterofthecar.

DRAFT

Page5of27

DRAFT
(2) Camberchangeisanadjustmentintendedtooptimizethetirescontactpatchasthecar [Link],camberchanges aremosteffectiveintuningthecarforthemidcorner(apex)duringmaximum corneringloads. (a) Front:Ifgripatmidcorner(apex)isdesired,ADDINGnegativecambertothe [Link] tiltedin,lesscontactpatchisontheroadwheninastraightline,andthereforeless performanceisavailablethenegativeeffectofADDINGnegativecamberisin straightlinefunctionssuchasbrakingwherethetirewillhaveatendencytolockup [Link] UNDERsteerslide,[Link] knownasaFLATslide. (b) REAR:Ifgripatmidcornerisdesired,[Link] compromiseintherearisthattoomuchnegativecambermaycausesnapexit OVERsteerandexcessivetirewear.

c) Caster
(1) Analignmentmeasurementonthefrontsuspensionthatrelatesthetirecontactpatches [Link],theforcesattemptingtostraightenthesteering wheelwillincrease. (2) Casterchangesinroadracingarebestusedtoadjusttheamountofsteeringwheel [Link] incornerexitorallthewaythroughhighspeedcorners. Note:[Link] simplythenatureofthesesuspensiongeometries.

d) Toe
i) Analignmentsettingthatrepresentsthedirectionthetwotiresofeitherthefrontorrear [Link](s)ispointedabsolutely [Link],forexample,both fronttiresaresettobepointingINtowardthecenterline(i.e.,pigeontoed),theythen havepositive(+)[Link] inchesormmandrepresentsthedeviationoffzerotoeandiscumulative.

ii) Havingthetwotiresonanaxleslightlyworkingagainsteachotherkeepsthecarstableover [Link]

DRAFT

Page6of27

DRAFT
[Link],mostcarshaveabaselinesettingwith oneaxlerunning(+)TOEandtheotherrunning()TOE. (1) FrontToe:Thisisapowerfultooltotunehowthecarbehavesinastraightlineandat cornerentry. (a) ToeIn(+):AddingTOEshouldincreasestabilityinthebrakingzonesandslowdown [Link] [Link] havingthetirespointedstraight,themorestraightawayspeedsarenegatively affected. (b) ToeOut():IncreasingTOEOUTwillhavethelargesteffectatcornerentryby [Link] straightlinespeedandstability. (2) RearToe:Thisadjustmentaffectsthegeneralfeelandbehavioroftherearthroughout thecorner. (a) ToeIn(+):Generally,havingtheoutsideloadedtireinacornerslightlypointedIN ortowardtheapexofacornerhelpsreargripandoverallstability. (b) ToeOut():Atcornerentrytheoutsidetireisslightlypointedtotheoutsideofthe [Link] [Link],Toeoutisonlyusedinroadracingcarstocombata significantUNDERsteerconditionthatcannotbeotherwiseaddressed.

e) RollBars
i) [Link],thecorneringforcescausethe chassistolean,orroll,[Link] belimitedinordertokeepsidetosidetireloadingandthecamberofthetiresinthe [Link] barsaretransversespringsdesignedtoactonlywhenthecarisrolling;theymaybefittedto [Link] understeer/oversteerbalanceofthecarduringcornering,whichitaccomplishesbyfine tuningtheamountofloadthattransferstotheoutsidetiresatthefrontversustherear.A stifferantirollbaratoneendofthecarwillincreasetheloadontheoutsidetireatthat [Link],theloadtransferredwillremainthesame,butoverall chassisrollwillbereduced,whichmayrequireacamberadjustment. ii) Remember,oneoftheprimarygoalsistofindagoodbalancebetweengripatthefrontand [Link] INCREASEinrollresistance,[Link]

DRAFT

Page7of27

DRAFT
rollbar,andonsomecars,[Link] barsatall,inwhichcaseanytuningofrollstiffnessmustbedonewiththeregularwheel springs. iii) FrontAntiRollBar:Apowerfultuningtooltoaffecttheoverallbehaviorofthecar. (1) Stiffer:WillincreaseoverallcarstabilityandshiftthecarsbalancetowardUNDERsteer (push),[Link] compromisecanbeonbumpsand/[Link], sowhenonetirehitsabumptheentirefrontaxlewillbeaffectedthroughalossof overallgrip. (2) Softer:WillshiftthecarsbalancetowardOVERsteer(orlessUNDERsteer.)Andthe frontwillimproveincompliance,whichimprovesperformanceinbrakezonesandover bumps. iv) RearAntiRollBar:Avaluabletoolfortuningthebehaviorofthecarparticularlyfrommid cornerouttotheexit. (1) Stiffer:Asyouaddthrottlethroughthecornerwhilethesteeringwheelisstillturned, [Link] [Link],thecompromiseisin compliance;apossibleSNAPorFLATOVERsteermayresultifrearantirollbarisTOO stiff. (2) Softer:Allowsmorerollatthebackofthecar,whichwillbemostevidentatcorner [Link],[Link],comparedto arearbarthatisTOOstiff,theexitOVERsteerconditionwillbemoregradualinsteadof asnap,hencethephraserollOVERsteer.

