With the conclusion of the USGP at Austin yesterday, the 2024 comparable lap times between F1, Indy Car, WEC, IMSA, MotoGP and NASCAR on the same tracks are now complete for the season. Not surprisingly F! leads the way improving lap times by 2-3 seconds from 2023. Notably, in some instances Indy Car was marginally slower in 2024 by tenths of a second whereas sports cars (both WEC and IMSA) were routinely slower, sometimes as much as 1-2 seconds than in 2023. Some of our experts here may want to weigh in on how/why this is. NASCAR still refuses to post fastest race lap times on ovals. But, they do post them for road courses. Curious... In any case here they are. I obtain the times from race reports on Racer.com <http://racer.com/> and cross reference on the sanctioning bodies’ official websites. BHW
Very cool Barton, interesting. I can't believe the F1 lap difference between qualifying and best lap is 5 seconds! Weight and tires can't make up all that difference, has to be something with extra electric power? Are they allowed to use DRS in qualifying?
All the IMSA GTP ones said 2024. Wouldn't that mean 2024 was faster than 2023? It seemed like most of the races they were setting race and qualifying records thanks to the new Michelin tire and it being just their 2nd year in the car.
Yes, they're allowed to use DRS in qualifying in the usual zones. They have to map the engines to last in the races so they're detuned and to more conservative settings. BHW
I've been keeping a fluid document for this going on 4 years now. Yes, it was surprising this year that IMSA and WEC times in particular were marginally slower than 2023. These are not lap records, they're qualifying and fastest lap speeds. I think, also, the new Michelin tires were more for improved life over the course of a stint(s). If a tire war breaks out, then we'll start seeing new lap records. BHW
