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A three-dimensional computer simulation technique was combined with wind-tunnel testing during the aerodynamic development of an enclosed-wheel prototype race car. This approach proved that valuable time can be saved by investigating some of the important design parameters before a vehicle is built. One of the major advantages of a computational approach is that it contains information such as pressure or velocity distribution on and near the whole vehicle. This abundance of data is essential for understanding major design trends and sensitivities, and can steer the design toward fruitful modifications. Once the vehicle's body plan is finalized, the method can be used to further modify local details and to design and position a complicated rear wing cluster. At this phase of wing design, the availability of the pressure distribution on the entire wing surfaces is vital to a successful design.

This paper addresses the application of finite element analysis during the design of the Mazda RX-792P IMSA GTP race car. Examples are provided which illustrate the application and results of using finite element analysis as an integral part of the design process. All problems discussed in this paper are static, structural problems.

The influence of a rear-mounted wing on the aerodynamics of two generic race car configurations was investigated. Both body-surface pressure and vehicle lift data indicate that the wing/body interaction is large and that, by proper placement of the wing over the body, total downforce coefficients that are considerably larger than the sum of the isolated downforce of the wing and body can be obtained. The above interaction also alters the pressure distribution and spanwise loading on the wing; therefore, the design process for such airfoils should account for the detailed three-dimensional flow field created by the body (contrary to the traditional assumption of placing the wing in an undisturbed free stream).

The effect of a race-car's rear-wing shape on its high-lift aerodynamic characteristics was investigated numerically and experimentally. These geometrical variations included parameters such as wing leading-edge sweep, several chord-wise elements, addition of trailing edge flaps and of side fins. The main advantage of the numerical computations was to allow for the investigation of a large number of wing geometries without an expensive and lengthy fabrication process of similar wind-tunnel models. Results of this study indicate that complying with the current Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) regulations, a rear wing with a lift coefficient on the order of −2.2 (based on wing's reference area) is possible.