f) BrakeBias
i) Asacardecelerates,loadtransferstothefronttires,whichgenerallyimprovestheirgrip, [Link] brakingforcesbetweenfrontandrear(brakebias)inordertomaximizeoverallbraking [Link],thebrakebias settingwillalsohaveaneffectonthecarsturninbalance. ii) IncreasingFrontbias:Shownasalargernumber,increasingbrakebiastothefrontwillput [Link] [Link] reartiresarebeingunderutilizedandoverallbrakingefficiencywillsuffer.

iii) ReducingFrontbias:Thisputsmorebrakingonthereartires,which,withinlimits,improves [Link],though,[Link], [Link],toomuchrearbrakebias,particularlyif

DRAFT

Page8of27

DRAFT
thedriverisnotbrakinginastraightlineorhasweakfootworkondownshifts,cancausethe reartirestolockup,whichputsthecarinadynamicallyunstableconditionthatcaneasily [Link],the carwillhaveatendencytorotate(OVERsteer)atcornerentryuponbrakerelease.

g) SpringPerchOffset
i) [Link]/damperunits,the springperchoffsetisthedistancefromthespringseatofthespringperch(orshockcollar) [Link],reducing thisoffsetwillextendtheshock(raisingtherideheightatthatcornerofthecar),whereas increasingitwillcollapsetheshock(loweringtherideheight).Thisnumbersimply representsthelengtheningorshorteningofthespringwithzerobeingabaselinestarting [Link](lefttoright)rideheightsandspringratesareverycommonin ovaltracktuning,inthevastmajorityofcases,keepingthecarsymmetrical(lefttoright)is [Link]. Noticethatwhenrideheightchangesaremadesymmetrically,theatrestcornerweights willgenerallystaythesame;itisindynamiccircumstances([Link]) thathandlingperformancechangesoccur.

NOTE:ThetermusedwhencomparingthefrontrideheighttotherearrideheightisRAKE. Whenthefrontsuspensionissetlowerthantherear,thecarissaidtohavePOSITIVERAKE. ii) Front: (1) IncreasingOffset:[Link] weighttofront,improvingfronttiregripandthusshiftingthebalancetoless UNDERsteerand/ormoreOVERsteer. (2) DecreasingOffset:[Link] therear,improvingthegripofthetiresatthatendofthecarandshiftingthehandling balancetowardUNDERsteer. iii) Rear: (1) IncreasingOffset:LOWERStherideheightattherear,whichshiftsweightandgripto [Link]. (2) DecreasingOffset:RAISEStherideheightattherear,whichshiftsweightandgripto [Link].

h) CornerWeights
iv) [Link] above,rideheightsandcornerweightsshouldalmostalwaysbesymmetric(sidetoside)for [Link],

DRAFT

Page9of27

DRAFT
whenrideheightchangesaremadesymmetrically,theatrestcornerweightswillgenerally staythesame;itisindynamiccircumstances(i.e.,whilerunningonthetrack)thathandling [Link] thegarage,becauseofcaster,havingthewheelturnedwillshiftthebaselinecornerweights andcausedifferencesincornerweightsoncethesteeringisreturnedtothestraightahead position.

i) Wings
i) [Link] magicofawingisthatitproducesloadonthetireswhichtranslatestoincreasedcorner speedandinthecaseofverypowerfulcars,strongeraccelerationoffthecornerwithout [Link] increasesasvehiclespeed(andthereforethespeedoftheairoverthewing)increases, albeitwithaconcurrentincreaseinaerodynamicdragthatslowsthecarsstraightaway speed. ii) Differentwingdesignshavedifferentlift/dragratios,butinmostracingclassestodaythe [Link] [Link], whichisgivenindegrees,[Link] thepointthatthewingbecomesaerodynamicallystalled,astheangleofattackincreasesso doesthelevelofdownforce,aswellastheamountofdrag,whichslowsstraightaway speeds.(Astalledwingproducestheworstofallpossibleworlds;downforceisgreatly reducedanddragincreasessharply.) iii) Itisimportanttonotethatwithproperlyadjustedwings,thespeedlostonthestraightaway [Link] doesthecarspendlesstimenegotiatingthecorner,butthesharplyincreasedspeedat whichthecarentersthestraightwaymeansashortertimefromtheexitofonecornerto theentryofthenext,evenifterminalspeedonthestraightawayisdecreased. iv) FrontWing:Typicallyusedasatuningtooltobalancewiththerearwing. (1) Raisingtheangleofattackofthefrontwing:Increasestheleveloffrontgrip,especially atthehigherspeedsections,[Link] compromiseisanincreaseindrag,butasimilarchangetotherearwingwillgenerally resultinanevengreaterincreaseindrag. v) RearWing:Tendstobemuchlargerthanthefrontwingandhasamajoreffectonthecars overallperformance.

