Just curious of everyone opinions. Does temperature really make that much of a difference in performance. For instance yesterday I went to the track and the track temperature was 103 degrees when I ran. I ran a 11.896@117.12 with spray and slicks. Do you really think I would have run much faster if the track temp was say 75-80 degrees instead of 103??

 

Ill run a good .3-.4 seconds slower when its 90-100 compared to when its 50-60.

 

It might not as much on a nitrous injected car due to the cooling factor of the spray.

It really hurts turbo or supercharged cars, as the act of compressing air generates heat in itself. It also raises the likelyhood of detonation.

 

temperature will affect NA cars more but there is still a drastic affect on F1, nitrous I would say would be the least affected.

When you do the Altitude corrections you will see that a sea level track can easily end up having 1500 feet elevation and more depending on temperature.

Example: I ran 12.100 at Fontana at 80 degrees and a few weeks back 12.7 with 50 whp more at 115 degrees....
the heat makes the track more slick giving you worse traction, that's why track temperature is so important as well.
humidity is huge as well, you'll run better in dry weather than wet weather

bottomline: there are tons of factors

 

Yes. And add the effects of humidity and barometric pressure.

 

Ive seen my friends Z's run 13.4's in 40-50 degree weather, and then not be able to hit 13's on a 90 degree day. Having said that, I myself havent seen a huge difference even TURBOCHARGED in heat believe it or not. For what its worth it was 80+ the day I trapped 107mph NA, and the first time I ran 11's with the TN kit it was about 40 degrees out, I trapped 114-115mph. At a track day in 90 degree heat I ran 11's again and somehow I trapped 115-116mph all day long, even ran 11.9 back to back Heat seems to affect others more, I think Im a little more consistent and adapt to the track conditions a little better. Regardless of my experience though, I do believe heat can and will slow down your times.

 

Temperature and barometric pressure have the largest effect, humidity has some effect but it's not nearly as pronounced.

In my NA car on back to back weeks at the same track, I trapped 102.3mph in 45-50 degree weather and couldn't break out of the 98s in 85-90 degree weather - barometric pressures were darn near identical so that's a good comparison.

In my turbo car I don't have enough track days yet to make a very effective comparison.