2018 Aerokit Tag

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor IndyCar has announced changes to the rules and format of qualifying for oval races from 2018 on, according to a recent article by RACER.com. The old system of a driver lottery, the equivalent of drawing a name from a hat is replaced by a new system designed to up the tension and spectacle in a logical and fair manner. For the races at Phoenix, Texas, Iowa, Gateway and Pocono drivers will qualify in championship order according points. Drivers at the bottom of the standings will qualifyRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor IndyCar has increased the minimum weight for both the super speedway and road course/short oval trims for the universal aerokit equipped cars in 2018, according to RACER.com. The weights, which exclude driver, fuel, drinking bottle and ballast have gone up by 10 pounds in each trim and are now 1,620 pounds for the road course/short oval trim, and 1,590 pounds for super speedway trim. The move is due to the new safety measures introduced for the coming season, specifically more robust zylon anti-intrusion panels for theRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor IndyCar continued its round of tests for the new 2018 universal aerokit at Iowa Speedway this week where test drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Oriol Servia experimented with the Road Course/Short Oval spec car on the 0.894 mile oval. The veteran duo completed 270 laps as they sampled the new kit in various trims to determine a base line set up for next year’s race, where they added and then took downforce off of the cars to find the elusive sweet spot. Like the previous testsRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor IndyCar officials are close to producing an aeroscreen for the new 2018 IR12 bodywork with the goal of testing the device this fall. The screen will be similar to the aeroscreen concept Red Bull pushed for in Formula One and the shield concept that Sebastian Vettel tested during practice for the British Grand Prix. Speaking to Racer, Tino Belli IndyCar’s Director of Aerodynamics said that a prototype is due to be produced soon, after extensive CFD work and testing with Dallara’s simulator. “First and foremost, thereRead More

A gallery of the Verizon IndyCar Series’ new 2018 universal aero kit for road/street and short ovals from the test at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. All photos below are courtesy of INDYCAR. And below, reminder of where we are now for comparison. IndyCar is set to get a lot better looking soon.Read More

By INDYCAR LEXINGTON, Ohio – One thing is certain following another successful test of the new Verizon IndyCar Series universal aero kit: Any misconception of drivers not earning their keep in the cockpit will be put to rest in 2018. The new aero kit – developed by chassis supplier Dallara and set to be used by all competitors next season following three years of manufacturer aero kit competition between Chevrolet and Honda – was put through the paces in the road course/street course/short oval configuration for the first time todayRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor IndyCar has released new renderings of the series’ much anticipated 2018 aerokit designs. The new universal kit will replace the controversial manufacturer based kits from Honda HPD and Chevrolet from the last several years in an effort to cut costs and improve racing. The latter has led Jay Frye, IndyCar President of Competition to put an emphasis on the looks of the car and just where it generates its’ downforce. Shifting much of the downforce to the underbody has allowed a far sleeker design than anyRead More