Auto Racing: F1 0-60 times, suzuki gsx r1000, edwards air force

Question
Adam:

Is F1 racing considered the fastest race on earth? I'm an avid motorcycle racer, but have been told, that motorcycles couldn't hold a tune to F1 racing.  On a side note, what is a 0-60 time of an F1 race car?

Thanks!

Answer
Hello Joe, thanks for the question.

Yes, F1 racing is the fastest, but there are certain caveats, for example drag racing represents the greatest acceleration (0-60mph in 0.2s and 0-100mph in 0.5s)and oval racing may well have the highest average speed (no braking/changing gear).

In terms of acceleration, 0-60-mph for an F1 car will be around 2.3-2.7 seconds, 0-100mph in 3.5-4.0s. This compares with a Suzuki GSX R1000 of 0-60 in 3.5s and 0-100 in 6.3s. Top speeds are around 220mph (F1) and 180mph for the bikes.

The bikes have a far smaller contact patch with the ground through which to generate traction, less drag but less adhesion too.

Rocket-powered dragsters reach 300mph in under 5s(!!!) and can get near 400mph at the end of the quarter mile. I believe the record may be 386mph in 3.58s by Sanny Miller in his car Vanishing Point at Lake George in 1984. His nose and ears bled.

In 1954 at 43 years old, Dr John Paul Strapp, a research officer at Edwards air force base, built a rocket-powered sled to investigate the effects of acceleration and decelaeration on the human body. He went from rest to 632mph in 5s and decelerated thereafter with a force on his body of 40g. When he came round he was temporarily blinded owing to his eyeballs becoming fused to their lids.

I'd say Joe that drag racing was the fastest on earth, but in terms of vehicles racing against each other at top speed, its F1 and Indycar that come out top.