C6 Z06 vs Plate Cup Car at Daytona

[NSXBill2]

Got in a friendly discussion with my brother-in-law over the the holiday. I said that the Daytona 500 pace car, a C6 Z06 Corvette (presumabley stock) could turn faster lap times than the restrictor plate-laden NASCAR Nextel Cup race cars racing in this year's 500.

What say you? Stock C6 Z06 out of the showroom vs. ~380 hp Cup car.

My argument was for single-lap qualifying, not racing. Just best lap times. Although, I wouldn't doubt that one could win the race overall.

Just wondering.

Bill

 

[NSXLuvr]

I thought the Nascar cars had 650 HP. either way - I would still take the NASCAR cup car over the Z06- better downforce, better gearing and slicks will give it an advantage.

 

[NSXBill2]

I thought the Nascar cars had 650 HP. either way - I would still take the NASCAR cup car over the Z06- better downforce, better gearing and slicks will give it an advantage.

I believe restrictor-plate cup engines have 380 and regular cup engines have 750. Daytona is a restrictor-plate race, thus the basis for my thinking it would be close. I think the Z06 tires are wider and certainly are lower-profile. As for downforce, I figured it a wash.

ICBW, that's why I asked:smile:

 

[KooLaid]

Restrictor plates keep power down to 450 hp and under 200 mph. Going off numbers alone, it would seem the Z06 would be faster due to top speed and HP. Then again, those nascars *look* pretty damn light and who knows how'd a z06 would react going around a huge oval at 200 mph....... I would say cup car wins easy. hands down.

 

[KooLaid]

a lil Z06 pace car info btw:
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/corvette_pace_car.asp

 

[NSXBill2]

Restrictor plates keep power down to 450 hp and under 200 mph. Going off numbers alone, it would seem the Z06 would be faster due to top speed and HP. Then again, those nascars *look* pretty damn light and who knows how'd a z06 would react going around a huge oval at 200 mph....... I would say cup car wins easy. hands down.

Cup car = 3400 lbs
Z06 = 3000 lbs

A banked oval makes it easier to go fast

 

[NSXBill2]

a lil Z06 pace car info btw:
http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/corvette_pace_car.asp

OK 450 hp. Although the article states the Z06 has more hp, it sounds like they are dancing around the possibility that the pace car may actually be faster than the race cars.

Oh, and that article states that the pace car is mechanically the same as showroom Z06's.

Not convinced yet

 

[mateo91181]

Hands down I think the cup car would win. Taking nothing away from the Z06 but the cup car is geared for higher speed. From a dead stop the Z06 would probably pull harder up to 70 or 80 maybe. Thats why every once in awhile you see a cup car stall leaving the pits. But from a rolling start they really pull hard.

 

[KooLaid]

then i will have to stick with my cup car guess. Cup car was made to go fast in circles for extended period of times. Z06 wasn't built specifically to do that.

 

[NSXBill2]

Hands down I think the cup car would win. Taking nothing away from the Z06 but the cup car is geared for higher speed. From a dead stop the Z06 would probably pull harder up to 70 or 80 maybe. Thats why every once in awhile you see a cup car stall leaving the pits. But from a rolling start they really pull hard.

But the Z06 HAS a higher top speed, if it can achieve it at Daytona (198 vs 190 - close). Both the cup car and the Z06 would take a lap to get up to top speed.

 

[NSXBill2]

then i will have to stick with my cup car guess. Cup car was made to go fast in circles for extended period of times. Z06 wasn't built specifically to do that.

The question was not about extended periods of time, just who is faster at that track (for one flying lap after warm up laps) at that time in the configuration both cars were in.

 

[NSXBill2]

Apparently everyone who has answered thinks the cup car would win. I haven't heard anything compelling, but this means I am probably wrong. In fact, after thinking about it, I think the light bar on the roof may be enough to bring the top end down into cup territory.

