Best energy usage at high speeds

[woof]

The car in the front wouldn't see that

Actually, yes it would. When two cars are drafting, with the rear car sitting where the turbulence from the front car would be, causes that turbulence to be less, thus decreasing the drag on the first car. So both cars benefit. The two cars create a single longer body slicing through the wind, which is more aerodynamic together than each individually, with less drag on both.

 

[Johan]

In cycling it's much harder to break away on your own, than 2 or 3 together. This goes for the one in front as well, even though ut's even better to tuck in behind. I have seen calculations showing that in cycling at higher speeds drag will ve reduced 15-20% by having another rider right behind you (remeber, in cycling you are really close - "on the wheel")

 

[jerry33]

Actually, yes it would. When two cars are drafting, with the rear car sitting where the turbulence from the front car would be, causes that turbulence to be less, thus decreasing the drag on the first car. So both cars benefit. The two cars create a single longer body slicing through the wind, which is more aerodynamic together than each individually, with less drag on both.

If that were the case, bicycle riders wouldn't change who is in front. The first rider does more work than the rest (even though it's less work than if there wasn't another rider right behind).

 

[woof]

The first rider does more work than the rest (even though it's less work than if there wasn't another rider right behind).

Correct. The less drag on both is not equally distributed.