To many (which is probably a good majority of the community) this is the most retarded question ever. But please bear with me, since I am a stock car/oval driver (and occational endurance GT driver) and I would like to cross more into open wheel racing. (Main reason why I bought LFS).

I've reviewed many types of open wheels both in LFS and rFactor (fantasy or real based) and I've asked my friend this question but after leading me astray many times in the past I think i better ask this community.

What constitutes a formula?

The friend told me that Formula 1s (and others such as 3, BMW, Renault, Fords, etc) are "formula" open wheel cars and ChampCars and INDY cars in America is not and cannot be considered a formula because of technological standards.

This didn't sound to right to me (since ChampCar was known as Formula Atlantic).

Is there a set standard to what a formula car is defined as? (mechanical or otherwise)? Or is formula racing just another name for open wheel racing.

Can someone please clarify for me?

I always thought formula was just a name... haha, and that the '1' or '3' were divisions like in the EPL.

from what ive read the fia just decided to show all their creativity when they put out 3 specs for open wheel series and called them formula 1 2 and 3 respectively

so overall the difference is quite simple
formula: your car is built to a rulebook written by a bunch of chimps with down syndrom
cart: despite the name your open wheeler is the polar opposite of a kart

Non-100%-bulletproof Wikipedia gives the idea that it only means the formulae behind the series, so that there needs to be feeder classes that forms the "ladder".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_racing#Outside_Europe

Though I bet Bernie pulls his hair out if he heard that CCWS decided to change it's name to Formula America or something

Formula Champ Car :P

On-topic: I always thought a formula was an arbitary (sp?) classification, but AFAIK only the FIA now uses the formula classification, with most series changing their name. Is that due to avoid legal action? I remember there was/is a Formula Holden in Oz, is that still running, those is the only non-FIA examples I can think ok

DK

I think Formula is just a laymans term for open wheeled racing car, derrived from F1 (being the most famous, generally). It's like Hoover (for vacuum cleaners) or NOS (for nitrous systems).

On that basis, then IRL and Champcar are Formula cars, even though they don't race in a 'Formula' (instead a league, series or championship). But I think it's a petty difference, and if you referred to a champcar as a formula car or formula style car, you'd still be correct.

Quote from lizardfolk :

This didn't sound to right to me (since ChampCar was known as Formula Atlantic).

Eh? Formula Atlantic is the feeder series for ChampCar.

In any case, it's all semantics.

"Formula" as far as I'm aware just refers to the rules about what you can and can't do to the car - the technical limitations that the constructors have to work within is the "formula". Although I suppose that only applies to F1 these days since every other open-wheel championship runs identical cars.

Quote from MAGGOT :

Eh? Formula Atlantic is the feeder series for ChampCar.

In any case, it's all semantics.

Wasn't it Toyota Atlantic?

Formula Atlantic was, AFAIK the old name for the CART spec cars pre 1979, pre CART-USAC split.

DK

Quote from DieKolkrabe :

Wasn't it Toyota Atlantic?

Formula Atlantic was, AFAIK the old name for the CART spec cars pre 1979, pre CART-USAC split.

DK

Is it? I'm too lazy to search now...