During the off-season, or time that the Indy car series isn’t on-track racing every year, I take the opportunity to redesign my helmet paint scheme to represent the things I feel are important for the coming season.

For the past eight years Japan made Arai helmets, which are rated highly for safety and aerodynamics, have been my choice.The first step in getting a new helmet starts when a plain white helmet is shipped to my painter Luc Sauriol of LS Design in Montreal. I work with Luc to incorporate my new ideas with his new painting techniques, starting out with a design on paper. We go back and forth on the design meticulously until it’s perfect, with both of us spending upwards of 20 hours on the task. You’ll see the new colors of my helmet at the first race in St Petersburg, Fla. in March 2011.

The helmet represents me when I am wearing it, as race fans can’t see my face, so it’s important for me to choose a  painter who can translate my style on to the canvas that is my helmet. I entrust my helmets to Luc because he’s passionate, dedicated to the craft and has a love of design. The work he does for me and other drivers is among the best I have ever seen, so I encourage you to have a look at www.lsdesigns.ca

But my helmet is much more than a paint scheme. It plays a huge role in aerodynamics and safety while I am racing at over 350km/h, and can be likened to a windshield on a car. Like a smooth windshield there will be less drag, less wind buffeting, better airflow around the windows and doors and, ultimately, fuel consumption will be much less.

The position of the helmet is also important because it affects the air intake of the car and the team accounts for this in wind-shear testing in the wind tunnel, using a dummy helmet placed where mine would be during a race.

There are also traps on the helmet to allow air to flow in and holes to allow air to flow out. Without this venting system, pressure would build up inside the helmet and it would be lifted up and off at speed. The helmet with driver’s head inside weighs around 16lbs, which creates great stresses on a driver’s neck during driving. With the additional G-forces at speed, a light helmet is imperative.

You will also appreciate even more the role a good paint job plays in the aerodynamics of a helmet. Paint must be thin enough not to add weight to the helmet but durable enough not to chip during races. The clear coat has to have rubber properties to enable it to deflect objects and track debris that hits the helmet with force during a race. Materials must give protection, safety and durability while not compromising the aerodynamics of the helmet.

I use 10 different Arai helmets throughout the year, each with custom visors and custom paintjobs. Once the radio is installed, the price tag totals over $10,000 for each helmet. It’s a pretty penny for my personal windshield, but it sure is worth it!
* * *

Follow Alex’s progress toward each race throughout the 2011 season on autonet.ca/tagliani, or on Facebook or Twitter.

Tags: Tagliani; motorsports