Quote:
Originally posted by socalpunx:
If air speed over the wings is required for flight then why have F1 and Indy cars been airborne and why is a primary concern for land speed attempts maintaining enough downforce at speed to prevent the vehicle from achieving flight.

Airflow over a wing allows aircraft to achieve CONTROLLED flight. The vehicles you mentioned do not "fly" per se, they are propelled into the air by various aerodynamic forces that temporarily provide enough lift to elevate them off the ground.