What is a Weight Jacker in Indycar?

[@OboeCanAm]

0:33 99 forever! Greg Moore was a great driver from a great era of racing. "See you at the front". ❤

[@AidanMillward]

That moment when you crash at 200mph and forget you're using a direct drive now... I'd also love to show you what one of these jackers looks like but I don't want to risk getting told off by the people who own the pictures... Again. I mean, just google it if you really want to see what it looks like in the car. Hope this one serves its purpose. I learned as I made it XD

[@eamonahern7495]

Me during the video: "That 3 times fast."

[@dylanzrim3635]

Rob dahm has an old indycar. Reach out to him

[@emobassist]

I hear those direct drive wheels can hurt you if you have force feedback set high

[@AidanMillward]

@@emobassist doesn’t even need to be set high.

[@mkozachek]

For anyone wanting to get into Indycar ovals the adjustments are as follows: Front ARB is softened if, on corner entry, you’re turn in is understeering, tightened if you’re oversteering Rear ARB is softened if, on corner exit, you’re understeering, tightened if you’re oversteering. Weight jacker is adjusted if you’re experiencing understeer or oversteer in at least two phases of the corner (turn in, middle, exit). Typically when I adjust the weight jacker I set the ARBs back to what they were when I left the pits. Oh, and you shouldn’t use weight jacker / ARB adjustments to compensate for dirty air causing understeer (aero push, in oval parlance). While you *could* do that you’d just be burning your tires off and making the car far less stable when you *do* get some air back over it. Instead, lift off the throttle or breathe the throttle to compensate for push. What I *did* learn from this video is minimizing the WJ on superspeedway straights to make the car more slippery. For short ovals and speedways this feels like a bad idea, however, especially given everything else that’s going on that you have to manage in the cockpit.

[@tylertattershall5693]

Only channel I watch every video as soon as they are uploaded

[@d00dEEE]

All American circle track cars have weight jackers, it's only (as far as I know) IndyCar that has in-cockpit adjustment though. Watch a NASCAR race and you'll often see a mechanic stick a long wrench down through the back window and adjust the cross weight at pitstops in order to change the balance as track conditions change (which is inevitable during a 500 mile race, especially those that transition from sunshine to night).

[@samkostka126]

That's not really a weight jacker though, it's more like the preload adjustment on a coilover. This is like corner balancing a track car, they just add a way to adjust this in the pits to set more cross-weight.

[@Real28]

iRacing in VR at Indy in an IndyCar is scary. Then, add in 3 wide and 30 other cars and it's the scariest open wheel experience. Nothing inF1 compares except when conditions get bad at a fast track. But running inches from another car mid corner at 220mph is 😬😬😬😬 even in a sim.

[@sanghelian]

yea, anyone wanting to know what the appeal of oval racing is should try running it in vr. Iracing becomes survival horror game in an instant. That's how i got intrested of indy and nascar.

[@Real28]

@@sanghelian and specifically Indy. The big D Ovals aren't nearly as scary as the corners are very gradual and there's a ton of room. The 90 deg corners of Indy are narrow and those walls come up QUICK. I've been an Indy Car fan for 30 years and it wasn't until I did it in VR in iRacing that I fully understood why Indy is scary IRL.

[@tylercady3985]

@@Real28 I also suggest jumping into a stock car at Daytona. While Indycar is faster around there, nothing compares to what I can only describe as rush hour traffic at 200mph

[@Kev-O]

Nice! Indycar content, let’s go!

[@T_Mo271]

It'll be interesting to hear Romain talk about high-speed oval racing once he gets through a few big events.

[@scottbarnes3116]

CART was phenomenal superb video Aidan

[@seancassidy795]

More Indycar coverage please, the people want it

[@fnafboy-fnafgirlssistercar685]

showing greg Moore ok nice taste

[@McPlayer8t]

What happened? I crashed. 😂 Aidan Millward is Kimi Raikkonen.