DRAFT

Page10of27

DRAFT
(1) Raisingtherearwing:Shownasanincreaseindegreesofangleofattack,willaddgrip [Link] straightlinespeedswillbelower. (2) Loweringtherearwing:Shownasadecreaseindegreesofangleofattack,willreduce thereargriplevelwhilereducingdrag.

j) Springs
i) [Link] [Link] [Link],everybitoffeedbackthatadriversensesfrom [Link] mostpowerfultoolsavailable.

ii) Front: (1) Stiffer:[Link] compromiseislesscompliance. (2) Softer:[Link]. iii) Rear: (1) Stiffer:ReducesUNDERsteer,[Link] lesscomplianceintherearandlessgrip. (2) Softer:AddsreargripandshiftsthebalancetoUNDERsteer.

k) Dampers(Shocks)
ii) Theprimaryfunctionoftheshockabsorbers(ordampersastheyareproperlyknown),is tocontrolordampentheenergyasitentersandexitsthesprings,whichwhen compressed(bump)andthenreleased(rebound)haveanaturaltendencytoovershoot theiroriginallengthastheyreleasetheenergyimpartedbytheoriginalcompression. (Anyonewhohasdrivenacarwithabrokenshockcanattesttothedeleteriouseffecton handling;acarwithoutshocksisliterallyundrivableatspeedsfasterthanawalk.) Damperswontlimitthetotalamountofloadtransferthroughthecar,butwillaffectthe [Link],thecarsbehaviorduringmoments oftransition;suchasinitialbrakeapplication,brakerelease,initialturninandapplicationof throttlecanbeaffectedbyadampersettingchange.

DRAFT

Page11of27

DRAFT
Thedamperadjustmentsavailableinthesimulationareforthecompression(bump)motion [Link],the compression(bump)happenswhenadditionalloadisputonthespring,aswhenhittinga bumpand/[Link] additionalload,[Link] reboundmotionissimplythespringtryingtoreboundtonormalafterbeingcompressed, [Link] fastthishappenscomesfromthedampersreboundsetting. iii) Whenanincreaseinresistance(stiffer)ineithermotionisdesired,selectalargernumber, [Link] resistanceavailable;itcouldalsobeafive(5)[Link] (softest)numberprovidessomeresistance.A5settingprovidesmoreresistance(stiffer) thana10setting. iv) Becauseofthevarietyofcornersinroadracingitisagoodideatokeepthecarsymmetrical onitslongitudinal(leftright)axis. v) Compression(Front) (1) StifferCompression:Slowsdownthecarsfrontwardweighttransferuponinitialbrake [Link]. (2) SofterCompression:Addsgriptothefronttiresthroughbettercompliance,butatthe costofstabilityofthevehicle. vi) Compression(Rear) (1) StifferCompression:ThischangeismosteffectiveatreducingUNDERsteeratturnin andmidcornerandresistingUNDERsteeratinitialthrottleapplication,atthecostof possibleOVERsteerbothatturninandthrottleonattheexitofthecorner. (2) SofterCompression:Thischangeshouldimprovereargripthroughbettercompliance. ThecornerentryhandlingbalancewillmovetowardUNDERsteeralongwithimproved [Link] onconditions,suchasatthecornerexit. vii) Rebound(Front) (1) StifferRebound:Asthebrakesarereleasedatcornerentry,theinitialturninshould bemorepositive,[Link],thiscanproduceturnentry OVERsteer.

DRAFT

Page12of27

DRAFT
(2) SofterRebound:Asthebrakesarereleasedatcornerentry,thetireswillhavebetter compliance,[Link] isthepotentialforincreasedUNDERsteeratcornerexit. viii) (1) StifferRebound:[Link] downsideislesscompliancewhenthethrottleisopened. (2) SofterRebound:ThischangewillbebestfeltatcornerentrywithlessUNDERsteerand [Link] lesscontrolatcornerentry. Rebound(Rear)

l) Gears
i) Thechoicesforgearingforagivencarinthesimulationaredictatedbytheseriesrules. Somecarshavewidegearingoptions,whileothers,suchasshowroomstockorspec series,mayhaveonefixedsetofgears. (1) Short:Referstoaselectionofgearsthatarebestsuitedforquickaccelerationand shorterstraights. (2) Tall:Referstogearingthatisbestsuitedforlongstraightsandhighertopspeeds. (3) Oval:Gearingthatissuitedforthecartoberunningcontinuouslyathighspeedswith littledeviationbetweencorneringandstraightspeeds.

m) PushRodLength
ii) [Link] thepushrodatonecornerofthecarwillincreasetherideheightatthatcorner.(Again,its generallyagoodideatokeepthecarsymmetricalfromlefttorightwithrideheight adjustments.) iii) Front: (1) LengtheningtheRods:Raisesthefrontrideheightofthecar,shiftingthehandling balancetowardUNDERsteerbytakingsomeperformancefromthefrontofthecar. (2) ShorteningtheRods:Lowersthefrontrideheight,providingbettergripfromthefront tiresandshiftingthebalancetowardOVERsteer(orlessUNDERsteer.)

