Although the Dallara DW12 Ain’t going anywhere
soon…
Back when I could easily read Racer’s website
before the maligned Racer 2.0 launch of its graphically laden website on
May 12th. Which doesn’t conform to WCAG
2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards, Urgh! Which reputedly
Racer’s working to rectify. Although I’ve been holding my breath for several
weeks now, eagerly awaiting its update, chirp-Chirp, Bueller?
As the website’s
got other issues or bugs to iron out, which I doubt will happen, but I digress…
Marshall Pruett’s story Wayback’ in March regarding
Tino Belli being called upon to “Beautify” the next generation Dallara IndyCar,
has a very interesting podcast associated with it.
As Pruett spent nearly 90mins talking with
Belli Wayback’ in 2018 after the introduction of the UAK 18, i.e.; Universal
Aero Kit, which being unable to “See”, know it’s vastly superior to those
dreaded, and thankfully forgotten about Chevy v Honda Aero Kit Wars of 2015-17.
As it’s a great
interview worth listening too…
IndyCar
turns to Tino Belli to enhance looks of next Chassis
Reading between the proverbial tea leaves, it
sounded to Mwah that IndyCar is planning on sticking with just presenting a
“warmed” over updated version of the current Dallara DW12 as the next
generation IndyCar, with Belli leading the design of its aesthetics…
Yet we all know that on Friday of this year’s
Road America IndyCar race weekend, IndyCar and IMS leader Doug Boles announced
that IndyCar would be debuting the long awaited next generation chassis in
2028.
The racecar will once again be produced by
Dallara, targeting to be 85-100lbs lighter. Which basically gets back to
pre-Hybrid, Err Energy Recovery system (ERS) weight, since the ERS added an
ungainly 100lbs to the DW12’s rear!
Xtrac, the current gearbox supplier will
continue in this role, providing a new 25lbs lighter unit that shares
components with the Indy NXT chassis, for those running in both series.
While current brake supplier Performance
Friction Corporation (PFC) will continue as sole supplier of braking systems.
A new ergonomic cockpit will be utilized, including
the integration of the Aeroscreen, which was an “Add-on” component to the
current DW12 chassis.
On the power side, the new racecar will get the
previously announced 2.4-litre V-6 twin turbocharged lumps’, ergo Internal
Combustion Engine. (ICE) Replete with ERS, albeit the Hybrid unit will feature
more power and improved performance…
As you’d like to Arse-sume this new
“clean-sheet” chassis design will allow for better weight distribution, leading
to better handling and better performance overall.
Track testing of the new Dallara chassis will commence in 2026, and then once again, all teams will have to buy brand new racecars for the 2028 IndyCar season, when the venerable 15yr old DW12 is finally retired!
