IndyCar decides chassis future today in Indianapolis
American open-wheel racing takes another step toward its next generation this afternoon.
Chassis manufacturers Dallara, Lola, Swift, BAT and Delta Wing have been battling each other for months, trying to gain the favor of both the fanbase and the ICONIC Committee — the team of individuals that will determine the next course for IndyCar going forward. Now, the time has come for the Decision on which cars will be a part of the IZOD IndyCar Series starting in 2012.
All of the manufacturers have something going for it. Dallara has been the ol’ reliable of the series for so long and if they’re chosen, they’ll likely put out another solid machine. Lola deserves praise for its concept of allowing a common tub for both the IndyCar and Indy Lights categories. The BAT chassis is the brainchild of three men — Bruce Ashmore, Alan Mertens and Tim Wardrop — that know how to create a good race car. And of course, Swift has beefed up the classic IndyCar design with innovations like the Mushroom Buster and the SwiftLights, which really should be used in this next-generation chassis even if Swift doesn’t get the nod.
Then there’s the Delta Wing, the car that hit the IndyCar world with the grace and subtlety of an atomic bomb. Instead of going the evolutionary route like their peers, the DW team, led by Ben Bowlby, went the revolutionary route and created a machine that looks more like a fighter jet than the IndyCar we all know. Designed to be an open-source entity, the Delta Wing can be an constantly evolving creature as time goes by and manufacturers create new parts for it. But for all of its potential (and that potential is indeed great), many fans have been unable to get by the shock value that its radical look gives.
ICONIC definitely has a tough call to make today. But perhaps that call doesn’t involving ‘crowning’ a specific chassis. The fact that IndyCar has dubbed this announcement as revealing their “future car strategy” should be the first clue that maybe what we’re gonna get is a set of rules and parameters that current and potential manufacturers can work within if they want to make their own chassis. Another potential option with some weight: The current Dallara chassis gets grandfathered in for a few years or so to help keep costs down as the new car emerges. Considering the down economy these days, it shouldn’t be a big surprise if this comes to pass.
Also, what will the aftermath be following this decision? Which figures/groups are going to be let down by this announcement and how will League CEO Randy Bernard quell their unhappiness and keep them from becoming enemies? Bernard has quickly gone about shaking things up since he hooked up with IndyCar and he’s gotten high marks for his efforts. But will everyone keep saying nice things after today? Keep an eye on that in the days and weeks to come.
But regardless of what occurs today, let’s hope for IndyCar’s sake that the new chassis will help accomplish the goals of providing a better on-track product, cutting the cost of racing in the series, and helps increase attendance and TV ratings. A new car by itself won’t do all of that, but if done right, this could be the next piece of the puzzle in bringing the sport back to its former glory.
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Note: You can watch the unveiling of IndyCar’s future car strategy starting today at Noon ET on IndyCar.com. The announcement will be at 12:30 p.m. ET, live from the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
