In the years just before "Ground Effects" came into use (1977) the F1 designers tried to increase speeds by streamlining and reducing frontal area. The Trryell P-34 project was that philosophy taken to the extreme. The biggest problem they faced was that the small front tires easily overheated due the high rpms and small surface area. If you look at the other cars of that era you will see the same design philosophy, but not quiet as extreme. Of coarse the limiting factor on all of the cars, which you can plainly see, were the massive rear tires they used.