Formula 1 Prelim Stopped because of Manhole Cover Failure

[dik]

This could have been a disaster at 200 mph...

"Sainz’s Ferrari came to a halt due to an unforeseen issue. After a wait of 11 minutes, it was declared that the session wouldn’t continue. The cause of the stoppage was later identified as a dislodged manhole cover.

Sainz was clearly seen being jolted as the cover struck his vehicle with speeds approaching 200mph on the Las Vegas Boulevard."

https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/11/17/carlos-sainz-incident-halts-vegas-f1-practice/

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-Dik

 

[3DDave]

The "manhole cover" is an 8-10 inch diameter drain plug.

 

[LittleInch]

One thing that came up was whether the course designers really realised just how much negative pressure these cars create as a shock wave as they go over all these covers which look like they were only covered over with a couple of inches of tarmac if that.

Going to be interesting to see if any others pop off during the rest of the race.

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[IRstuff]

This is not the first time that Formula 1 has raced on streets; so there ought not be any major surprises

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[dik]

Thanks 3DD... a lot of damage from the little plug at 200 mph... sparks and everything.


They use the ground effects for traction and control... F1 reduced the amount of ground effects a few years back for safety reasons.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[LittleInch]

Apparently because this was such a major road, they couldn't do any test runs before the practice runs with the F1 cars

And had to reopen it by 4am to normal traffic!!

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[EdStainless]

the last time that looked in downtown Long Beach all of the covers are welded down.
And that is just for sports car/GT events.
They have had this happen in Monaco also.


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[JohnRBaker]

Yes, our oldest son's company is doing catering for several groups at the race this weekend (they have over 100 people working the gig) and he's there as part of the management team. He said they were going to put out a spread at 11:00PM last night. They had already done one earlier in the evening. Altogether, the deal included reserving two of their restaurants, which adjoin the circuit, for three full days, for something close to $2 million.

He sent a video last night showing what they can see from where they're working:

[URL unfurl="true"]https://res.cloudinary.com/engineering-com/video/upload/v1700253445/tips/IMG_9352_scj7wh.mov[/url]

He mentioned that they had to suspend that practice run, the one he was filming, due to a loose manhole cover. I would have assumed that they would have welded them all in place long before the first car was allowed on the circuit.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
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[LittleInch]

Many though will probably be ductile iron which didn't weld very well at all. A few dobs of stitch weld won't work.

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[TugboatEng]

Nope, someone tried welding a cover over a manhole at our facility.

 

[Debirlfan]

My understanding is that it wasn't the cover that came loose, but the whole top of the pipe/the concrete around it.

 

[TugboatEng]

The picture shows beveling around the hole. Maybe they were planning to fill it with epoxy.

 

[3DDave]

Looks like the street repair is to fill the hole with asphalt.

Newer report says it's a water valve cover, which make the most sense. Just imagine the joy the water company workers will have when that valve needs to be accessed.

 

[GregLocock]

" F1 reduced the amount of ground effects a few years back for safety reasons." Perhaps, except they've gone back to shaped floors from regulated flat floors. The result of this is the peak downforce patch is longer than it was, and further forward, and narrower. This improves the aero balance so less front wing is needed, which reduces drag. Obviously a drain cover is going to be more affected by a long high vacuum patch than a short one.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[SnTMan]

Also, race tires are REALLY STICKY when hot. A friend that did corner work for club type racing said when they had to push a 1000 lb car back off the guardrail or whatever, it was hard work

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[hokie66]

Maybe they should stick to something more American, NASCAR comes to mind. But then, open wheel racing seems to work fine in many countries around the world, even Australia.

 

[XR250]

Maybe they should stick to something more American, NASCAR comes to mind. But then, open wheel racing seems to work fine in many countries around the world, even Australia.

Honestly, Aussie V8 Supercars and Stadium Supertrucks is the best racing to watch.

 

[SnTMan]

More American? IndyCar anybody?

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[3DDave]

Tractor pulls.

 

[LittleInch]

I looked this up a bit more and the circuit is only being used for F1 races ( no multiple other races like you usually get at a GP weekend) and the main drag is open from 4am to 5pm every race weekend day for "normal" traffic. they then close it and sweep up all the crap, install barriers etc and then 2 hours later the circuit becomes "hot".

Never seen anything like that before. All other street circuits they close it up completely about 2 weeks beforehand and then race on it all over the 4 day weekend so the surface has to withstand a lot more than one race.

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