Speaker: Bobby Dalzell. Day job: Investment Advisor at a family office in Carmel. More interesting job: Spotter for Arrow McLaren Indycar Team. BS from Indiana University in Public Financial Management and 17 years in open wheel racing.
At 230+ mph and millions of dollars in technology, Indycar drivers still rely on the human eye from high above the press box to provide vital information. Strategists and Engineers have split seconds to accept, filter, and utilize the spotter’s input in conjunction with thousands of datapoints of telemetry to win races.
Program: Live and Zoom: The Spotter’s Role in Oval Racing
Speakers: Bobby Dalzell and Chris Lawrence of the Arrow McLaren Indycar Team Racing
Introduced By: Greg Harker
Attendance: NESC: 81; Zoom: 30
Guest(s): Mike Thyen, Pat Stemle, Chuck Bueltel, Big Coughlin, Kristin Kraemer, Jacob Apollos,
Scott Fischer
Scribe: Benny Ko
Editor: Ed Nitka
View a Zoom recording of this talk at:
Today's Program 02032025
A Spotter's Role in Indycar Racing. Bobby Dalzell
A Race Engineer in Car Racing. Chris Lawrence
A spotter is a safety resource for the race car drivers. It is mandated in oval track car racing such as the Indianapolis Speedway. Two spotters are deployed at an Indy 500 car race per driver, one in Turn1 and the other in Turn 3. Stationed high above the race track, the spotter observes the progression of the race with binoculars and communicates directly with the driver via UHF radio informing them of their positions relative to the other drivers and potential hazards on the track.
Racing would be more dangerous to the drivers without a spotter because of the limited visibility and tight space of a race car; for example, the side mirror of a race car is only a fraction of the size of a regular passenger car. The other person who can talk to the driver via radio is a race team's strategist.
However, the spotter has the priority to speak over the strategist.
Mr. Lawrence is a mechanical engineer by training. He works for McClaren Automotive, a company involved in Indy Car, Formula 1, Heritage, and Formula E racing. He explained the innovations of a race car can be categorized as low-tech or high-tech. The former includes safety harness design and placement, such as attaching the helmet to the car, thus minimizing potential crash injuries such as whiplash. Other safety features include a rear-mounted attenuator, which dissipates the energy of a crash. When sensors detect the car deviating from a forward direction, an emergency flap automatically deploys to prevent the car from going airborne. Kevlar ropes are used to tether the wheels and tires to the car so they don't become detached in a crash.
Anatomy of a Hybrid Series Indy Car.
Chassis
*Carbon tub
* Titanium Halo
*18.5 gallon fuel cell.
Power Train
*2.2 liter V6, twin-turbo
*Xtrac 6-speed gearbox, electronic shifting.
*Hybrid system with MGU (Motor Generator Unit) and supercapacitor ESS (Energy Storage System).
The ESS is tiny but can be recharged very rapidly.
*Minimum weight:1975 lbs.
*Engine Power: 500kw to 560kw.
*The car has 700 sensors to monitor different parameters.
A unique feature is the engine starts with the gearbox in neutral and the clutch out; and in 1st gear with the clutch in, the engine idles. Typical idle is 3000 rpm!
*The steering wheel is unlike anything seen in a regular car. It costs around $30,000. The gearbox and engine can be controlled from the steering wheel; it can even supply drinks to the driver on demand.
* A weight jacker is built in; by adjusting the height of the spring perch, the driver can adjust the suspension and weight distribution to the wheels rendering a more desirable turn around a curve.