DRAFT

Page13of27

DRAFT
iv) Rear: (1) LengtheningtheRods:Raisestherearofthecar,shiftingthebalancetoward OVERsteer(orlessUNDERsteer.)Thepotentialdownsidelessrearbrakingavailable mayneedtobeaddressedwithanincreaseinbrakebiastothefrontofthecar. (2) ShorteningtheRods:Lowerstherearrideheightandshiftsthebalancetoward UNDERsteer.

5) OvalChassis
a) Tires(FrontandRear)
i) (3) Idealtirepressureisdeterminedbytheloadthetirecarrieshigherpressureshandle [Link],inaheaviercar,orabankedturn,orcompressionatthe baseofahill,moregripwillberetainedwithhigherpressures,whereaswithlighter loads,lowerpressurestendtogivebettergrip. (4) IncreasingthepressurewillineffectSTIFFENthesidewallofthetire,whichmakesthe tiremoreresponsivetothedriversinputs,particularlyduringtheinitialturninfora [Link] [Link],bumps,curbsandviolentinputsfromthedrivermayresultin alossoftraction. (5) [Link],the complianceimprovesand,generally,[Link] becomelessresponsivetodriverinputs,(i.e.,thecarfeelssluggish). ii) ColdPressure:Ameasurementofinflationpressure(measuredinpsipoundsper squareinch)whenthetireisatambienttemperatureinthepits,beforehavingbeenrunon theracetrack. iii) LastHotPressure:Thisisthetirepressureasrecordedwhenyouexityourcar,orpullinto yourpitstall,[Link],sodoesthepressure [Link],thispressurewillstabilizeafterafewlaps. TirePressures:Changingtirepressuresisprobablythemostpowerfuladjustmentavailable astireperformanceaffectseverypartofalap.

DRAFT

Page14of27

DRAFT
iv) LastTempsOMI:Thisisthetiretemperatureasrecordedwhenyouexityourcar,orpull
intoyourpitstall,[Link] displayedwithreadingstakenattheouteredge(O),middle(M)andinneredge(I). Generallyspeaking,[Link] ofthumbisthatthetemperaturedifferentialshouldbeabout10degrees(+/5)fromthe outertoinneredgeofthetire,withtheinneredgebeingthehottest.

b) Front:
i) ii) FrontBrakebias:Raisingthispercentagewillincreasebrakepressuretothefrontofthe car,whichwilltypicallymakethehandlingunderbrakingtendtowardundersteerandmay [Link] pressure. iii) FrontWheeloffset:OntheLegendsCarthefrontlowercontrolarmscanbechangedso thattheleftsideisshorterthantherightby5/[Link], [Link],setitto5/[Link],itis bestat0. iv) SwayBar:[Link] resultisthatthecarwilltendtobelooser(handlingshiftstowardOVERsteer)astheright [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link],usetheswaybararms(seebelow.) v) SwaybarArmLength:Theswaybararmlengthcanbeadjustedinthreesettings:14,15, [Link] boththerightandleftfrontsuspension,[Link] finetunesthestiffnessoftheswaybar. [Link] [Link] stiffnessbyreducingthelengthoftheleverarmthroughwhichthewheelactsonthebar. [Link] swaybararmchangeswillmostlybefeltonentranceandexitofthecorner,andlessso duringsteadystatecornering. vi) LeftBarendoffset:Offsetishowishowswaybargap(discussedimmediatelybelow)is determined. Toein:Toeinwillhelpyourcarturn,[Link](or goingtotoeout)willmakethecartighterandnoticeablymorestableonexitofthecorner.

DRAFT

Page15of27

DRAFT
vii) Swaybargap:[Link] theswaybararmconnectstothelowerAframe,[Link] [Link],swaybargaphaspositiveandnegative [Link] [Link] [Link] [Link] occurasaresultrighthandsteeringinputsbeforetheantirollbarwillbeginactingonthe [Link] abilitywillincreasethroughouttherestofthecorner.Aneutralbarwillhaveasettingof0. [Link] [Link] youkeepagoodwatchonyourswaybargapasitislikelytochangedrasticallywithminor [Link] bargap,setittoalargepositivenumber(largegap),makeyourotheradjustmentsandthen readjusttheswaybargaptoyourpreferredsetting.

