Indianapolis Motor Speedway - banking effect 19 June 2005
Turn 13 at Indianapolis is the only real banked turn in Formula One racing and proved Michelin's undoing. With an angle of up to nine degrees, it demands a left-right compromise on suspension set-up. The left tyres take the heaviest strain, particularly their shoulders, with tyre temperature increasing in this area as a result (red spot). If this temperature is too high for too long, wear rates rise dramatically and can lead to failure. The tendency for teams to run low tyre pressures, allowing them to use stiffer suspension settings, would only exacerbate the problem.
