Driveshaft failure?

[Marbot]

Don't driveshafts normally fail inboard.Just wondering,because every other time we've seen a driveshaft failure there never seems to be any visual clue (except for the car slowing down of course).Looked suspiciously like someone didn't put a wheelnut on correctly.Any clues?

[Bononi]

It was strange, but that doesn't seen to be a wheelnut.

[gsmith2424]

Speed here in the states did show a replay of the spin and wreck and right before Alonso went off you can see the wheel nut go flying off of the car. It took them a while to find it but it is visible in slow-mo.

[skycafe]

You can see something depart the car, from the outside, and the right rear wheel is at a very odd angle--I would think if drive shaft failed the hub would hold the wheel.... Also, drive shaft failure under braking?

When Alonso had his problems in turn one after the switch to drys, I thought "oh no, they didn't get the wheel on." When he carried on I just then assumed he hadn't judged speed and dampness correctly.

The official reason may be driveshaft, but I bet there is a new person on right rear at the next race

robert

[Knowlesy]

I thought it was a wheelnut, I am not sure a driveshaft would cause a spin like that. I am assuming the story is he broke it accelerating out of his pitbox......so how did he get so far?

Surely it wasn't a driveshaft? Someone technical help!

[JABWOA]

Didn't Rubens have a similar failure there a couple of years ago?

[Knowlesy]

I think Rubens had a major driveshaft failure braking for turn one. That was a scary incident!

Anyways, Renault have said they think the spin was caused by a damaged wheelnut.

Renault believe that Fernando Alonso's exit from the Hungarian Grand Prix was caused by a damaged wheel nut.

However, Alonso's initial suspicions were that a broken driveshaft had caused his exit.

Subsequent examination of his car by the Renault team after the race, however, showed that the problem was not driveshaft related.

Instead, the team think that damage to a wheel nut locking mechanism was at fault. It meant that the wheel nut did not fully engage at the stop and then flew off after Alonso was up to full speed.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/53779

[Chatters]

Not often you see that happen to a Renault...

[R59]

It could have been the outer CV joint failing/collapsing - that would give that appearance - the "collapsed wheel as if the nut was missing", and as that's part of the driveshaft, it's a "driveshaft failure".

Rob.

[Suze]

Should they have noticed that though, before they released him back onto the track?

Did look like a wheel nut coming off...

[Adam43]

In the link above Renault seem to think it was a problem with the nut. Obviously it appeared to go on well. Otherwise they wouldn't have let him out and would more than "believe" it was a nut problem.

To Fernando it probably feels similar and he probably wouldn't have seen it come off. As it took a few corners to completely fail he probably ruled out wheel nut.

[1200Datto27]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

I think Rubens had a major driveshaft failure braking for turn one. That was a scary incident!

[Skam85]

Well there wasn't a problem with the nut behind the wheel this time.

I know, I know, I'll show myself out.

[joe rossi]

if it had been a wheel nut the wheel would have flown off wouldn't it?

I remember MS having a drive shaft go years ago as he was leaving the pits, and that flew out..96/97?

[manwell]

Im with you Joe.
I heard the commentators saying there was a wheel nut that had come off, but i couldnt work out how the wheel was staying on then?

I think something in the driveshaft is much more plausible and it would cause him to spin. If the driveshaft broke at the hub where it connects to the wheel there may be something there that could look like a wheel nut that has broken off. And the fact that power would then only go to one wheel would explain the spin wouldnt it?

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by joe rossi

if it had been a wheel nut the wheel would have flown off wouldn't it?

I remember MS having a drive shaft go years ago as he was leaving the pits, and that flew out..96/97?

That's what I was thinking too.

[Jordi]

Most famous one losing a wheel was Häkkinen at Silverstone 99. I seem to recall it wasn't the nut, but the wheel hub itself.

Could it be that it broke between turn one and two? Alonso's wheel didn't seem to be at an angle when just out of the pits.

[Adam43]

What have Renault said happened?
http://www.renaultf1.com/en/season/h...ws=tcm:3-50312

Originally Posted by Pat Symonda

There is a safety mechanism holding the wheel-nut on, and it did not disengage at the second pit-stop, that meant the wheel nut was damaged as it was removed, and did not re-attach correctly as the new wheel went on.

http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....6&postcount=11

[Knowlesy]

There we go then.

Joe, the wheel won't necessarily fly off immediately. It could stay on the car all day theoretically, although this would be hard to achieve!

[LongJohnSilver]

On the replay, you can see the nut fly off right as the car gets out of shape. It is only visible for a split second before dissappearing behind the car. It follows the car while he goes in a relativley straight line. But once he loses it to his left towards the wall, you can see the nut bounce by the car.

[Marbot]

I suppose though that it was driveshaft related.In much the same way that Mercedes suffered lots of electrical problems at the beginning of the year.Usually caused by a piston/conrod assembly entering and exiting the alternator.