5
applications on street vehicles. Also, it may
be possible to adapt certain types of
electronic Accident Data Recorders (ADR)
that monitor what happens during an
accident for use in production cars. With
the exception of these two aspects, I have
to admit that our “street” colleagues are
ahead of us».
How many people are involved in safety
aspects at Dallara? And how are they
organised?
«
All the designers who work on the chassis
are de facto safety experts. I should really
say that everyone at Dallara is a safety
expert: one of the things that Engineer
Dallara is absolutely inflexible about is
safety, and he has made sure that our
highest priority is protecting the drivers and
anyone else who may be involved in the
motor racing world (stewards, mechanics,
public)».
Did Dan Wheldon’s fatal accident convince
Dallara to increase the excellent safety
standards of the IndyCar even further? Can
you describe the features of the new car?
«
To tell you the truth, we haven’t altered
anything in the Indycar in the wake of
Dan’s fatal accident. We had already
increased the lateral protection significantly
by introducing more extensive zylon panels.
The roll-bar is designed to withstand higher
loads and the vehicle shape has been
designed to reduce the risk of “coupling”
between cars or tipping over in the event of
high speed spins. Lastly, we have developed
devices that would prevent cars from taking
off when one vehicle runs into the back of
another». ».
Let’s talk about F.3 and World Series
Renault: what are the new safety
developments?
«
In F.3, FIA has enforced the use of zylon
side panels, and this has enormously
increased safety. The same applies to the
WSR: however, the decision was taken by
Renault acting on our advice, since it was
not enforced under the current regulations
(
F1 2005). We have also raised the sides of
the cockpit, in accordance with the F1 2010
safety regulations».
How do you manage to reconcile low
research costs with improved safety
standards?
«
You need good designers, a little creativity
and hard work. And we have to be willing
to accept slightly heavier chassis if that is
necessary to make them safer ».
As a car designer, what suggestion
would you offer to the designers
responsible to build safer circuits?
«
This is extremely important. Dan Wheldon
might still be alive today if the straights at
Las Vegas had been designed differently. I
realise that this is a complex matter, but I
have always felt that oval circuits should be
fitted with transparent safety walls, like ice
hockey rinks. Too difficult or expensive?
Who knows?».
Stefano Semeraro
“
In F.3, FIA has enforced the use of zylon side panels, and this has
enormously increased safety. The same applies to the WSR: however,
the decision was taken by Renault acting on our advice, since it was not
enforced under the current regulations (F1 2005)”
