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The aerodynamic development of a race car often includes wind tunnel testing and track testing. Wind tunnel data includes aero forces and moments which are measured by the wind tunnel balance. Track data is usually derived from stop watch and driver “feel.” The instrumentation that provides a correlation between wind tunnel and track data is pressure ports. Pressure port data helps the test engineer understand the reason why a body modification causes a change in the balance data. This paper presents typical pressure port data measured at the wind tunnel and describes the effects that deck spoilers, yaw, and traffic interference have on balance data and body pressures.

A comprehensive race car aero program contains three phases: initial body design, wind tunnel testing, and race track verification. This report compares wind tunnel test results and track data for the Churchill LeBaron race car which is sanctioned by the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). During the wind tunnel phase of testing, several runs were conducted specifically to be repeated during track testing at the Talladega* and Atlanta* tracks. At both tracks the race team first conducted their usual engine and chassis set up runs, then dedicated a series of runs to aero testing. At Talladega, incrementally reducing drag on five consecutive runs produced a lower lap time on each run. At the Atlanta track, reducing lift on six runs produced corresponding reductions in lap time. This report presents the results.

For 75 years the automobile industry has primarily responded to consumer demands regarding vehicle design, performance, fuel economy, cost, comfort, safety and option availability. Consumers are now demonstrating a preference in the market place for fuel efficient vehicles in all market segments from subcompacts to luxury cars, pickups, vans, medium and heavy duty trucks. Government mandated fuel economy requirements for automobiles and light duty trucks are also adding impetus to the industry's initiative to improve fuel economy. At Ford Motor Company aerodynamic drag reduction is an active partner in improving fuel economy and aerodynamic features are integrated into the design of every new Ford car and truck. This report presents the aerodynamic features of the new generation of Ford trucks: the 1978 CL-9000 heavy truck and the 1980 F150 light and the F-600 medium trucks. The wind tunnel test methods and models are also summarized.