A lot has been said about what the next generation chassis should look like (raised nose vs. low nose, front vs. rear engine, wings vs. ground effects, etc.) and a lot has been said about the next generation engine (NA vs. turbo, 4, 6, or 8 cylinders, etc.), but I don't think anyone has really been talking about the gearbox. I know it isn't as sexy as an engine, but it's still a vital component and it can attract manufacturers.

Clearly paddleshift is here to stay if we like it or not. And I've been thinking about if we can improve on that. I've done some research on dual clutch transmissions, and I think this could be the perfect fit for the new car. Supposedly, they can shift faster than Formula 1 gear boxes, and are becoming relevant to street cars.

Should IndyCar make the shift (pun intended), or is there not enough interest to justify the idea?

For more information on dual clutch transmissions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin-clutch_gearbox
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/dual-clutch-transmission.htm

I don't see why it shouldn't be considered. The whole point of trying to attract new manufacturers and making the cars more relevant for them as well as us would seem to make this worth exploring. I would say it will depend on if this is something the manufacturers are interested in looking at or trying to incorporate more into their everyday cars.

As long as it's NOT still out passed the rear wheels, where it contacts the wall first, and is strong enough not to break when exiting the pits or used for a standing start, it will be an improvement.

I don't think the manufacturers would have anything to do with the gearbox. Those are usually made by the chassis manufacturer like in CART/CC or an outside company like the current ones are built by xtrac.

Racing gearboxs are a special deal. For one thing, no syncros, and straight cut or nearly so gears. So Xtrac. Or could be Geartrag. The Lolas and DP01 used Hewland. Is Coloti still around?

TURN8 - 26 August 2008 10:10 PM

Racing gearboxs are a special deal. For one thing, no syncros, and straight cut or nearly so gears. So Xtrac. Or could be Geartrag. The Lolas and DP01 used Hewland. Is Coloti still around?

Would that be Gehtrag, the German firm, you are suggesting?

ChrisR - 27 August 2008 12:00 AM

TURN8 - 26 August 2008 10:10 PM

Racing gearboxs are a special deal. For one thing, no syncros, and straight cut or nearly so gears. So Xtrac. Or could be Geartrag. The Lolas and DP01 used Hewland. Is Coloti still around?

Would that be Gehtrag, the German firm, you are suggesting?

Quite so, I knew I had spelled it wrong.

But close enough for someone to know what you meant !

TURN8 - 27 August 2008 09:46 PM

ChrisR - 27 August 2008 12:00 AM

TURN8 - 26 August 2008 10:10 PM

Racing gearboxs are a special deal. For one thing, no syncros, and straight cut or nearly so gears. So Xtrac. Or could be Geartrag. The Lolas and DP01 used Hewland. Is Coloti still around?

Would that be Gehtrag, the German firm, you are suggesting?

Quite so, I knew I had spelled it wrong.

Actually, you're both incorrect - it's Getrag - here's a link to their site - http://www.getrag.de/

Agreed that having the gearbox stick way the hell out the back of the car, behind the rear wheels, is insanity. Let's put something big, heavy, and completely inflexible in the part of the car that's most likely to hit something else big, heavy and completely inflexible (i.e. the outside wall on an oval). A transverse box ala CART in the late 90s (and maybe beyond, I'm not sure) would fit more neatly.

As for dual-clutch, VW/Audi and Porsche, among others, have started offering that setup in their passenger cars, but as noted, the gearbox and other running gear come with the car, not the engine. That doesn't preclude badge engineering of course, but gearboxes in general not likely to capture the road-car manufacturers' imagination the way engines do. After all, I would venture that to the average person (though less so for racing fans) the engine is the identity of the car.

Consider Mazda's fairly ridiculous "start with the best street cars and you'll end up with the best race cars" commercial. They prominently feature the B-K Motorsports Mazda-Lola from ALMS LMP2 as they say "more Mazdas are raced on any given Sunday than any other car." That car's as much a Mazda as my Volkswagen is a Mazda, and I don't remember the last time I saw a Lola street car, but to the idiot the commercial is aimed at, it's a Mazda because the engine's from Mazda. Of course, that's a stretch too (AER-developed engine). Let's just say it's a Mazda because the valve covers say Mazda.

The point (I know there's one in here somewhere) is that manufacturers, at least at this moment in time, are mainly interested in coming into the IRL either to develop or hire someone to develop engines. It's true, hopefully they're using it as a development exercise and not just a marketing tool, but whether or not they're developing anything, they know the engine is the easiest thing to make hay out of when it comes time to sell street cars. Honda (or Mazda, or anyone else) would probably feel better letting XTrac or Hewland worry about the gearbox since the guys that aren't on here talking about what gearbox they'd like the new Indy cars to have aren't likely to know the difference anyway.

Crap. You sure it isn't Gertrag??
MJJ237-Quite right also. Only the most obssessive of fans even know what gearbox is in the car.