IndyCar Racing and Formula 1 go hand in hand when it comes to competition in open-wheel racing categories. The fans of IndyCar and Formula 1 often come to arms when the question comes about which is the faster series. Both of the series essentially serve the same goal- to promote open-wheel racing and to create the best innovations in the category. While they are fundamentally similar, there are many subtle differences between the two categories which separate them from each other. The drivers, teams, tracks, cars, and technologies come together to define each series uniquely.
So which series is faster? When it comes to such a comparison, there is no hard and fast rule as to which series is the fastest one. Several parameters need to be judged to find out the faster car among the two. There are many categories in which either of the two cars is faster than the other. There is still no conclusion about which series is the fastest one. Formula 1 and IndyCar are both at the top of the open-wheel racing ladder.
IndyCar vs F1 Speed
When it comes to top speed an IndyCar is miles ahead of a Formula 1 car. The top speed of an IndyCar is generally around 240 mph. However, for a Formula 1 car, the fastest-ever speed recorded during an official racing session is around 231 mph. The general speed of a Formula 1 car is much lower and it is generally 10-20 mph than IndyCar. Moreover, IndyCars are designed to achieve higher top speed compared to Formula 1 cars which are designed for better performance throughout the lap. IndyCars are faster in a straight line compared to Formula 1 cars which are faster around the corners.
Which car has better acceleration?
According to Red Bull, Formula 1 cars have the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 1.6s. Although, typically they take 2.1 to 2.7 seconds to accelerate. They are much faster when compared to IndyCars, which take nearly 3 seconds to go from 0-60 mph.
Which car has more horsepower?
A Formula 1 car has more horsepower than an IndyCar. The F1 car produces nearly 1000 hp with its hybrid 1.6 liter V6 engine. Even though IndyCars utilise a similar setup with a hybrid V6 engine, they can not produce more than 900 hp.
Formula 1 vs IndyCar
There are no instances of Formula 1 and IndyCar competing against each other in an official race. Red Bull states that both cars competed on the Circuit of the Americas in 2019. On their site, they have mentioned that the IndyCar topped out at 186.349km/h with a pole position timing of 1:46.018. The Formula 1 car hit a top speed of 206.374km/h with a pole position time of 1:32.029.
Also Read: How much does an IndyCar weigh?
FAQs on IndyCar
A. There is no conclusive evidence of the faster car between IndyCar or Formula 1.
A. There are no official records of IndyCars competing against Formula 1.
A. IndyCars use E85 fuel in their racecars.
A. IndyCars have 6 cylinder engines.