[@jchristie254]

Great explanation. Also liked the comparison to the red bull, it explains what the f1 pundits mean when the say Max likes to drive a car with a pointy setup.

[@Tydyjav1]

I appreciate the video and explanation. (even though I already knew some about it from helping out at a local stock car track) But so many people think oval racing is simple and easy. It is NOT! It’s a science all of it’s own. IndyCar and Nascar both have ovals, but even the differences between those 2 are big. Stagger is another hidden trick to get them to turn. (at least in stock cars) IndyCar drivers usually struggle in Nascar and vice versa. Most people outside of the US just aren’t exposed to it much and don’t understand. Thanks for taking the time to explain it.

[@matliveries6006]

Brilliant you’ll be in the iRacing Indycars!! Such a fun series, would be more than happy to do a custom livery for you as a thanks for all the entertainment

[@gerglmuff]

its not the ride height specifically, its about adjusting the cross weight. "wedge" as its often called.

[@AidanMillward]

This was explained in the video

[@gerglmuff]

@@AidanMillward huh, i didnt hear it. you talked about ride height alot, not corner weights. its for corner weights, to adjust the wedge, not the rake or ride height.

[@AidanMillward]

@@gerglmuff the cross weight going up as the ride height increases at the rear.

[@gerglmuff]

@@AidanMillward ride height can be set independent of corner weights though, so its not really the issue being changed here. ie, you can rake a car, without changing its corner weights. if you feel you covered it, cool. i commented cause i didnt think you covered the fact that its corner weights, not ride height that are changing the performance of the car.

[@jsquared1013]

@@gerglmuff dude, the literal means to change the corner weight is by altering the ride height.

[@ernied3123]

Thanks Aidan for another great video. I’ve just watched the 1993 Australian Indy car race where Nigel Mansell won first time out. It was so entertaining I watched the whole race. Really cheesy commentary but great fun. It’s on the official Indy car KZbin channel. Cheers.

[@TacticalBunnyCA]

I have to say I really don’t understand watching F1 and not watching (or al least loosely following) Indycar or the other way around. Maybe I have a confirmation bias because I live here in the States but to me they are both top tiers of open wheel racing of equal but individually unique merit. While yes F1 cars are significantly faster they do not nearly produce the same kind of wheel to wheel racing as Indy and where F1 is the Apex of technology Indycar is brutish but more visceral. Watching the on boards for example you can tell that IndyCar drivers have to work the wheel much harder due to the lack of power steering. As for the drivers, I would have a hard time believing that there is a lick of difference between them. If you were to switch all the Indy drivers into F1 and F1 into Indy, after a year or two track times would be damn near identical. Lewis Hamilton would be winning fewer races then he does now and Scott Dixon would be winning many more races then he does now if sat in a Mercedes or Red-bull. Not to mention the fact that they are becoming more and more like each other all the time, F1 is setting up to have aero more similar to Indycar through ground effect and simplifying the wings and IndyCar is setting up to be more like F1 by moving to more powerful hybrid engines.

[@icewhitegames6875]

Good point. But that's one long paragraph to read...

[@TacticalBunnyCA]

@@icewhitegames6875 Ummm… I’m sorry you had to read more than a sentence?

[@icewhitegames6875]

@@TacticalBunnyCA lmao

[@DidierPeroni]

In my case particularly, I don't watch indy for the same reason many Americans don't watch F1: the broadcast is too inconvenient for me to watch it. I have a lot of respect for oval racing, and have caught the 500 two years running, but I just don't find it as exciting as f1 or even f2

[@TacticalBunnyCA]

@@DidierPeroni Isn’t that what DVR is for? The 500 is, for me, one of the least exciting races of the year. Big ovals just do not translate well to tv. The shorter ovals however can turn into wheel to wheel grinders at 210 mph lol but I prefer the street and road courses. Road America, Laguna Seca, Streets of St. Pete, Long Beach and of Detroit are all particular barn stormers. Watch some of those races and you’ll understand why I lack enthusiasm for the F1 Miami track.

[@rossatmore8430]

Love the shirt!!

[@patrickparisienne1917]

Most oval ( asphalt and dirt) use cross weight, weight jackets just allow on the fly adjustment. More weight on RF and LR creates more drive/ under steer, less vice versa. Remember the left side tyres are smaller circumference than right, (stagger) as a method to help turn, the weight jacker and roll bars works in concert with this. Stagger affects turn in, bars tune mid corner balance, and corner weight ( jacker, or ‘wedge’) affect the balance in exit….

[@wingnut4200]

Excellent vid. Always wondered how that worked. Indycar is scary racing. More Indy vids!!

[@Kanawha_Railfan]

Aidan rocking a Stone Cold Steve Austin shirt is probably the coolest shirt I've seen on here and that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so!

[@Mrmayhembsc]

You should defo watch more indycar it is amazing series. So glad you're more indycar sim racing love to watch that

[@alvarosouviron1674]

Didn´t know they had such a device. Great video!!!

[@THEMILKMAN-cb2ud]

Nice job on the description throughout the video. 👍

[@JoshyS656]

"everything still tastes of fish" And the pre roll add was a seafood company.

[@AidanMillward]

Was it Osaka Fish Food Concern?

[@JoshyS656]

@@AidanMillward Sealord NZ

[@miltipello]

Thank you! In a very similar position to you in that I loved watching IndyCar/CART in the 90s, and I've got back into it in a big way thanks to their great coverage being available on KZbin. Also looking at racing IndyCar on iRacing, but have no clue about setup things such as the weight jacker, so this video is the perfect content are the perfect time.

[@JJfromIA]

Best channel on KZbin

[@bradwithers4720]

Interesting fact, NASCAR ran WJs for a season a few years ago. And nice shirt.

[@dorklyasmr6017]

Did not know you got Covid; so glad you are basically mended

[@lionnelmurimi651]

So i guess this is why i am so slow with indy cars, thanks for this, ill try it out next im on my sim

[@Man_in_BLKtruck1991]

Do you listen to Dale Jr.’s pod cast? He just had Alex Palou on and he was talking about this. Not in great detail but still.

[@AidanMillward]

I don’t.

[@josephernest91]

I love your content. Im constantly learning motorsport history and racing tech stuff. Just awesome!

[@maybenot6075]

If everything tastes of fish your body is suffering from an iron issue, same thing happened with a family friend after they had it bad

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

That's a good technical description and I loved your sim. The way I visualize 'it' is as a bottle jack on the right rear suspension. Two extension poles are attached to the bottle jack and terminate where the shift lever used to be in F1 and Indy cars. The top pole the driver pumps up to increase the effect of the weight jacker. The bottom pole is attached to the release valve on the bottle jack, so must be twisted to release the pressure and the bottle jack will return to it's original height. Of course, you'll have to remember to twist the release valve back to closed in order for the top handle to be able to pump 'it' back up again. This visualization actually has a jack, that moves the weight around. Is this another 'accurate' way to describe/visualize the weigh jacker?

[@FlyingSpur99]

0:33 a good choice

[@AJZulu]

@1:24 WHAAT!

[@nicksudik6594]

I, for one, will welcome you to the wacky world of Indy Fixed (™️) mate

[@raw123yt]

Thanks for the explanation

[@WynnofThule]

8:01 it was turning in really well, until it wasn't

[@F-Man]

You know who would know how to use a weight jacker? Roberto Moreno.

[@Horazzify]

Good vid thoroughly enjoyed keep up the good work

[@BigBrex0124]

hey Aiden long time content follower of yours and i think i started following u alongggg time ago when u started story time before u even got the thing about using the pics in the your videos, i use to listen your videos while rebuilding cylinder heads all day and all night long, even to this day my downloads on you tube are story time......now i just have 1 comment that is such a bother..... its the opening sequences of the f1 cars passing, its very loud and my hands are pre occupied i cant lower volume of the headset then back up just for that part.. would appreciate if u can think about reconsidering adjusting the volume of the cars passing or maybe a new intro all together? sorry for bad writing I'm basically one of the people who hears your videos for hours on end.

