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their effect has changed the nature of drafting. Vehicles no longer have sufficient horsepower or throttle response to maintain their drafting speeds upon exiting the draft; they can pull out and squeeze ahead but lack the response to clear the car being passed. This negates the slingshot maneuver. As a result, passing is often the result of cooperation between two or more drivers or is achieved by sucking air off the side of the car being passed, a technique called side-drafting.
289:
311:, two or more vehicles can race faster when lined up front-to-rear than a single car can race alone. The low-pressure wake behind a group's leading car reduces the aerodynamic resistance on the front of the trailing car, allowing the second car to pull closer. As the second car nears the first, it pushes high-pressure air forward so less fast-moving air hits the lead car's spoiler. The result is less drag for both cars, allowing faster speeds.
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390:. Due to the danger, NASCAR has attempted to limit the bracing on bumpers on cars, disallowed bump drafting in turns, introduced "no bump zones" on certain portions of speedways where this practice is prevalent, and penalized drivers who are too rough in bump drafting. The 2010 NASCAR season allowed drivers more freedom; bump drafting was allowed anywhere, including turns.
566:. The DC-8/F-18 flight was an exploratory investigation of large aircraft vortex-induced performance benefits on a fighter-type aircraft. The aircraft flew at 25,000 feet with a separation of about 200 feet nose-to-tail. The F/A-18 slowly moved in laterally to explore the vortex effects, NASA said at the time. The Air Force has also tested vortex surfing with
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where the plates mean that much less power is available to push the large bodies through the air. Race cars reach their highest speeds on these superspeedways, so the aerodynamic forces are highest and the effects of drafting are strongest. Since restrictor plates were first used as a safety device,
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is used. Along a long straight a car following close behind another uses the slipstream created by the lead car to close the gap between them, hoping to be able to overtake the leader under braking for the next corner, or if they have a straightline speed advantage, to pass on the straight. However
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found that he could use drafting as a strategy that helped him overcome the fact that his
Chevrolet could not keep up with other cars, allowing him to win the race. Like Johnson, other drivers found they picked up speed running closely behind other cars, and as they experimented, they found that a
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magazine report that interviewed various experts affiliated and unaffiliated with Nike found they universally expected more coordinated pacing efforts to occur in running after
Breaking2, with two of the quoted experts predicting that behavior like "cooperative drafting", or races that incentivize
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Similar to the "Belgian tourniquet" in cycling, the "slingshot pass" is the most dramatic and widely noted maneuver associated with drafting. A trailing car (perhaps pushed by a line of drafting cars) uses the lead car's wake to pull up with maximum momentum at the end of a straightaway, enters a
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overheating. Most motor sport aerodynamic analysis is performed using wind tunnel testing. This becomes difficult for drafting cases, if only because a very large wind tunnel is needed. CFD, a kind of virtual wind tunnel, is used by race teams to understand the car's performance while drafting.
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generated by the front bird will create up-wash circulations. The birds flying behind will receive lift force from these up-wash vortices. Thus other birds in the flock do not need to work as hard to achieve lift. Studies show that birds in a V formation place themselves roughly at the optimum
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Handling in corners is affected by balance changes caused by the draft: the leading car has normal front downforce but less rear downforce. The trailing car has less front downforce but normal rear downforce. A car with drafting partners both ahead and behind will lose downforce at both ends.
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or CFD) is increasingly being used to analyse drafting. It is important to understand the aerodynamic behaviour of a motor vehicle when drafting, for example if the rear car is too close to the front car, the air supply to its radiator will be reduced and there is a possibility of the engine
453:. Tandem Drafting made a return when NASCAR removed the restrictor plate and replaced them with Tapered Spacers, and with the flat noses and bumpers of the modern Gen 6 cars, drivers could more easily tandem and gain speed, much like the early 2010s. After Ryan Newman's scary crash in the
487:, drafting behind an 18-wheeler truck was tested and results showed that traveling 100 feet (30 m) behind the truck increased overall mpg efficiency by 11%. Traveling 10 feet (3.0 m) behind the truck produced a 39% gain in efficiency. Additionally, on the same episode,
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or more (a 10% increase in efficiency of certain hybrid vehicles). Some sources say that the most common tailgating does not save gasoline even at freeway speeds because one is likely to accelerate and brake so frequently that any aerodynamic savings are lost through the brakes.
457:, NASCAR made efforts to change drafting at superspeedways, where less horsepower was used: the removal of aero ducts to eliminate tandem drafting and decrease closing rates, and a smaller throttle body to lower the amount of air into a racecar.
661:
Robbie
Gonzalez (Narrator/Senior Writer, Wired Magazine), Rodger Kram (Biomechanics Expert, CU Boulder), Michael Joyner, M.D. (Exercise Physiology Researcher, Mayo Clinic), Chris Beves (Senior Engineer, Siemens PLM) (June 29, 2017).
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turn high, and turns down across the lead car's wake. The combination of running downhill and running across the zone of lowest aerodynamic drag allows the trailing car to carry extra speed and pass on the inside of the leader.
