FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEBREMBO OFFERS A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOKAT OPEN-WHEEL BRAKING SYSTEM
Emphasizing Challenges in Designing Different Braking Systems for F1 and IndyCarduring Press Conference at Circuit of the Americas
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 15, 2012 – Celebrating the return to Formula One racing in the UnitedStates, the second largest market for Brembo, the company co-hosted a press conferencewith Ferrari today at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas offering a behind-the-scenes look at
the design of F1 brake systems.
Brembo used a video animation specially produced in collaboration with Ferrari todemonstrate the highest level of sophistication with the F1 brake system. In the virtual
tour, in fact, Brembo takes the viewer inside and ‘through’ every single component,
highlighting the behavior and the critical role of a braking system during the race.
Both Scuderia Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and engineer Diego Ioverno as well as Riccardo
Cesarini, Managing Director for Brembo performance participated in the presentation
answering questions from the audience of US and international media.
“Ever since Ferrari asked Brembo to supply brakes for his F1 team in 1975, Formula One
has provided Brembo with the most advanced R&D laboratory for the highest level of brakedesign and engineering,” stated Cesarini. “The experience gained over the past 37 years
gave Brembo’s design team the unique expertise necessary to develop braking systems forthe road as well as the track.”
Being the exclusive brake supplier for the IndyCar, Brembo also took the opportunity tohighlight the differences between F1 and IndyCar brake systems. Some differences are fairly
obvious, such as the chassis size, weight (650 kg in F1, 850 kg in IndyCar) and horsepower(800 in F1, 650 in IndyCar). But probably the most significant difference affecting the brakesystems is that Formula One teams demand a great deal of customization in the design
while IndyCar requires one unique system for all teams and all tracks.
DIFFERENCES IN CALIPERS
While both series use six-piston monobloc calipers machined from billet, they use different
aluminum alloys (aluminum-lithium in F1 and aluminum alloy in IndyCar.) Whereas IndyCar
teams must use the same caliper throughout, F1 teams can customize their caliper bodies tobe different shapes front and rear.
DIFFERENCES IN DISCS
Although both series use carbon-carbon discs, there are significant differences in thedesign of the disc and its cooling system. The maximum temperature reached in F1
braking is 2192 oF (1200 oC) whereas IndyCar brakes run ”cooler” at 1742 oF (950 oC).
These extreme temperatures caused Brembo engineers to adapt the design of the coolingsystem to incorporate as many as 1000 vent holes in the F1 disc compared to 72 holes for
IndyCar rotors. The F1 discs are also slightly smaller (278mm x 28mm) than IndyCar(328mm x 30mm).
Involved with Formula 1 since 1975, Brembo claims leader status yet again this year in thepremier motorsport competition, as supplier of brake systems to six of the current teams:
Red Bull Racing, HRT F1 Team, MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team,Sauber F1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari and Scuderia Toro Rosso.
About Brembo SpABrembo SpA is the world leader and acknowledged innovator of the disc brake technology for automotive vehicles. Brembo
supplies high performance brake systems - for the most important manufacturers of cars, commercial vehicles and motorbikes
worldwide - as well as clutches, seats, seat belts and other components for racing. Moreover, Brembo is also a leader in theBrembo North America | 47765 Halyard Drive Plymouth MI 48170 | www.brembo.com

racing sector and has won more than 200 championships. Today the company operates in 18 countries of 3 continents, with 22
production and business sites, and a pool of more than 7.023 employees, about 10% of whom are engineers and productspecialists active in the R&D. 2012 turnover 3rd Q year-to-date is € 1,044.6 million (results as of September 30 2012). Brembois the owner of the Brembo, Breco, Bybre, Marchesini, Sabelt brands and operates through the AP Racing brand.
Contacts:Jack Gerken
Brembo Public Relations Consultant
714-436-9900 - Jack@Gerken.org

Caroline Fallara
Brembo N.A. Communications
734-468-2109 ; press2@brembo.com