[@richardpare3538]

All of the jackers they use, with a few exceptions, are mine.

[@firetruck1255]

Ahhhhh I’d been wondering what this did. So essentially the indycar equivalent of what I’d call a trackbar (I’m far more NASCAR oriented)

[@shanestanton8]

Speaking of differences between F1 and Indycar, does F1’s ban on refueling cars during pit stops mean that Max and Lewis will never be able to fully show off what they can do on race day? Getting at least one new tank of fuel during a race likely has to allow Indycar drivers to push their cars to the limit lap after lap. Ie, in this year’s Indianapolis 500, because there were just two incidents that the marshalls to waive the yellow flag, Helio Castroneves tied the race record for most checkered flags, 4, and simultaneously became the first driver to average over 190 mph (305.775 kmph). Meanwhile, I’m having a hard time wondering if F1 drivers aren’t giving it their all every lap because they’ve got to make their fuel supply go the distance

[@T_Mo271]

Both Indy and F1 drivers spend most of their time saving either fuel or tires. It's the rules package that makes it so.

[@Zzzzzzzzz91]

I like your shirt!!

[@MinusMOD98]

I wonder how an IndyCar would work at Zandvoort or the Monza oval. Maybe there's a sim test in there?

[@Shiggiesmalls02]

half here for the racing stuff half here for the attitude era references

[@maxversthappening8166]

Me, an idiotic iRacer who mainly races Indycar: **deeply breathes** “the weight jacker is……..”

[@minibus9]

nice video

[@johnelliott422]

Any chance of an anniversary video tomorrow? 10 years since Dan Wheldon died tomorrow

[@bjarulez]

Wow, I'm quite early on this one

[@Lokireloaded]

Would the weight jacker be considered movable aero if it was used in F1?

[@Kev-O]

‘What happened’ lmao

[@Ticklestein]

8:20 - Talking about crashing a car and showing Danica Patrick. 👀 When Michelle Mouton, Carmen Jorda and Danica Patrick videos? 😏

[@ethanwhisman5459]

There was a version of this in NASCAR for a couple years I think it came in around 2015- 2018 but but it was more focused on the track bar I don't remember it as much it's not even mentioned nowadays It's still when I look at Indy car in F1 it's still at sports cars I'm just like you guys have too many buttons on the steering wheel

[@kicapanmanis1060]

6:34 It's iRacing, it's fine.

[@colegrigsby9401]

Do some stock car racing

[@cudwieser3952]

To do IOM you need to be certified or British.

[@roymcdre9180]

Wedge

[@EricBurns1]

man you were going slow there ;) qualifying trim they can reach almost 390 km/h

[@mauricerose3082]

...when will racing cars reach warp speed...?

[@ThatSB]

Funny how indycar racing was so fast and dangerous years ago but now drivers cry about it being too dangerous when deaths are super rare. I feel like racing back then required skill courage and a will to test death. Nowadays the idea that drivers are playing with death is more of an advertisement

[@JHdgsn903]

There’s a handful of drivers still racing today that were in the race when Dan Wheldon died. While the car is a lot different than 2011 it’s not really a long time ago in the consciousness of the sport. Open wheel, open cockpit cars are inherently dangerous and the series has a lot of responsibility to keep everyone as safe as possible at 240 mph.

[@ChrisDawson1985]

So everything tastes like fish to you..... Hows the sense of smell?

[@AidanMillward]

Fine, weirdly.

[@PlittHD]

A video that is teaching me about something I did not know existed and even taught me about Anti Roll Bars and such. But I somehow did not really enjoy watching. I guess my disinterest of oval racing is to blame? idk

[@benjordan664]

“I’m gonna drive really fast and turn to the left” - Eric Cartman