c) LeftFront:
i) ii) Rideheight:[Link] likelyresultinalackofgrip;loweringitwillincreasegripatthefrontofthecar. iii) Shockcollaroffset:Thisisthemeasurementfromtheshockcollartothelowerendofthe [Link]. Decreasingthismeasurementwillhavetheoppositeeffect. iv) SpringRate:[Link] loweringthespringratewilltightenthecarup(movethehandlingbalancetoward UNDERsteer.) v) Camber:Thisistheadjustableangle(lefttoright)ofthetiretoensureyouhavethe [Link],wherethecarisalways turningleft,thissettingwillbeinthepositivenumbers,sothatasthecarrollsintheturn, [Link] thetiresouteredgeandintheendresultinlossofgrip. vi) Caster:Thisistheadjustableangleofthespindle(fronttorear),whichallowstheleftfront [Link] [Link] [Link],particularlyfromcorner [Link] tightenthecar,whileincreasingthesplitwillloosenit. Cornerweight:Thisistheweightoftheleftfrontasitwouldshowifthecarwereona [Link].

DRAFT

Page16of27

DRAFT
vii) ShockStiffness:Shockstiffnessisthemeasureofhowmuchforceisrequiredtocompress [Link] affectthecarmuchlessthanincreasingspringrateby50or100pounds,whichmeansthat [Link] leftrearwillincreasethedynamicwedgewhilecorneringandmakethecarmorestableand [Link] dynamicwedgewhilecorneringandincreaserotation.

d) RightRear:
i) ii) Rideheight:[Link] heightwillreducereargrip. iii) Shockcollaroffset:Thisisthemeasurementfromtheshockcollartothelowerendofthe [Link] (changesthehandlingbalancetowardundersteer.)Decreasingtheoffsethastheopposite effect. iv) SpringRate:[Link] turn,whileloweringithastheoppositeeffect. v) ShockStiffness:Shockstiffnessisthemeasureofhowmuchforceisrequiredtocompress [Link] affectthecarmuchlessthanincreasingspringrateby50or100pounds,whichmeansthat [Link] leftrearwillincreasethedynamicwedgewhilecorneringandmakethecarmorestableand [Link] dynamicwedgewhilecorneringandallowthecartorotatemore. Cornerweight:[Link] rightrearcornerweighthelpsthecarturn.

e) RightFront
i) CornerWeight:[Link] thisnumbertightensthecar.

ii) RideHeight:[Link] rightfrontrideheightcanincreasefrontgripiftherightfronttireisbeingoverloaded, [Link] otherchassissettingsandthedegreeofbankingataparticulartrack. iii) ShockcollarOffset:Thisisthemeasurementfromtheshockcollartothelowerendofthe [Link] [Link].

DRAFT

Page17of27

DRAFT
iv) SpringRate:[Link] tightensthecar,whileloweringithastheoppositeeffect. v) Camber:Thisistheadjustableangle(lefttoright)ofthetiretoensureyouhavethe [Link] benegative,sothatasthecarrollsintheturn,thetirestandsupandproducesmaximum [Link],whichreducesthetirestotalgrip. vi) Caster:Thisistheadjustableangleofthespindle(fronttorear),whichallowstheright [Link] twodegreesplitincasterlefttoright,withtheleftfrontrunningalowercastersettingthan [Link],particularlyfromtheentrance [Link] morestableandpossiblytighter. vii) ShockStiffness:Shockstiffnessisthemeasureofhowmuchforceisrequiredtocompress [Link] affectthecarmuchlessthanincreasingspringrateby50or100pounds,whichmeansthat [Link] leftrearwillincreasethedynamicwedgewhilecorneringandmakethecarmorestableand [Link] dynamicwedgewhilecorneringandallowthecartorotatemore.

f) LeftRear
i) CornerWeight:Thisistheweightoftheleftrearasitwouldshowonaweightscale. Increasingleftrearcornerweighttightensthecar(changesthehandlingbalancetoward UNDERsteer.)

ii) RideHeight:[Link] isolation,[Link] infoaboutchangingtherideheight. iii) ShockcollarOffset:Thisisthemeasurementfromtheshockcollartothelowerendofthe [Link] [Link] UNDERsteer. iv) SpringRate:[Link] tightenthecar,whileloweringthespringratewillmovethehandlingbalancetoward oversteer. v) ShockStiffness:Shockstiffnessisthemeasureofhowmuchforceisrequiredtocompress [Link] affectthecarmuchlessthanincreasingspringrateby50or100pounds,whichmeansthat [Link] leftrearwillincreasethedynamicwedgewhilecorneringandmakethecarmorestableand

DRAFT

Page18of27

DRAFT
[Link] dynamicwedgewhilecorneringandallowthecartorotatemore.

