Does anybody know why race drivers....???

[Arutyun]

Does anybody know why race drivers push two pedals(brakes&gas) during cornering?

[proxlamus©]

Yes.. I doo...


It's called Heel/Toe.

Basically what it is... is when your flying down the track at 100 MPH + and you have a turn coming up, what you do is with your LEFT foot you push in the clutch and put the car in Neutral. Now... as you are approaching the corner you need to slow down, using the BRAKE. Now in order to slow you down REALLY HARD or fast... and help save your brakes... you can DOWNSHIFT at the same time.
*DOWNSHIFT = Engine Braking and Manual RPM selection*

Now think about that.. braking and downshifting at the same time? We only have 2 feet?

This is where the Heel/Toe technique comes in... while turning you can brake using your right foot and your toes and your left foot on the clutch. Then you use your right heel or the side of your right foot to Blip the gas so your car doesn't stall.

So that's why whenever you see Race Drivers use 2 pedals with 1 foot it's because they are trying to brake and downshift at the same time for appropriate slowing down and perfect RPM selection on the APEX of the turn.

You don't want to be at 3,000 RPM when exiting the turn and trying to smoke everyone on the straightaway when your peak HP is at 7,000 RPM! So downshifting also allows you to be in the right gear at the right RPM's at the right time!

Make sense?? Capeesh?

[JohnnyWash1]

Actually, it is done to control weight transfer, mainly. The downshift, in general, is used to get into the appropriate gear for the corner exit. The heel/toe is to prevent sudden weight transfer associated with sudden and/or extreme gear change (5th-2nd, 6th-2nd, etc.).

Jon

[low_civic]

further down the section read the heal toe it explains all about why they use both pedals...

[Sp3aK]

My dad taught me about the heel-toe. I had never heard of it. It is actually quite useful. I don't race by any means but when your driving a manual and you want to have fun with it, its fun

He had a Suzuki Sidekick, it was such a fun little car. I learned how to drive in it.

ALSO: I'm not sure if this is 100% true or not but I'm assuming if your going to do any sort of street racing and your car starts to roll forwards or backwards, using the heel/toe will enable to keep your car 100% still as well as rev the engine up. on the drop you just have to be sure to move your feet quick.

My 2 cents

[Arutyun]

Thanks guys. I get it now

[jdmlude2000]

Heel And Toe