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From: Christopher Howard <christopher@librehacker.com>
Newsgroups: sci.physics
Subject: Car Aerodynamics Questions
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:49:59 -0800
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Hi, I am wondering about two things in regards to car aerodynamics:

(1) In pictures of sportcars (I can't afford one) the wheels are thin
and the body is very low to the ground. What is the reason for this? Is
there some inherent aerodynamic advantage to having the body of the
vehicle very low to the ground? Or are we just trying to keep the wheels
inside the body, so that we don't get additional air drag on the wheels?

(2) Why is it that, in all the vehicles I've seen, there is an intake
for cooling air — pulled or pushed through by the radiator — but not
really an exhaust for it? I assume most of the incoming cooling air goes
through the radiator and then is bludgeoned down underneath the car. I've
read articles on careful management of cooling airflow in aircraft, but
this doesn't seem to be a concern for cars...?

-- 
Christopher Howard