6) RacingTerms
[Link] speedrangewheretheflowofairisfastenoughtocreatedownforceonthetires. [Link], increasesinangleofattackcreatemoredownforceanddrag. APEXTheclippingpointontheinsideofacornerwherethecarisatthecorrectangleforaperfectexit ontothenextsectionoftrack. [Link] ratiosdescribeatirethatislowprofileandwide,versustallandthin. BALANCEThemixoffrontversusreargripthatisdeterminedbychassis,aeroandbrakebiassettings. Chassissettings,aswellasaccelerationandbraking,[Link] [Link] deceleration. BINDExcesssteeringanglelimitingacarsacceleration. BLIPProperdownshiftingtechniquerequiresthattheenginerevsbeincreasedtoallowsmooth engagementofthenextlowestgear,[Link]"Blip"isaquick applicationofthethrottlepedal,usuallydoneusingtheheelandtoetechnique,tomomentarily increasetheengineRPM. BRAKEBIASTherelativeproportion,fronttorear,[Link],brake biasisadjustabletocompensateforchangesintrackconditions,fuelload,andaerodynamicdown force. BRAKEPOINTAspecificreferenceonornexttothetrackwhichdriversusetostarttheapplicationof [Link] [Link]. BRAKETURNINGCombiningthecar`sbrakingandturningabilitiessimultaneouslyintheareabeyond [Link] [Link]. BREATHINGTHETHROTTLEAlift(invaryingdegrees)offthethrottletoneutralizeundersteeror induceTTO.

DRAFT

Page19of27

DRAFT
CFCoefficientoffriction:[Link] measureoftheratioatwhichatireconvertsdownloadingtotraction. CGCenterofgravity:Thepointinspacewherethecar`smassiscentered. CHOPAbruptlyturningintoacornertopreventapass. COMMANDFLAGFlagrequiringactiononthepartofthedriver. COMPROMISECORNERS Acornerwhereyoucompromiseormodifyyourlinetogainorbenefitinanothercorner. CONSTANTRADIUSCORNERSTurnswhichcanbemeasuredwithonearcstartingattheturninpoint. CONTACTPATCHThatpartofatirethatsincontactwiththeroadatanyonepointintime. CORNERENTRYThesectionoftrackbetweenthebrakepointandwherethrottleapplicationstarts. CORRECTIONThefirstphaseinhandlingaslide(SeeCPR,below)isthe"Correction."Thedriver lookswherehewouldliketogoandturnsthesteeringwheeltowardthedirectionthattherearofthe carissliding. CPIdriver`sSafetyRatingisderivedfromtheirCornersPerincident(CPI)[Link] [Link] lap,yourCPIwouldbeseven.Ifyoudrove100laps,withonlyoneincident,yourCPIwouldbe700. CPRAskidcontroltechniqueinvolvingtheCorrection,thePause,andtheRecovery. CRAB/CRABBINGGraduallydriftingtowardtheinsideoftheroadandsacrificingradiusonthe [Link],andresultsinanearly apex. [Link] motion;itdoesnotsupporttheweightofthecar. DECREASINGRADIUSCORNERAcornerwherethefirstsectionoftheturnhasalargerradiusthanthe second. DEEP/GOINGDEEPGoingtothebrakesascloseaspossibletoacorner. DIVEBOMBAnilladvised,lateattemptatapass. DOUBLECLUTCHAdownshiftingtechniqueusedtomanuallyspeedupthemainshaftinanon [Link]. [Link].

DRAFT

Page20of27

DRAFT
DROPWHEELSTheactofdrivingwithoneormorewheelsofthecarofftheracetrack. [Link] thandownshiftingthrougheachgear. EARLYAPEXAnearlyapexrequiresadditionalsteeringinputbeyondtheclippingpointofacorner. Thisisgenerallythemostcommonlinemistake,butearlyapexingcanbeusedifthereisanincreasein elevationand/orcorneringgripaftertheapex. EXITSPEEDThespeedofacaratthetrackoutpointofthecorner. FASTHANDSMovingthesteeringwheelquickly. FLAGSUsedtocommunicatewiththedriver. FLAT/[Link],leavingno marginforerror. FRICTIONCIRCLEAgraphusedtoshowatiresmaximumcapabilitiesinthethreeforcesitcan generate:Braking,Cornering,Accelerating. G(g)[Link] lateralaccelerationforcesthatcarsgenerateduringbraking,turningandaccelerating. GRIDStartingpositionsforthebeginningofarace. GRIPThetractionoftiresinbraking,[Link](g). HAIRPINArelativelyslowcornerwithmorethan120degreesofdirectionchange. HEELANDTOETheprocessofkeepingconsistentpressureonthebrakepedalwhileblippingthe [Link](ithashistoricalequity,however)since modernpedallayoutsenabletheuseoftheballofthefootonthebrakewhileatthesametimeusing therightsideofthesamefoottorev(blip)[Link] toshortenbrakingzonesandturnfastlaps. [Link] secondreactionhookslide. HOOKSLIDEThesecondreactionslide. INCREASINGRADIUSCORNERAcornerwheretheradiusoftheearlypartofthecorneristighterthan theradiusofthelatersection. INFORMATIONFLAGSTrackadvisoryflags.

