The new aeroscreen arrives in Long Beach: lighter and with air vents | FP

The protection of the passenger compartment

The topic of safety in the world of motorsport has always been one of the key points, so much so that in recent years attention has been particularly focused on protection of the open part of the single-seaters, and consequently of the pilot's head. The proof was first the introduction of the Halo in Formula 1 and in the FIA ​​championships in 2018, as well as that of theAeroscreen two years later in IndyCar.

Points to improve

Since then, the windshield has proven to be decisive in some circumstances that could have generated serious consequences for pilots involved in rather violent accidents, all without critical issues relating to visibility. However, despite the efficiency of the protection system, there were some weak points relating to the weight and the rather high temperatures experienced by the pilots inside the cockpit.

Changes

Precisely for this reason, on the occasion of the next appointment in Long Beachone will debut new version of the aeroscreen 2.0 created by PPG, Dallara and Pankl in collaboration with IndyCar. Specifically, the new solution will result 2 kg lighter (from the initial 8.5 kg to 6.5)with a new 3D printed titanium structure. The latter guarantees the same resistance as the previous one, but with a lower weight.

Added to this is a air intake system to facilitate cooling inside the cockpit thanks to an upper duct that directs the air towards the driver's chest. The openings are also 3D printed in rubber, in order to protect the rider's hands in the event of an accident: “One of the goals of version 2.0 was to save weight – he has declared Tino Bellidirector of aerodynamic development at IndyCar – then we took the opportunity to make the style more beautiful, improve the ventilation of the rider and make the polycarbonate thinner and just as resistant as the thicker one. Over the years we have learned to understand where the limit of vision was. In the first version we were conservative. We gave them a wider field of vision. We found out they didn't need it. So, now we've used that space to create an air intake that reaches under the titanium upper frame and is channeled downwards to blow air towards the rider's chest.”