Brembo brakes dominate the grid at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this weekend as the Italian manufacturer of high-performance brakes has been chosen to be the exclusive supplier of brake systems for the new IZOD IndyCar Series car for the next four years.
Brembo’s design of the new brake system is based on IndyCar’s requirements for a reliable, strong, yet lightweight, system, that yields high performance at a competitive cost. Unlike previous years, the same brake system will be used by all teams for both ovals and road courses.
Brembo has engineered a 6-piston, monobloc aluminum caliper machined from billet with titanium-radiated pistons (28/30/36 mm) weighing a mere 2 kg. The system will be used on all corners of the new Dallara chassis. According to the company, Brembo’s 6-piston caliper will increase stiffness and performance of the system without compromising IndyCar’s weight requirements.
This new innovative system will incorporate lightweight CER200 carbon-carbon discs (328mm x 30mm), similar to rotors used in Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and CCR400 carbon pads. During testing the carbon-carbon discs typically reached 900 C but can support temperatures as high as 1200 C (in F1). The teams will be able to optimize the consumption of brakes for the season by utilizing these long-lasting components. Interestingly, it takes 150 days to manufacture one disc.
Brembo’s recent motorsports success has created great expectations for all Brembo teams this season as Audi claimed the overall victory in the 60th annual 12 Hours of Sebring (and the first round of the World Endurance Championship) last weekend while the Brembo equipped Porsche swept the GT podium at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.
Brembo supplied its first racing brake system to Ferrari in 1975 in the Formula One World Championship, while its history with open-wheel racing in America started in 1989 in the CART IndyCar championship. Since then, the Italian company has invested heavily in research and development of highly innovative and technological products, offering high performance, while guaranteeing maximum reliability and safety, says the company.
