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What used to be a barge board...

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Just 15 years ago, a barge board was a vertically mounted plate to guide air more fluently around the air intake area. Several teams did not use such a panel as they found it not beneficial. In sharp contrast are today's F1 cars. The F2007 for instance is equipped with a mixture of panels in the barge board area. While preserving the cut edges at the upper side of the main board, smaller turning vanes have been added to improve airflow. Especially remarkable is a small carbon in between two bigger panels. It needs no explanation to understand that nowadays the frontal side pod area is vital for optimum cooling and minimal drag.

Comments

By mini696 on 14-02-2007 at 03:24

I assume the front (smaller) barge board is to clean up the airflow to the \'winglet\' on the main board.

Is that winglet \"upsidedown\"?

By ginsu on 15-02-2007 at 01:58

Personally, I see those sharp steps on the upper edge of the barge board making tiny vortices that then attach to the sidepods which prevent flow separation which reduces drag and enhances the effectiveness of the flickups on the rear end.

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