The "Sound" Of Change
By Andrew Cutler
November 24 2008
With all of the attention that is currently being directed at the 2011 engine/chassis spec changes, you may have thought that the IRL was content to let the current generation of IndyCar & Indy Lights mounts remain unchanged through their upcomming final two seasons. However, the league is still looking for ways to improve the current cars.
In an effort to make both series a little more "fan friendly", new technical upgrades have been mandated for the 2009 season.
In the case of the IndyCar Series, this will mean a bit of auditory relief for the fans in terms of slightly reduced decible levels (by approximately 9 decibles). Honda has developed an new exhaust system that will cut the current noise level by sending the exhaust through a larger silencer. The silencer itself will be comprised of a series of welded metal rings, instead of the usual wadding or padding of a traditional silencer, to ensure that it's performance ability will not degrade over time. The new system will entail some minor modifications to the rear bodywork of the Dallara chassis to make it fit.
In the case of the Firestone Indy Lights Series, the change will be to replace the 90 degree crankshafts with a 180 degree version. This will give the car more "pull" as the driver is comming out of a corner & reduce the cockpit noise levels. It will also give the Indy Lights cars a deeper, "throatier" sound that is a bit more akin to it's bigger IndyCar cousin.
Both of these modifications have already been extensively tested, and are on schedule to be available to all teams in their respective series in time for the Spring testing sessions.
Can you please tell me the actuqal dBA levels emitted from the Exhaust of both the new Mufflers for the IndyCars as well as the New Indy Lights motor configuration.
i need this for some track design information with reference to sound levels permitted.
The dBA max is normally measured at 100 ft from Max'm acceleration at 4' high. do you know these readings?
Thanks for your help
Lee Abrahamson
Niagara Falls World of Mortorsport
I really wouldn't know where you could go/who you could contact to get that information.
