Open wheel car facts for kids
An open-wheel car is a special type of racing car. Its wheels are outside the main body of the car. Most of these cars have only one seat for the driver. People also call them formula cars or single-seater cars. In the United States, they are sometimes known as Indy cars.
Unlike regular street cars or sports cars, open-wheel cars don't have fenders covering their wheels. This makes them look very different. These cars are built just for racing. They use a lot of advanced technology to go super fast!
How Open-Wheel Cars Are Designed
An open-wheel car has a very small space for the driver, called a cockpit. It's just big enough for the driver's body. The driver's head is usually open to the air. In modern cars, the engine is often right behind the driver. This engine powers the rear wheels.
Many open-wheel cars have special parts called spoilers or wings. These parts help push the car down onto the road. This pushing force is called aerodynamic downforce. It helps the car stick to the road better and turn corners faster. These cars are also very low to the ground and have a nearly flat bottom.
Some open-wheel races happen on temporary street circuits. These are roads in cities that are closed off for racing. Most open-wheel races take place on special road courses. An example is the Nürburgring track in Germany. In the United States, some big races are held on oval tracks. The most famous oval race is the annual Indianapolis 500, often called the Indy 500.
Driving an Open-Wheel Car
Driving an open-wheel car is very different from driving a regular car. Open-wheel vehicles are very light. They have great aerodynamics and powerful engines. This combination makes them incredibly fast.
However, it can be dangerous if the wheels of two cars touch during a race. If the front of one car's tire hits the back of another car's tire, it can cause a car to flip high into the air. This is why drivers must be very careful when racing close to each other.
Images for kids
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A Ford Model T, one of the most popular road-legal cars of the early 20th century. Note how the wheels are well outside the main body of the car, as was typical for the era.
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Caterham open wheeled sports car, derived from Lotus 7
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Electric Formula E racing car (Spark SRT05e) racing for HWA Racelab
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Ariel Atom sports car from UK
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KTM X-Bow, road legal open wheeled sportscar
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Asphalt Modified Short Track Race Car
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Sprint cars
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A Barlotti go-kart: a low-end open-wheel car
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See also
In Spanish: Automóvil monoplaza para niños