DRAFT

Page21of27

DRAFT
[Link] usedtoensuresimilarlyskilleddriverscompeteagainsteachotherinofficialsessionsandRaceSeries. KINKAjogintheroad,normallyfoundonpartofastraight. [Link]`suniquesystemthatcantakedriversfromaracingschoolallthewayup tomotorsportstopranks LATEAPEXAclippingpointontheinsideofaturnthatpermitsadecreaseofsteeringangleduringthe [Link],especiallyifgripisdecreasedforany reasoninthelastpartofaturn. LEADFOLLOWAmethodusedtolearntheracingline,wherethedriverfollowsaninstructoraround theracetrack. LIFTComingofforreducingthrottle. [Link] [Link],pavementchange,andhowwellacar turnsintoacorner. LOADTRANSFERThechangeintheverticaldownforceonatirethatresultsfrombraking,turningor accelerating. [Link],flatspottedtires, anda30%[Link],improper brakebias,orcrabbingtheentryintoacorner. LOOSESynonymouswithoversteer. MAINTENANCETHROTTLEThrottleapplicationintendedtomaintainthecurrentspeedofthecar,and therebysettlethebalanceofthechassis. MODULATIONChangingthepressureonthebrakeorthrottleinanefforttokeepthetiresnear,but notover,theirtractionlimits. NEUTRALHANDLINGWhenbothfrontandrearsetsoftiresoperateinthesameslipanglerangewhen acariscorneringatthelimit. OUTBRAKINGBrakinglaterthananotherdriver. OVERREVHighRPMinarangethatislikelytocausedamagetoanenginesinternalcomponents. OVERSTEERSynonymouswithloose,occurswhentheslipangleofthereartiresisgreaterthanthe [Link]:Steadystate,trailing throttle,trailingclutch,power,brakebias,andaerodynamicallyinducedOVERsteerareallexamples. Anotherdescription:Thecaristurningmorethanthesteeringinputorradiuswoulddictate.

DRAFT

Page22of27

DRAFT
PACELAPThewarmuplappriortoaracestart. PAUSEDuringaskid,thatmomentwhenthemovementoftherearofthecartowardtheoutside [Link] [Link] caughtandconvertedtoasidewaysslide. [Link] cornertorecoverfromanearlyapex,addingaccelerationtoosoonorapoorlytimedpass. PITLANE/HOTPITSAnareaadjacenttotheracetrackwherecarsareworkedonduringpractice, [Link]. PITCHChangesofthefronttorearrideheight;also,theangleofattackofacarinresponseto accelerationandbraking. POLESITTERThefastestqualifier. RECOVERYRecoveryisthethirdphaseofskidcontrol(CPR).Asaslidestops,theoutsidesprings unload,[Link] wheeltopreventasecondreactionhookslide. REDLINE/REVLIMITThemaximumRPMdepictedonthetachometerthatanenginecanturnwithout damagetoitsinternalcomponents. REFERENCEPOINTAnypointonorbesidetheracetrackthatadriverusestotriggersomeaction; turningin,apexing,brakeapplicationpoint,etc. REVSTermusedtodescribetheRPM(revolutionsperminute)oftheengine. [Link](banking) helpsthecar`[Link]. ROLLTheupwardordownwardmovement,leftorrightalongacarscenterline,inresponseto corneringforces. ROLLCENTERApointinspacedeterminedbysuspensiongeometrythattheCGrollsaroundateach endofthecar. ROTATIONDeliberateOVERsteercausedbythereleaseofthebrakesduringthetrailbrakingphaseof braketurning. RPMRevolutionsperminute. SCCASportsCarClubOfAmerica,asanctioningbody.

DRAFT

Page23of27

DRAFT
[Link] counteredbytheRecoveryphaseofCPRtopreventahookslide. SEGMENTTIMEThetimeittakestodrivefrompointtopointonasectionofracetrack. SEQUENTIALTRANSMISSIONAfastshifting,constantmesh,motorcycletypegearboxthatshifts directlytoeachgearwithoutgoingthroughneutral. SHAVEDTIRESStreettirescanbeshavedsothattheirtreaddepthisgreatlyreducedtomakethem [Link]. SIGHTPICTUREAvisualtemplatethatdriversusetolocatethemselvespreciselyontheracetrack. AfterusingTheProceduretoFindtheLine,[Link]/shenowwill knowwheretobeineveryturnandbeabletocatchmistakesearly. SLIPANGLEWhilecornering,thereisadifferencebetweenthedirectionthatthecenterlineofthe [Link] [Link] corneringtraction. [Link] behindothercars. SLOWHANDSTheoppositeoffasthands. STACKUPAtthestartoftherace,thetendencyforallthecarstoarriveinthefirstturnatthesame time. STEERINGLOCKThemaximumdegreeofsteeringinputavailableonacar. STRAIGHT(straightaway)Selfexplanatory,exceptthatiftheportionofthecircuitcanbedrivenas fastasthecarcango,theroaddoesn`tnecessarilyhavetobeperfectlystraighttobeconsideredpartof thestraightaway. SWAYBAR/ANTIROLLBARAnadjustablesuspensiondeviceatoneorbothendsofacarthatlimits [Link] suspension. SWEEPERAfast,sweepingcorner. TACHOMETER(tach)Deviceformeasuringenginespeedinrevolutionsperminute(RPM). TFTSTooFast,TooSoon. THEPROCEDUREThemethodofworkingyourwayuptothelimitbystartingoffconservativelyand takingsmall,incrementalstepstoincreaseyourspeed.

