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CART Driving 101

A real course in a real CART car for real people

Do you ever imagine being behind the wheel of a powerful open-wheeled racecar envisioning yourself as a would-be Mario Andretti or Al Unser Jr.? You may be surprised to learn how easy your dream can come true.

Driving 101 gives average people like you and me the chance to drive a semi-real open-wheel CART (Championship Auto Racing Team) racecar on some of the same race courses of the pros. Think about it: a 500-horsepower, 1,800-pound racecar at speeds approaching 180 miles per hour. Just you, the car and your nerves.

Driving 101 runs two venues, one at the Las Vegas International Raceway in Nevada and one at the California Raceway in Fontana, California. These are two of the most challenging banked ovals in the country—downright intimidating just standing in the infield and looking up the steep banks of concrete.

But, if driving really isn't your cup of tea and you would still like to experience the thrill of speed, the company offers a less dramatic, yet equally impressive ride—in a dual-seat CART racecar that's nearly as thrilling as the single-seat car. The two-seater is driven by one of Driving 101's capable instructors with you sitting just twenty inches behind him. It's the ultimate in backseat driving.

The dimensions of a standard racecar are modified slightly to accommodate the extra passenger. The chassis is stretched 10 inches and the fuel tank that's usually located behind the driver is reduced in size and moved to the side of the passenger. A formed seat and full five-point racing seatbelt is provided, so the rider gets the most authentic experience possible.

My Driving 101 experience began with a lap in the dual-place vehicle. Even though I've driven some of the fastest production cars in the world, this was my first experience in an open-wheeled racer of this type. As the pit crew strapped me in and gave me some pointers on what was about to happen, I could feel my pulse beginning to quicken. Although I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel of my very own car, I was excited to be where I was right then.

With the tandem experience behind me, it was time to don my fire-retardant driver's suit and safety helmet and squeeze myself into my very own CART car. However, before the instructors would allow me to venture onto this hallowed strip of pavement, they had me review the rules of the track. They wanted to be sure that if anything went wrong I would have some idea of what to do to lessen the consequences.

The instructors were very quick to point out that this is a powerful racecar on a very demanding racecourse and that racing is very dangerous. This came pointedly to light just the day before when an up-and-coming young professional driver was killed in a race.

Following the somber came the adrenaline, and I could feel my pulse again begin to quicken in my chest. The time had come to slide into the cockpit of my own CART car. As the pit crew strapped me into the harness, I continued to go over in my mind that I could do this and not to embarrass myself in front of my newfound friends.

The drill was simple: follow the instructor in the car in front of you, do what he does, go as fast as you dare, but do not pass your instructor. Oh, and remember to have fun. As I drove my car along pit row and the powerful engine's increasing rpm grew louder and louder in the exhaust, my pulse began to return to normal. Just like a pro's car, there is no speedometer, so I wouldn't know what my lap speeds were until the session was over and I got to see the telemetry printout.

Since these cars are equipped with two-speed transmissions, one up-shift from First to Second is all that' s needed—and I accomplished this without any grinding of the gears. Pressing down on the accelerator, I could feel the 500 horses stampeding behind my head. Even though the car didn't match the 900-plus horsepower and lighter weight of a true CART racer, I knew in my soul that if I did the unmentionable (stomping down on the accelerator), I would surely perform an embarrassing pirouette. Fortunately I didn't do either and my self-esteem remained intact.

I found that driving the car was much easier than I had anticipated. All I had to do was stay within the area of the tri-oval, as I was told, and maintain the distance behind my instructor. Most of the time I was pushing my instructor to go faster, feeling I could go considerably faster than we both were. At the end I would be told that I indeed didn't achieve the speed I wanted. I had reached 148.9 mile per hour, well below the 175 mph I had hoped for. I could easily tell this CART car would adhere wonderfully well to the track surface.

I also was astounded at how well the car handled and how the sensation of speed had been camouflaged by the tremendous down force the huge wings created. I was enjoying getting to know the car and felt it was becoming my friend when I spotted the checkered flag at start/finish line that signaled the end of my session. As I entered the back straight, my instructor started to slow, beginning our entrance onto pit row. I could feel an incredible sadness that my time was over. I wanted nothing more than to continue for the rest of the afternoon. But it would have to wait for another day.

As I wriggled and twisted my way from the cockpit, the pit crew all gave me the requisite high-fives, asking how it was out there. Life was good, I just drove my first CART car, and as I removed my racing suit I promised myself this would not be my last. I would be back.

Resource

Driving 101, 702-651-6300, www.driving101.com