Ask Ross



Skills









Types








Subscriptions



Got questions? I’ve got answers. This is where I post answers to the many questions I receive. You may find the answer to a question you have here (you can use the “Search” tool), but if not, you have two options:

  1. If you want the answer immediately, sign up for my SpeedSecrets.ai app (think of it as “Google on steroids, focused solely on performance/race driving,” or “ChatGPT trained to only pull from the 5 million+ words and content I’ve personally created”)
  2. If you can wait until I get to your question, email it to me.

Q: Any recommendations for data acquisition books?

Q: I am about to venture into using data analysis. Is there a good book you can recommend to a neophyte on this quest? Subjects such as what to expect, how to make sense of data, relationship between data and what me and or the car are doing, and what to do different to improve my racecraft would be welcomed. Among others subjects that you believe are important.

Q: What data acquisition system should I buy?

Q: Okay, say I have the $5k it takes to set up a really nice data system for my SpecE30 (about to start my 3rd season).  Should I put the data system in first and then get some strong coaching, or is the $5k best spent on that coaching first?

Q: How do I drive 1 to 2 tenths of a second faster?

Q: “How do I get 1 to 2 tenths of a second faster in each corner? I know my car can do it as other drivers on my team are that much faster than me but I don’t know what to do to find just that little bit more and it really is taking the fun out of racing for me.”

Q: How do I know what’s the right corner entry speed?

I was talking to Josef Newgarden at the Phoenix test this year, and I asked him how he worked up to speed in Turn 1. He told me that his approach on ovals is to go flat, and if the car starts to move, then he slows down… but how do I know what’s the right corner entry speed?

Q: When should I “blip” the throttle when heel & toeing?

Q: I have a question that’s kinda bugging me about heel-n-toe downshifting. Is there a noteworthy difference of when to “blip” the throttle (while selecting the new gear OR after selecting the new gear)? I know that the ultimate goal is a smooth shift with the clutch engaging at appropriate engine and transmission RPM’s so that the car is not unsettled.

Q: Do you have any tips for identifying the brake release point in a turn?

Q: I have heard/read you discuss focusing on brake release points rather than brake initiation points in a turn, and understand how the braking paradigm should change if I can focus on the brake release point. However, for the less experienced driver, determining the right brake release point can be as difficult as finding the correct brake initiation point.

Q: Any guidelines for how to set and monitor brake bias?

In the afternoon race on Saturday at Thunderhill, I had two snap spins going into T10. The first time it happened, I was trying to go a little deeper before braking, and I did mash the brake pedal pretty hard. The second time, I went maybe a little deeper, and got on the brakes what I thought was with moderate pressure.

Got Questions?

Get Immediate Answers



Skills









Types








Subscriptions



Got questions? I’ve got answers. This is where I post answers to the many questions I’ve received. You may find the answer to a question you have here, but if not, you have two options: If you want the answer immediately, sign up for my SpeedSecrets.ai app (think of it as “Google on steroids, focused solely on performance/race driving”), or email it to me.

Q: Any recommendations for data acquisition books?

Q: I am about to venture into using data analysis. Is there a good book you can recommend to a neophyte on this quest? Subjects such as what to expect, how to make sense of data, relationship between data and what me and or the car are doing, and what to do different to improve my racecraft would be welcomed. Among others subjects that you believe are important.

Q: What data acquisition system should I buy?

Q: Okay, say I have the $5k it takes to set up a really nice data system for my SpecE30 (about to start my 3rd season).  Should I put the data system in first and then get some strong coaching, or is the $5k best spent on that coaching first?

Q: How do I drive 1 to 2 tenths of a second faster?

Q: “How do I get 1 to 2 tenths of a second faster in each corner? I know my car can do it as other drivers on my team are that much faster than me but I don’t know what to do to find just that little bit more and it really is taking the fun out of racing for me.”

Q: How do I know what’s the right corner entry speed?

I was talking to Josef Newgarden at the Phoenix test this year, and I asked him how he worked up to speed in Turn 1. He told me that his approach on ovals is to go flat, and if the car starts to move, then he slows down… but how do I know what’s the right corner entry speed?

Q: When should I “blip” the throttle when heel & toeing?

Q: I have a question that’s kinda bugging me about heel-n-toe downshifting. Is there a noteworthy difference of when to “blip” the throttle (while selecting the new gear OR after selecting the new gear)? I know that the ultimate goal is a smooth shift with the clutch engaging at appropriate engine and transmission RPM’s so that the car is not unsettled.

Q: Do you have any tips for identifying the brake release point in a turn?

Q: I have heard/read you discuss focusing on brake release points rather than brake initiation points in a turn, and understand how the braking paradigm should change if I can focus on the brake release point. However, for the less experienced driver, determining the right brake release point can be as difficult as finding the correct brake initiation point.

Q: Any guidelines for how to set and monitor brake bias?

In the afternoon race on Saturday at Thunderhill, I had two snap spins going into T10. The first time it happened, I was trying to go a little deeper before braking, and I did mash the brake pedal pretty hard. The second time, I went maybe a little deeper, and got on the brakes what I thought was with moderate pressure.

Got Questions?

Get Immediate Answers