| The Chevrolet Impala SS has made its debut at the | | | | body. |
| NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. And of course with its | | | | Aside from the Impala SS becoming the new |
| launching is the unveiling of the GM Racing's all-new | | | | NASCAR race car of today it will be Chevrolet's |
| R07 small-block V-8 racing engine which provides a | | | | high-profile entry in Nextel Cup competition. The CFD |
| glimpse to the new direction in technology that | | | | played an important role boosting the identity of |
| America's most popular racing series is heading. | | | | Chevy's new on-track representative. |
| One of the most powerful element in GM Racing's | | | | The Impala SS is entirely different from the Monte |
| toolbox is what the automaker calls as the CFD or | | | | Carlo SS in terms of aerodynamics but also similar in |
| the Computational Fluid Dynamics which is a | | | | some ways like both are equipped with quality GM |
| mathematical simulation of the airflow around a | | | | auto parts like the high quality GM spark plug wires |
| vehicle. This new CFD technology is influencing the | | | | which are responsible for converting fuel into energy |
| design of both racing and production automobiles. | | | | that powers the vehicle. For the Impala SS GM |
| CFD also played an important role in GM Racing's | | | | engineers have employed CFD to better understand |
| analysis and development of a racing version of the | | | | the effects of the new body shape, front splitter, |
| Impala SS which is considered as the new generation | | | | and adjustable rear wing on aerodynamic |
| NASCAR race car that will make its debut in a | | | | performance. "NASCAR specifications require the |
| competition that will be held in Bristol, Tennessee | | | | Impala SS to be wider and taller than the Monte |
| scheduled on March 25, 2007. | | | | Carlo SS that it is replacing, so its frontal area is |
| The CFD technology was first developed for | | | | larger and its aerodynamic drag is approximately 10 |
| aerospace and defense usage however it migrated | | | | percent greater. Initially the Impala SS will have about |
| to the civilian sector as supercomputers which | | | | 15 percent less downforce than the Monte Carlo SS, |
| became available to manipulate complex programs. | | | | which has been highly refined over the years. The |
| "The CFD software requires a supercomputer | | | | change from a spoiler to an adjustable rear wing |
| because the number of calculations is immense. Foe | | | | appears to reduce turbulence in the wake of the car, |
| example, our aerodynamic models typically have | | | | so when two cars are running nose-to-tail, the less |
| more than 10 million discrete data points that are | | | | turbulent air behind the first car should alleviate some |
| used to calculate the force. It really is rocket | | | | of the aerodynamic push experienced by the trailing |
| science," explained Bayless. | | | | car," explained further by Bayless. |
| Although the price that is involved in this type of | | | | It is also important to note that although the CFD is |
| technology is high but the benefits of CFD are worth | | | | a powerful engineering tool it is not designed to |
| it. The highly advanced software makes it possible to | | | | replace the conventional wind tunnels and track |
| see the invisible movement of air over the vehicle's | | | | testing. |