New McLaren Nose Bubble Sparks Speculation

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Mar 8, 2011 | 03:15 PM

Barrister

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New McLaren Nose Bubble Sparks Speculation

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:16 PM

Gobbles

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Hmm...I would need to see actual footage before I could speculate further.

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:22 PM

blissat9k

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Mar 8, 2011 | 03:24 PM

Barrister

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Some clarification from McLaren.

McLaren - Bubble Nose Test-Only Component

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:29 PM

GroupB

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What do we think? Something to measure wing deflection or something more like an active aero device?

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:30 PM

Barrister

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^ See my thread above your's.

McLaren says it is purely a measuring device and would be illegal as an aero device during any actual race.

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:32 PM

Alzilla

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Those look like load sensors to me. I'm betting that it's for testing the flexing of the front wing.

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:33 PM

Barrister

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Good racing usually equals something beautiful.

This wouldn't fit that bill.

Mar 8, 2011 | 03:34 PM

ZAMIRZ

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^Yeah, that' what I think. It's gotta be for testing. A wart like that on the nosecone upsets all the airflow over the car. Probably taking measurements for wing deflection and maybe lateral wing and airflow loading through high-speed corners among other things.

If it was part of the racecar, those tie-rods and joints would be made out of carbon fiber.