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In recent years, as aerodynamics have become increasingly critical to the performance of stock cars on "intermediate" oval tracks (between 1.33 and 2 mi) and superspeedways not requiring restrictor plates (such as the
193:. Each cyclist, except the first, is drafting behind another one. In order to ride very fast, a team of some skilled cyclists may form the "Belgian tourniquet". Successively, each cyclist leads the group. Drafting can be
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in 2011, Busch was the first to realize that the corners were smooth enough to allow a two-car draft for the complete length of the track. During test sessions on the track, when Busch was pushed by his brother
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If done roughly or in the wrong position (e.g. close to the entry of the turn), this tactic can destabilize the handling of the lead car, sometimes causing a crash. Use of the tactic in this manner is known as
800:
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342:), the effect of turbulent, or "dirty", air when following closely behind another car has become much more akin to that described above in open-wheel racing (a situation described in NASCAR circles as
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445:). For the 2012 season, the Sprint Cup series cars were modified in a way that made the tandem impossible, in order to return to pack racing. In 2014, bump drafting was banned by NASCAR in the
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Sportruck series during the late 1980s. It begins as normal drafting, but the following car pulls up behind the lead car and bumps into the rear of it, pushing the lead car ahead, to maintain
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is largely responsible for a different type of bump drafting, which is now referred to as "two-car drafting" and "tandem drafting". At a 2007 test session in
Talladega, he asked
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417:, they ran 15 mph faster than single cars. Other drivers quickly picked up on Busch's strategy, and the two-car draft dominated the
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of a leading aircraft. In 2003, NASA said one of its F/A-18 test aircraft had a 29% fuel savings by flying in the wingtip vortex of a
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line of cars could sustain higher speeds and/or use less fuel (resulting in fewer pit-stops) than a single car running by itself.
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Bump drafting is a tactic used at
Talladega and Daytona. The technique was initially popularized by the Archer Brothers in the
197:: several competitors take turns in the lead position (which requires the most effort and energy consumption). It can also be
499:, as the chunks of ejected rubber can be large enough to cause serious harm, even death, to a driver following too closely.
425:. This strategy had also been very prominent at Talladega. In 2011, two-car tandem drafting was used for the extent of the
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of thereby taking advantage of the liquid slipstream in the other swimmer's wake. Drafting also occurs in competitive
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to push him from behind, and was stunned to realize he was two seconds faster with Newman's help. At the newly paved
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where cyclists ride in a long formation with each (but not the first rider) drafting behind the others before them.
1045:"Drag Reduction from Formation Flight. Flying Aircraft in Bird-Like Formations Could Significantly Increase Range"
70:. Especially when high speeds are involved, as in motor racing and cycling, drafting can significantly reduce the
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401:
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280:) air that comes off the lead car unbalances the trailing car as its aerodynamic devices provide less grip.
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Drafters also face the danger that, if the vehicle in front stops suddenly, there is little time to react.
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712:"How NASCAR Drafting Works: 4 Important Questions About This Technique-centric Racing - Nascar Chronicle"
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demonstrated that it can be very dangerous for the following car if one of the truck's tires (or their
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126:. In a competition pool a swimmer may hug the lane line that separates them from the swimmer they are
74:'s average energy expenditure and can even slightly reduce the energy expenditure of the lead vehicle.
171:, any time one bicyclist is riding behind another, energy is conserved, especially at higher speeds.
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as well: both in open-water races (occurring in natural bodies of water) and in traditional races in
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it is very difficult for cars to follow each other close together in fast corners as the "dirty" (
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Animals have been observed to use true drafting behavior reminiscent of auto racing or cycling.
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technique where two moving objects are aligning in a close group to exploit the lead object's
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to save fuel on long-distance flights. The idea is to fly aircraft in the upward part of the
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in 2012, and indicated a 10% fuel saving. Tests in 2013 produced even greater fuel savings.
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that would best minimize drag on the professionals it sponsored in the project it termed
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217:. Generally the effect is much less pronounced than in cycling due to lower speeds.
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for example are known to migrate in close single-file formation "lobster trains".
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at the
University of New Hampshire to experiment with and select a formation of
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Spence, Andrew J.; Thurman, Andrew; Maher, Michael; Wilson, Alan M. (2009).
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surfing is a related phenomenon that is currently being investigated by the
178:, the main (largest) group of tightly packed cyclists in a race is called a
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is under study as a means to get the benefit while also increasing safety.
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Some drivers have been known to draft behind other vehicles, particularly
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1016:. Networkworld.com (October 11, 2012). Retrieved on March 28, 2013.
1007:"Air Force lab tests out 'aircraft surfing' technique to save fuel"
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632:"Speed, strategy, drag and drafting in thoroughbred horse racing"
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Drafting behind another runner can conserve energy when facing a
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936:(Crustacea: Palinuridae): Behavior and Environmental Correlates"
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series, simulate drafting by giving the player a speed boost.