DRAFT

Page24of27

DRAFT
THRESHOLDBRAKINGUsing100%ofacar`[Link] threshold"limit,thetirewillberevolvingapproximately15%slowerthanitwouldbeiffreelyrolling overtheroad. THROTTLEThegaspedal. THROTTLEAPPLICATIONPOINTThepointinaturnwhereadriverbeginstoapplypowertodriveaway fromthecorner. TIGHTSynonymouswithUNDERsteerandpush. TIREPERFORMANCECURVEAgraphtoshowatiresgripandslipanglearerelated. TOWSeeDraft. [Link] pointinacornerwhenthehandsarestraightandthereisnocorneringload. TRAILBRAKINGAgradualreleaseofthebrakesduringbraketurningthatleadstorotationatthe limit. TRAILINGTHROTTLEOVERSTEER(TTO)OVERsteercausedbyliftingoffortrailingthethrottlewhen thecarisnearitscorneringlimit. TURNINThepointatwhichthedriverfirstturnsthesteeringwheel,transitioningthecarfromthe straightintothecorner. [Link] generallyrequirealateapextomaximizeexitspeed. TYPETHREETURNSSetup(orcompromise)[Link] mostchallengingcornerssinceyoumustknowwheretogoslowtoturnafastlap. TYPETWOTURNSCornersthatcomeattheendoflongstraightswherecarryingentryspeedproduces abetterlaptime. [Link] [Link] inputorradiuswoulddictate. [Link] massofthecarasdeterminedbythedriversinputs. YAWANGLETheanglebetweenthecenterlineofacarandthedirectionthecaristravelingwhen cornering.

DRAFT

Page25of27

DRAFT
7) iRacingSetupGuideQuickReferenceChart
TheattachedQuickReferenceChartoffersacolorcodedcheatsheetprovidingsuggestedsetup [Link],[Link] [Link] changesoneatatime. BelowisanexampleofhowtousetheQuickReferenceChart. EXAMPLE: i) Uponcompletingafewtestlaps,youconcludethatyourcarneedsabigadditionofFRONT GRIP. ii) FindtheFRONTGRIPcolumnintheQuickReferenceGuide. iii) Followingthecolumndown;alltheareasingreenrepresentchangesthatwouldincrease theFRONTGRIP. iv) Forexample,wepickTIREPRESSURE/FRONTS/decrease(). v) Bythenfollowingtherowtotherightonecanquicklyreferenceothercharacteristicsof decreasingFRONTTIREpressure. vi) [Link] stabilitymayshowupasanOVERsteerconditionandbeinterpretedasalossof [Link] FRONTperformanceoverpoweredtheREAR. vii) Also,bycontinuingtoscrolltotheright,intotheMostAffectedpartofthetable,wesee thateverypartofcornersequenceissignificantlyaffected,indicatedbythelightlyshaded [Link] highlightedbox.

DRAFT

Page26of27

DRAFT
iRacingSetupGuideQuickReferenceChart
CHANGE FRONT tire pressure increase(+) PRESSURES tire pressure decrease(-) REAR tire pressure increase(+) tire pressure decrease(-) BARS FRONT STIFFEN SOFTEN REAR STIFFEN SOFTEN CAMBERS FRONT MORE Negative (tilt-in) LESS Negative (stand-up) REAR MORE Negative (tilt-in) LESS Negative (stand-up) FRONT MORE (+ or -) TOES LESS REAR MORE (+ or -) LESS MORE FRONT (+) BRAKE BIAS LESS FRONT (-) RIDE HEIGHTS FRONT MORE (+) LESS (-) REAR MORE (+) LESS (-) MORE (+) FRONT WINGS LESS (-) MORE (+) REAR LESS (-) STIFFER (+) FRONT SPRINGS SOFTEN (-) STIFFER (+) REAR SOFTEN (-) STIFFER (+) FRONT DAMPERS Compression SOFTEN (-) STIFFER (+) REAR Compression SOFTEN (-) STIFFER (+) FRONT SOFTEN (-) Rebound STIFFER (+) REAR Rebound SOFTEN (-)

TIRES

NNEGATIVE FRONT REAR MOST AFFECTED Braking ENTRY Mid-Corner Exit POSITVE GRIP STABILITY GRIP STABILITY * * * * MOST AFFECTED * * * * some effect * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

* *

* * * * * * * *

* * * * * *

DRAFT

Page27of27

You might also like