By Josh Farmer, IndyCar Reporter
IndyCar had a slew of reports at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this morning, the first being an extension with longtime chassis builder Dallara.
Ahead of their 20th season in the Verizon IndyCar Series, Dallara will remain as the exclusive supplier for the series through the year 2020.
“Dallara’s continued participation in our sport provides INDYCAR and our competitors a tremendous amount of confidence,” said Jay Frye, INDYCAR President, Competition and Operations. “Dallara has been an instrumental partner in the Verizon IndyCar Series for 20 years and we are excited to extend our relationship with them.”
Dallara is headquartered in Parma, Italy and operates a facility in Speedway, Indiana to support their efforts in America.
IndyCar also revealed concept sketches for the 2018 universal aero kit.
The drawings offer a rough draft of what the next generation IndyCar will look like.a radical departure from the DW-12 and present aero kit design and takes some style cues from Dallara’s Indy Lights chassis, the IL-15
The design is a radical departure from the DW-12 and present aero kit design and takes some style cues from Dallara’s Indy Lights chassis, the IL-15.
Among the notables are an open roll hoop design, much like cars that raced in the Champ Car World Series from 1979-2007. The oval design also sees the removal of the rear wheel pods.
Further information about the chassis will be revealed at the series’ mass test at Phoenix International Raceway on February 10-11.
Plans also call for a show car to be unveiled by the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 Presented by PennGrade Motor Oil with testing set to commence in the summer.
The 2018 rules also call for development by teams in certain areas being opened by year to year.
Aero kit competition was introduced in 2015 and has been met with mix reaction from the IndyCar paddock as well as the fanbase. This season will be the final year of the aero kits with IndyCar placing a development freeze on both manufacturers Honda and Chevrolet.