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techniques like drafting are also found in nature. Flocks of
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The
Science of How Nike Nearly Cracked the Two-Hour Marathon
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racing horses draft each other, especially in longer races.
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cycling-peloton-like behavior could improve running times.
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429:, with many drivers drafting their own teammates (e.g.,
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It is believed, but not yet conclusively proven, that
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930:Kanciruk, Paul; Herrnkind, William (October 1978).
899:. MythBusters Results. Retrieved on March 28, 2013.
697:Lemasters, Ron Jr. (January 2001) "One Wild Wind",
322:Drafting was discovered by stock car racers in the
303:On the faster speedways and superspeedways used by
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880:. Autobloggreen.com. Retrieved on March 28, 2013.
613:distance predicted by simple aerodynamic theory.
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774:Glick, Shav (December 3, 1987), "Motor Racing",
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102:, though drafting is occasionally used even in
1026:"USAF touts flying technique for fuel savings"
840:'Hypermilers' wring out every last bit of mpg
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469:larger vehicles, to save fuel. For example,
821:Anderson, Lars. "The Kid Wins a Wild One",
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672:(online video). Event occurs at 6:35-9:12
966:"'Vortex surfing' could be revolutionary"
636:Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A
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950:from the original on November 18, 2011.
354:Drafting is most important at NASCAR's
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871:Mythbusters study drafting on the road
750:"CUP: Atlanta Is Side Drafting Heaven"
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701:(ISSN 0734-7340), Volume 36, Number 1.
66:and thus reduce the overall effect of
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803:from the original on January 12, 2014
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793:"NASCAR to Penalize Tandem Drafting"
473:using this technique can achieve 75
223:worked with the aerodynamics expert
187:When cyclists ride fast they form a
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964:Drinnon, Roger (October 11, 2012).
296:utilizing the slipstream of leader
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267:, as well as to a lesser extent in
118:allow drafting. Drafting occurs in
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932:"Mass Migration of Spiny Lobster,
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748:Ingram, Jonathan (March 6, 2010).
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995:NASA Sky Surfing for Fuel Economy
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752:. Speed Channel. Archived from
510:Computer simulation of drafting
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604:and some other birds fly in a
402:Daytona International Speedway
364:Daytona International Speedway
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86:and is seen most commonly in
852:"Tailgate for Mother Earth!"
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340:Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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32:Slipstream (disambiguation)
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940:Bulletin of Marine Science
890:"Episode 80: Big Rig Myths
861:ecogeek.org, July 16, 2007
857:September 5, 2008, at the
730:"Aero push problem Nascar"
648:10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.04.216
461:Tailgating and hypermiling
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1031:October 30, 2013, at the
895:January 16, 2013, at the
736:, Auro week, June 9, 2015
437:drafted together, as did
919:. November 1, 1990. BBC.
876:October 9, 2008, at the
578:Vortex surfing in nature
541:Caribbean spiny lobsters
1012:April 12, 2013, at the
842:, NBC News May 29, 2007
360:Talladega Superspeedway
294:Talladega Superspeedway
271:, a technique known as
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997:. NASA (July 21, 2003)
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108:downhill skateboarding
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514:Computer simulation (
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27:Aerodynamic technique
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148:Belgian tourniquet (
104:cross-country skiing
47:of drafting cyclists
30:For other uses, see
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176:road bicycle racing
916:The Trials of Life
824:Sports Illustrated
718:. October 1, 2021.
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535:Drafting in nature
435:Dale Earnhardt Jr.
423:Budweiser Shootout
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734:Nascar sprint cup
447:Nationwide Series
269:sports car racing
257:open wheel racing
124:competition pools
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78:Drafting in sport
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484:MythBusters
471:hypermilers
443:Mark Martin
439:Jeff Gordon
427:Aaron's 499
398:Ryan Newman
327:Daytona 500
261:Formula One
251:Road racing
199:competitive
195:cooperative
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1070:Categories
617:References
572:auto pilot
528:Mario Kart
504:Platooning
497:delaminate
467:tailgating
394:Kyle Busch
298:Kyle Busch
246:Motorsport
229:pacemakers
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64:slipstream
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344:aero push
278:turbulent
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1048:Archived
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874:Archived
855:Archived
801:Archived
778:, p. 10.
380:momentum
358:tracks,
263:and the
215:headwind
203:tactical
190:paceline
120:swimming
72:paceline
52:Drafting
45:paceline
760:May 27,
329:, when
209:Running
181:peloton
169:cycling
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157:Cycling
112:running
797:NASCAR
570:using
552:Vortex
493:recaps
366:, and
305:NASCAR
110:, and
98:, and
58:is an
670:Wired
602:geese
568:C-17s
238:Wired
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982:2012
809:2014
762:2010
678:2018
564:DC-8
449:and
441:and
433:and
421:and
407:Kurt
376:SCCA
324:1960
309:ARCA
307:and
235:. A
221:Nike
68:drag
913:".
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