Addictive, awe-inspiring, adrenaline-pumping — indeed, there are cars that you can be like, “okay, that one’s fast,” but there will always be that one car that can zoom at full speed as if it harnesses its power straight from the speed force. Being at auto races like the Grand Prix is already a wonderful experience, no doubt to that. But, wait until you hear the booming speeds of the auto cars trying to best one other.
Popularity and charisma are both critical factors why fans keep going back to support any motorsport. However, we can all agree that top speed is an essential element that excites the game as auto racing enthusiasts. The car’s unique aerodynamics, engineering, and tech supply it with the necessary power to reach its potential max speed.
Automakers continue to impress the world with clever engineering only to produce more powerful and faster automobiles. In auto racing, the roaring engines and screeching tires could indeed wow the spectators. However, it is the digits that ultimately determines the car’s true power.
Ever wonder how fast the fastest cars in auto racing go? Let’s go find out.
IndyCar
Top speed: 380 km/h or 236mph
If you are craving some high-speed car action, IndyCars can be your pure source of satisfaction. IndyCars are notorious for achieving incredible speeds, about 380 km/h or 236mph. Although, these speeds are only possible at the largest oval speedways to provide the IndyCars enough time and power to produce that overwhelming speed.
The car’s power is ultimately dependent on the track. While IndyCars can exploit more downforce for narrow street circuits and courses, it makes them faster on them, but as a result, their top speed also decreases. Nevertheless, IndyCars remain one of the fastest single-saddler cars in the motorsports landscape.
NASCAR
Top speed: 321 km/h or 199 mph
While NASCAR certainly is a fan of speeding cars and fast-acceleration autos, it is also an advocate of safety and wellness of both drivers and fans. The auto racing body implemented speed restrictions on its speedways to ensure that tragedies such as what happened in the early 1980s wouldn’t happen again.
With a top speed of 321 km/h, NASCAR autos are behind F1 and IndyCar. But despite the restriction, NASCAR autos still impress the crowd with strategic maneuvers and satisfying bursts of speed.
Formula 1
Top speed: 372.5 km/h or 231.461 mph (in a race)
F1 main game does not solely rely on raw speed; instead, it focuses more on downforce and cornering speeds. With a seemingly slow acceleration of 0 – 60mph in about 2.6 seconds given their top speed, F1 cars work it out with the clever aerodynamics that helps them build more momentum in the long run.
While Valtteri Bottas holds the title of the highest top speed in an F1 race (372.5 km/h or 231.461 mph), Honda’s RA106 currently has the fastest speed with an F1 car. The beast set a whopping 397.36 km/h or 246.9 mph record in an attempt to do a 400 km/h.
Formula 2
Top speed: 335 km/h or 208 mph
Let the digits speak for themselves. F2 cars are roughly half the horsepower of F1 cars, although their top speeds are not that far apart. These autos also lap at about 10 to 15 seconds slower than their F1 counterparts. Since the machines of F2 cars are not as complex as that of F1 cars, it is expected that the former proves to be inferior to the latter.
Nevertheless, F2 cars could deliver just enough speeds to hook the spectators and evoke that much-needed adrenaline rush that fans and drivers crave.
Formula 3
Top speed: 300 km/h or 186 mph
F3 might be slower than F1 and F2 cars, but they can achieve a 300 km/h or 186 mph speed which is still pretty fast. With its smooth acceleration of 0-100 km/h in roughly 3.1 seconds, these babies still deliver a splendid 300-ish, making it worthy of the spot in one of the fastest auto racing cars list.
F3’s speed is expected for its build is not entirely for achieving raw speed. The cost-efficient design focuses more on creating close racing as opposed to booming bursts of speed. These dynamics create a new perspective on motorsports and how auto racing entertainment must be.
FINAL WORDS
Auto racing is one of those sports that remain universally appealing to both young and adult fans, regardless of gender. NASCAR, IndyCars, and Formula cars are a few auto racing machines that display how speed can be fascinating.
The world’s greatest auto mechanics continue to raise the bar of successfully inventing the fastest car down to the next. Incorporating the latest technology in improving their performance, who knows what we’ll witness next?
It is then safe to say that the realm of motorsports has a brighter future ahead, and only time stands in our way in discovering how fast can we really (safely) go.