Coaching tools for high-performance driving

Abstract

This project aimed to develop new tools to present and analyze data collected from race cars for the purpose of driver coaching. The tools developed are designed to quickly bring pertinent information to the surface and to further analyze the data for information that is not readily apparent. The working environment for the project was the Barber Dodge Pro Series, an entry-level professional racing series. A data viewer program called DataWizard was developed as a test-bed for new coaching tools, based on interviews, observations and feedback at Barber Dodge events. A method of track segmenting was developed as a new framework for organizing racecar data. Data from each lap is broken up by the section, turn, straight and brake zone, greatly improving the speed and ease of navigating though the data. A summary of vital statistics is created for each segment to bring key information to the surface. Two methods of displaying information about the driving line were also developed. One uses color overlaid on a track path to depict the path radius, the other method uses icons to mark turn-in, track-out and apex points along a track path. A racing GPS system was tested and suggestions are made as to how GPS data can be utilized along with data already commonly collected.