While watching the Indy 500 I noticed that the cars, as they came off the corner moved to the left to near the middle of the track and then back toward the wall to enter the next corner. I wonder what the reason is for this. It would seem that staying straight along the wall would be faster. I'm sure there is a logical explanation.
I've wondered this for many years. I suspect it's due to the draft/air currents. It may cause some drag on the cars?
I noticed that also. The only thing I could think of was that maybe a combination of alignment, stagger and banking makes it really difficult to stay near the wall.
Maybe they are trying to clear the tire debris thrown off from the corner?
I wonder if it has something to do with aerodynamics. Maybe a shock wave off the wall or something. Lets ask Danica, I'm sure she knows.
I'm sure she does, being the third-place finisher and all. 
Margie
Has to do with Aero.
I noticed Castroneves doing this, especially towards the end of the race. He'd come out of turn 4 (very close to the wall) and then move towards the infield side of the track down the front straight. I'd think it may have to do with the "marbles" of tire left, and blown closer to the outside wall.
At the time I thought he may be hugging the inside to take away the line going into turn 1, but it is a LONG straight, and he'd get down there almost immediately after coming out of 4.
Maybe you use the down slope off the banking to pick up a little more forward momentum once you don't need the banking for cornering?
I also think it has to do with setting the suspension into the corner, Indy has very square corners and to make that square as round as possible takes some geometric manipulation. Running it in a modified dog bone shape makes it easier to take the corner at a higher speed.
(Total guess, but my BS sounds pretty good sometimes)
I think the wall will "suck" in fast aero cars
HunterJP wrote: Has to do with Aero.
Winner.
Being closer to the wall traps an area of high pressure between the car and the wall that the car has to "push" down the straight. Adding distance between the car and the wall allows those pressure waves to clear the car easier.
jg
That's what I was thinking. I did notice that they seem to have been running lower near the end of the race.
In aviation I belive they call it ground effect. Some planes must slow down air speed considerably to land or the plane will float a few feet off the ground. A pilot on here may chime in to verify or deny this. My knowlege is not first hand but rather from a military aviation expert from the 50's thru the early 90's. (my father)
Per Schroeder wrote: Maybe you use the down slope off the banking to pick up a little more forward momentum once you don't need the banking for cornering?
That's exactly why I do it with my Miata at Pocono.
JG Pasterjak wrote:HunterJP wrote: Has to do with Aero.Winner. Being closer to the wall traps an area of high pressure between the car and the wall that the car has to "push" down the straight. Adding distance between the car and the wall allows those pressure waves to clear the car easier. jg
Reading the Smokey Yunick book he talks about how they used to push the car toward the wall on turn exit. A cushion of air would build up and help hold the car off the wall when coming off the turn.
I'm not sure if this still applies to the modern cars but it's data in his book as a first hand observer. Also, in this case, a driver/mechanic.
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