Speed: Formula None

But the issue, it turns out, isn't how much horsepower we want. It's how much we can use. "The first limitation might be the temperature-absorption capability of the tires' rubber," VanValkenburgh says. "The second limitation might be how long the rubber can sustain that abuse. The third limitation might be how long the track can sustain that sort of abuse." br/>
Loads on a tire, whether vertical (from downforce) or lateral (from cornering), cause temperatures to rise. This is a good thing-up to a point. Dale Harrigle, an engineer at Bridgestone/Firestone's Akron technical center, says his company's Indy car tires develop maximum grip at 180