Auto Racing: Auto Racing, cad cam design, engine management systems

Question
How has technology helped the production of Automobile Racing?
Websites?
                    THIS IS FOR A SCHOOL
                           PROJECT....

Answer
Hello Amber, thanks for the question.

It's a nice subject, one I covered myself in part of my University dissertation! (in terms of impact on F1 technology on road cars).

For this some of the spin-offs from F1 technology into road technoloy are :
tyre technology (as claimed for example by Bridgestone, specifically with its RE71 tyre in the late 1980s)
electronic control systems (e.g. traction control and electronic microchip engine management systems, developed in F1 when fuel economy became increasingly important)
Gearbox technology (several performance cars since the 1990s have featured gearshifts based on the F1 paddle design)
fuel technology (as claimed for example by Shell)
engine technology (turbos pioneered by Renault in F1)
braking technology (disc brakes were developed by Jaguar for the Le Mans 24 hour endurance race)
kevlar/carbonfibre bodywork technology (lightens/strengthens car bodies)
Lubrication tecnology (for example as claimed by Duckhams with its QXR range of car oils in the 1980s)

Regarding more specifically the impact of technology on automobile racing, there is no shortage of candidates, even compiling a list, let alone researching it and giving examples, would be an enormous task if it was to be comprehensive. Every development of top echelon motor racing has been technology led. If your question is more specifically about race car manufacture, here are a few ideas:
- carbonfibre chassis and composite parts (strong, light, safe)
- CAD/CAM design, very important for around 20 years
- wind tunnel technology (enables design of highly aerodynamically-efficient vehicles)
- pit/car and car/pit electronic communications and generally data-gathering (so that performance of specific components can be scientifically assessed and ones adding extra performance adopted or allocated for fuyrther research)
-crash helmet safety (eg the HANS device used in F1)
- tyre technology (sticky and durable)
- track manufacture technology (surfaces that drain quickly for safety)
- simulatiom technology (allows drivers to learn tracks before going there and teams to set up cars so that they are quick from the outset), especially important at new circuits
- suspension technology (components are now tiny compare dto 30 years ago, allowing cars to be far more aerodynamically-efficient)

If your question is more specifically about technology and the management of auto racing, here are a few ideas:
- electronic signalling systems enable very quick responses and warnings to competing teams in case of a hazard
- IT communications and data availability allow for real-time data aquisition of cars' performance enabling monitoring of cars' performance and ensuring they are within the rules (e.g. conform with pit-lane speed limits, slow down near a yellow flag etc.)
- timing, once conducted by stopwatches and prone to error, now facilitated through electronics using on-board data loggers

I hope these thought starters are helpful to you Amber, good luck with the project.

Adam