Formula One safety car

[Captain Spod]

I know it will vary depending on weather, but how fast does the safety car lead the drivers round in the dry on a 'safe' part of a circuit?
TIA

[ChuckFickens]

Depends on the circuit, but essentially as fast as it can go (and it's driven by a professional racing driver)

On monza the safety car has been clocked at about 180 down the main straight.

[Captain Spod]

Thanks Chuck. Crikey, that's a bit quick!

[ChuckFickens]

Just to prove that safety cars are being driven on the limit (although this isn't F1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zOgC05dJn4

[New Judge]

The current F1 Safety Car is a Mercedes-Benz SLS-AMG powered by a 6.3 litre V8 engine churning out 570hp. It is usually driven by former touring car racer Bernd Maylander.

During the SC period at Interlagos today the field lapped at about 2mins 10seconds at an average speed of about 75mph. Lewis Hamilton’s fastest lap of the race was completed in just over 1min 18 seconds at an average of 123mph.

The Merc has a top speed of just under 200mph - not far short of that of an F1 car. However, there the similarity ends. It simply cannot compete on acceleration and, most importantly as far as lap times are concerned, braking and cornering. The Merc has a frighteningly quick 0-60 time of 3.8 seconds. However an F1 car can accelerate from rest to 100mph and brake to a halt again in under five seconds.