except I don't think Dallara makes the paddle shifters do they?

I don't know to be honest with you however in the past the transaxle which included the shift mechanism was generally a proprietary part supplied by the chassis manufacturer. I could wrong on this like I said I don't know for sure

westsideclay - 15 July 2008 12:30 PM

Shifts take place in microseconds without having to lift to shift.

I have to quote this out of you Westsideclay that could bolster one of my points.

Also, I need some clarification on what measure of safety it would actually produce? So far I haven't seen any safety improvements to the driver by having it. But yet it enhances driver's ability to perform better without measuring the sort of challenge, the timing of able to keep the level difficulty under control produced by a GS. That measurement alone what I'm not seeing it anymore.

Well Anyways, I don't mind having the paddle shifter in the series.

CC introduced paddle shifters on the DP01 (after some debate) because it would reduce the number of blown engines and transmissions due to missed shifts. It was not, and I don't think it is, a safety issue. The DP01 suffered a lot of problems in early races because software problems, but the teams were able to sort things out after awhile.
The paddle shifer system would, I think be between the engine and transmission makers, (Honda & Hewland) not the chassis maker.

Indyfan2 - 16 July 2008 06:12 PM

westsideclay - 15 July 2008 12:30 PM

Shifts take place in microseconds without having to lift to shift.

I have to quote this out of you Westsideclay that could bolster one of my points.

Also, I need some clarification on what measure of safety it would actually produce? So far I haven't seen any safety improvements to the driver by having it. But yet it enhances driver's ability to perform better without measuring the sort of challenge, the timing of able to keep the level difficulty under control produced by a GS. That measurement alone what I'm not seeing it anymore.

Well Anyways, I don't mind having the paddle shifter in the series.

It removes the linkage from the car, so you have one less piece of "loose" metal from the cockpit.

jsieczka - 19 July 2008 10:44 AM

Indyfan2 - 16 July 2008 06:12 PM

westsideclay - 15 July 2008 12:30 PM

Shifts take place in microseconds without having to lift to shift.

I have to quote this out of you Westsideclay that could bolster one of my points.

Also, I need some clarification on what measure of safety it would actually produce? So far I haven't seen any safety improvements to the driver by having it. But yet it enhances driver's ability to perform better without measuring the sort of challenge, the timing of able to keep the level difficulty under control produced by a GS. That measurement alone what I'm not seeing it anymore.

Well Anyways, I don't mind having the paddle shifter in the series.

It removes the linkage from the car, so you have one less piece of "loose" metal from the cockpit.

Thanks for your clarification, jsieczka.

Could have put in a joystick to reduce the length of the old stick. Ugh... oh well :twisted:

generally i say remove as many electronic aids as possible.

I think it is a lot cooler to see a drivers move their hand off the wheel and shift. This is especially true for casual fans. I'm constantly asked by people who are not into racing how the drivers shift. People are a lot more impressed if drivers have to actually move their hands and shift a lever. If they are just pushing some buttons on a steering wheel, people think its lame, thats practically the same input they use to shift a "sport shifter" on a street car!

I'm not an insider, so if its true the paddle shifter is safer, then I guess thats just how it needs to be. If its just to prevent misshifts are something, I say screw it.

There have been numerous failures with the shifter electronics in F1, in champ car last year, and indy car now. how stupid is it to see a driver drop out of a race because they can't get their computer to shift gears.

I don't mind the paddle shifters, gets some clutter out of the cockpit so in an emergancy its not something they'd be getting tangled on or breaking a wrist in an accident. Sure it's definitely a lot cooler watching a driver takes his/her hand off the wheel and shifting. New fans are probably wonder why they don't "shift" till they understand the cars have paddle shifters. I think most of the problems you're seeing in the ICS right now are just bugs, since paddles are pretty new to indy car.. when the new chassis' roll out in a couple years i'm sure those will be better designed with that idea incorporated so these bugs will be minimal.

IMO, removing the shifter also removes an element of racecraft and, therefore, is a "dumbing down" of skill. Not to mention the fact that when anyone emulates a race car driver, they ALWAYS make the hand gestures of shifting gears. It's ingrained. You never see little kids or even grown adults making a race car noise and flicking their fingers, always pronounced hand gestures of moving a gear shift.

AOW is not going to complete with F1 in the arena of technology, so instead of trying to, I suggest the opposite approach, a true driver's car with no aids or assists of any kind. Paddle shifting is to video gamish for my taste.

ShovelerLX - 14 July 2008 02:18 PM

My biggest problem with the paddle shifters is that they break.
We saw numerous cars this year with shifting problems that were not present in the past seasons.

However I do agree that its a great safety feature.

i walked the pits at mid ohio this past weekend and talked to buddy rices team and they showed me a broken/loose wire to the paddle shifter that had broke and consequently wouldn't allow him to shift

talk about up close and personal!