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'Drafting' or 'slipstreaming' is a technique in sports racing where competitors align in a close group in order to reduce the overall effect of drag or ''fluid resistance'' of the group in a slipstream. Especially when high speeds are involved, drafting can significantly reduce the average energy expenditure required to maintain a certain speed.
Drafting is usually to reduce wind resistance and is seen most commonly in bicycle racing, car racing, and speedskating though is occasionally used even in running. Some forms of triathlon allow drafting. Drafting is sometimes seen in swimming as well, particularly in "open-water" swim events where competitors are not separated into distinct lanes.

In cycling, the main (largest) group of tightly packed cyclists in a race is called a peloton, while cyclists riding in straight-line formation, each (but the first) 'drafting' behind the one in front of him, is called a paceline.
Drafting can be ''cooperative'', in which several competitors take turns in the lead position (which requires the most effort and energy consumption). Or, it can be ''competitive'' or ''tactical'', where one competitor will try to stay closely behind another leaving him or her more energy for a break-away push to the finish line.

Contents

Drafting in nature

Drafting in motorsport

Open-wheel racing

Stock car racing

Bump drafting

Simulation of drafting

References

External links

Drafting in nature

Cooperative fluid dynamics techniques like drafting are found in nature, as well. Flocks of geese and some other birds fly in a V formation because the tip vortices generated by the front bird will create up-wash circulations. (see wingtip vortices) The birds flying behind will receive lift force from these up-wash vortices. Thus, the other birds in the pack won't have to work as hard. The theory behind this is the same as the one for the wings of airplane in general. However, it does not work quite the same way as drafting in racing. Birds fly in a flock for better lifting force, whereas the race cars stay close for less total aerodynamic drag force.
Goose flocking is not fully understood, but probably involves the recovery of energy from vortices created by the leading birds' wingtips (see wingtip vortices). (For this reason, it may not meet some people's definition of drafting).
Other animals have been observed to use true drafting behavior reminiscent of auto racing or cycling. Lobsters, for example, are known to migrate in close single-file formation "lobster trains", sometimes for hundreds of miles.

Drafting in motorsport

Open-wheel racing

In single seater, open wheel racing series such as Formula One, Champ Car World Series, and the IndyCar Series, a technique known as ''slipstreaming'' is used. Along a long straight, a car following close behind another uses the slipstream created by the lead car to close the gap between them, hoping to be able to overtake the leader under braking for the next corner, or, if he has a straightline speed advantage, to pass on the straight. However, it is very difficult for cars to follow each other in close proximity in fast corners as the "dirty" (turbulent) air that comes off the lead car unbalances the trailing car as its aerodynamic devices provide less grip. However, on the straight this effect is much less of a detriment due to the lower levels of grip required.

Stock car racing

On the faster speedways and superspeedways used by NASCAR, ARCA, and the IROC series, two or more vehicles can race faster when lined up front-to-rear than a single car can race alone. The low-pressure wake behind a group's leading car reduces the aerodynamic resistance on the front of the trailing car, allowing the second car to pull closer. As the second car nears the first, it pushes high-pressure air forward so less fast-moving air hits the lead car's spoiler. The result is less drag for both cars, allowing faster speeds. ^[1]
Handling in corners is affected by balance changes caused by the draft: The leading car has normal front downforce but less rear downforce. The trailing car has less front downforce but normal rear downforce. A car with drafting partners both ahead and behind will lose downforce at both ends. ¹
The "slingshot pass" is the most dramatic and widely noted maneuver associated with drafting. A trailing car (perhaps pushed by a line of drafting cars) uses the lead car's wake to pull up with maximum momentum at the end of a straightaway, enters a turn high, and turns down across the lead car's wake. The combination of running downhill and running across the zone of lowest aerodynamic drag allows the trailing car to carry extra speed and pass on the inside of leader. ¹
Drafting is most important at the larger tracks of Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway where a restrictor plate is used, making much less power available to push the large bodies through the air. Race cars reach their highest speeds on these superspeedways, so the aerodynamic forces are highest, and the effects of drafting are strongest.
Drafting was discovered by stock car racers in the 1959 Daytona 500. Drivers found they picked up speed running closely behind other cars, and as they experimented they found that a line of cars could sustain higher speeds than a single car running by itself. ¹

Bump drafting

Bump drafting is a tactic used in NASCAR races at Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Speedway. It begins as normal drafting, but the following car pulls up behind the lead car and bumps into the rear of it, pushing the lead car ahead, to maintain momentum. When done in side by side traffic on a straightaway this can assist the lead car in passing, and allows the following car to follow through. This tactic can destabilize the handling of the lead car, however, and if done roughly or in the wrong position (e.g. close to the entry of the turn) it can lead to a crash. Because of this, NASCAR has attempted to limit the bracing on bumpers on cars, introduced "no bump zones" on certain portions of speedways where this practice is prevalent, and penalized drivers who are too rough in bump drafting.

Simulation of drafting

Computer simulation (Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD) is increasingly being used to analyse drafting. It is important to understand the aerodynamic behaviour of a motor vehicle when drafting, for example if the rear car is too close to the front car, the air supply to its radiatior will be reduced and there's a possibility of the engine overheating. Most motor sport aerodynamic analysis is performed using wind tunnel testing. This becomes difficult for drafting cases, if only because you need a very large wind tunnel. CFD, a kind of virtual wind tunnel, is used by race teams to understand the car's performance while drafting.

References

1. Lemasters Jr., Ron, "One Wild Wind", ''Stock Car Racing'' (ISSN 0734-7340), Volume 36, Number 1, January 2001.

External links

★ Mark Martin's site with an extensive explanation of drafting in NASCAR