I just think it is pretty ironic that it is even close - stock pace car as fast as or faster than the race cars.

 

[satx]

As for downforce, I figured it a wash.

the Z06 produces lift not downforce and would get OWNED! GM's SAE papers confirm this if you are interested.

 

[NSXDreamer2]

the thing is even in oval track, the car still need to turn (Unless it's on the Mercedes famous test track which is a good 90 degree to the ground). Even assuming the Z06 is capable of archeiving higher speed than the nascar with restricter plate, it probably won't be able to do go thru the corners without braking and downshifting... something that a purpose built Nascar had no problem doing it all day long.

and also, whatever tire the Z06 runs would probably only half sticky as those nascar's slicks....

The Z06 looks really stock to me and that tall ride height does not convince me of producing any good aerodynamic works...


NASCAR wins........ why do i care, I hate nascar anyway.....

 

[NSXBill2]

the Z06 produces lift not downforce and would get OWNED! GM's SAE papers confirm this if you are interested.

I understand that MOST road cars always produce lift. The NSX is close to zero lift, I believe. I thought I remembered that the C6 Z06 had achieved close to zero lift using its splitter and diffuser. Cup cars don't produce much if any downforce, they simply spoil lift.

I'm not convinced. What are these SAE papers?

 

[NSXBill2]

the thing is even in oval track, the car still need to turn (Unless it's on the Mercedes famous test track which is a good 90 degree to the ground). Even assuming the Z06 is capable of archeiving higher speed than the nascar with restricter plate, it probably won't be able to do go thru the corners without braking and downshifting... something that a purpose built Nascar had no problem doing it all day long.

and also, whatever tire the Z06 runs would probably only half sticky as those nascar's slicks....

The Z06 looks really stock to me and that tall ride height does not convince me of producing any good aerodynamic works...


NASCAR wins........ why do i care, I hate nascar anyway.....

90 degrees? Do you think a Cup car has a lower roof line than a C6?

I hate NASCAR also. Just think its funny that this is even close.

 

[satx]

I understand that MOST road cars always produce lift. The NSX is close to zero lift, I believe. I thought I remembered that the C6 Z06 had achieved close to zero lift using its splitter and diffuser. Cup cars don't produce much if any downforce, they simply spoil lift.

I'm not convinced. What are these SAE papers?

the Z06 is not "close to zero lift". SAE papers are put out by manufactures to discuss technical developments on some vehicles. Search the corvette board if you need more info. I believe the Z06 still has a few hundred pounds of lift depending on the speed at which it is measured.

 

[mateo91181]

90 degrees? Do you think a Cup car has a lower roof line than a C6?

I hate NASCAR also. Just think its funny that this is even close.

I really dont think it would be that close. Im not a mechanical engineer so I cant give you formulas on why the Z06 would not win but nascar is a purpose built racecar. It is made to go around in a circle. The suspension is setup to turn left and only left. I think you would be amazed at how much a cup car would beat a Z06 by. There was a video on here about a week ago and it showed the Z06 from a stand still to about a 180mph run. It got to about 140 or so in a hurry but from then on a it was slower going. Not that the Z06 is not fast but a cup car would kill it from 140 and up.

 

[ericwgnsx]

Wow, that is one gaudy paint job:

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/corvette_pace_car.asp

"The Corvette Z06 Daytona 500 wears a unique paint scheme, inspired by the hot-to-cool color transition of a space capsule entering Earth’s atmosphere at a high rate of speed."

Who writes this stuff? GM finally gets a good-looking car, and then ruins it with the worlds gaudiest paint scheme...
Sorry, the worlds second-gaudiest paint scheme (see below):
http://www.indypacecars.com/photos/98-vette2.jpg

These are great examples of what separates GM/Corvettes from Honda/Acura/NSX. In a word: class

 

[AutoVation]

At least the lightbar on the pace car will keep the Z06 roof on above 60mph. :tongue: