Anyone have pics or a description?
The small hole in the bottom creates a "vortex" that sucks air from the wheels, thus cooling the brakes more efficiently. Here is a pic: http://www.autosport.com/gallery/photo.php/id/78912
John: it isn't cast as a single piece wheel, is it? I don't see any fasteners on the outside of the wheel (I guess they could be on the inside), but it looks like it would violate 2 sections of the FIA regs, first that the wheels need to be of one-piece design, and two, this is clearly a component of an aerodynamic nature that you have a moveable aerodynamic device like the big blow-up with Renault last year over the mass dampers. Having a wheel cover is one thing, but how does having an actual duct for air not contravene the rules? Maybe Stepney was giving Coughlan the aerodynamic analysis that proves the discs don't just "cool the brakes"
They're not attached to the wheels, they're attached to the hubs with bearings so they maintain their orientation. There was a great shot on Friday's SpeedTV coverage where they showed a closeup of one of them while removed in a pitstop. Check around on speedtv.com and see if they've got a still of it. As for the moveable aero rule, well they've already gotten the rear wheel air extractors approved. Interestingly, these on the front have moving parts, but don't move in the airstream!
That's how they work? Wow, that's pretty slick. I thought they rotated as part of the wheel. As for having things approved, there are lots of things that are first approved and that subsequently get banned. Just ask Renault.
Their main purpose is to reduce the amount of "unclean" air in and around the wheels,(caused by thier rotation) which helps all the other aero tweeks work more efficiantly. You can get more than enough brake cooling with normal ducts, but they disturd the air to much.
While cool, these things made me nervous during the pitstops. Just another element that has potential to screw up the stop. They did a good job on the stops considering....
The BMW E34 M5 sedan, first introduced in September, 1988, had this http://www.bmwmregistry.com/faq/E34_M5_early_wheel.jpg to cool the brakes. The car later used this wheel cover (http://www.bmwmregistry.com/faq/M_System_II_Wheel.jpg) to do the same job. Both wheel covers used screws to secure the cover to the 5 spoke wheel.
Prove it. I'm curious. Recently (last few seasons) teams have gone with fully shrouded brake discs, both front and rear. Here is an illustration showing the rear: http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/2007/778/447.html
Main purpose of the first design was to reverse the cooling air so your wheels would not get covered in dirty brake dust. Audi did this too. Wheels have been designed to cool brakes for many, many years but usually pull air out the centre of the wheel, thus getting them dirty. Pete
Thanks for the quick responses - technical description is up @ f1.com so now I know :] During one of the pits you could see one of those discs being lost when the wheel was being taken off - it flew off and the guy had to fumble for it for a second before getting another cover and putting the new wheel on :/ This worries me too - they need to practice keeping a check on those discs.
During a pit stop, I noticed one of the covers being put on, and it looked like they spun it on in a counterclockwise direction. Is it weighted to keep it in positiion?
