Alright, Let it be known that I love Nissan's DeltaWing. I think this is the coolest thing to come out of the auto industry in the past year. That being said after doing spectacular in this weekends Petit Le Mans and placing 5th I am hoping other manufactures will take notice and start designing cars that are a little more out of the ordinary.
Nissan DeltaWing at Petit Le Mans Photo GalleryAfter being sideswiped at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June and suffering a a similar accident during a practice session last week, the Nissan DeltaWing was in danger of becoming known for its crashes more than its racing prowess or unique appearance. That's why we hoped the racecar, competing in only its second race, would finish the 1,000-mile endurance madness of Petit Le Mans.
Thankfully, the Nissan/Highcroft Racing team did more than just that on Saturday, running a flawless race at Road Atlanta and finishing in fifth place overall. The result could have been even higher if pass-around periods during full course cautions would have gone the team's way.
Despite finishing in the top 10 in qualifying, the DeltaWing was relegated to the back of the grid for the start of the race thanks to its unclassified status, but that changed quickly as the car went from 42nd to 8th in its first stint.
Drivers Lucas Ordonez and Gunnar Jeannette drove a smooth and steady race up to fifth place, the car's speed and efficiency helping greatly here. The DeltaWing has just half the weight and half the aerodynamic drag of a typical ALMS prototype, meaning the team could go further between pit stops and change tires less often.
Mission Accomplished: Petit Le Mans Top Five
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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