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#61 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 20 December 2016 - 15:50

IndyCar Is Considering Driver-Protecting Windscreens
Like F1, IndyCar wants to preserve open-cockpit race cars and make them safer. It's not as easy as it sounds.

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By Chris Perkins
Dec 19, 2016
 

Following the 2015 death of racer Justin Wilson, there's been much talk about implementing cockpit protection in IndyCar. This parallels F1's push towards halo cockpits, which were initially set to debut in 2017 but was pushed back to 2018. Now, IndyCar's talk is turning into serious consideration.

Note: Red Bull F1 car with prototype Aeroscreen pictured above.

Motorsport.com reports that IndyCar organizers are actively researching the implementation of cockpit protection in the Dallara DW12 chassis used across the series. This was revealed at a trade show by Bill Pappas, IndyCar's head of competition and race engineering.

"Some sort of windscreen is currently the one we're researching the most," said Pappas. "We think if we can get something that gets the driver's head below whatever we have in front of them–a windscreen–that should act as a deflector."

Of course, IndyCar is doing its homework before it makes a decision. Even though cockpit protection is widely thought to increase safety, there are still some concerns surrounding its use.

"There's been a quite long discussion about that and studies to ensure we don't make a mistake by putting something on just to say we've done something," added Pappas. "It can't be the wrong thing to do. It has to be well-researched and analyzed and then make the decision to go forward."

Pappas cites fears over the increasing difficultly of driver extrication in case of an accident as one of the primary challenges in implementing cockpit protection. These fears were heightened earlier this year following a fiery crash involving F1 driver Kevin Magnussen.

IndyCar also has to balance the need for safety, while maintaining the spirit of open-cockpit racing. For that reason, IndyCar isn't considering enclosed canopy cockpits.

"First off, these are open-wheel, open-cockpit race cars and there's a history about that," said Pappas. "When you talk to teams and drivers, they want it to remain an open cockpit. The other side is–and this is most important–there's the safety aspect. You need to be able to extricate a driver if he has an accident."

Given these concerns, we wouldn't expect to see IndyCar implement a safety cockpit until 2018 at the very earliest. On the face of it, this a step in the right direction, but only if it's done carefully.


Edited by Rad-oh-yeah?, 20 December 2016 - 15:51.

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#62 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 20 December 2016 - 22:52

Kraj puta za KVRT?
 

The direction for KV Racing should be known by the end of the month.

RACER has learned team owners Kevin Kalkhoven and Jimmy Vasser, who completed the most recent Verizon IndyCar Series season with Sebastien Bourdais, are considering three paths for the Chevy-powered program.

The first, which has been in motion for quite some time, involves finding a new partner to fund the continuation of the KV program. In that scenario, Kalkhoven would be absolved from years of financial support to keep the team afloat. The second, where Kalkhoven would continue running and funding the team on his own, has also been suggested.

The third, which has gained momentum this month, would see the liquidation of the team's assets by auction in Indianapolis if a new partner cannot be found, or if Kalkhoven opts to discontinue sponsoring his own team. A final decision on one of the three paths is said to be forthcoming by (or shortly after) the Christmas break, although neither Vasser nor Kalkhoven were available for comment.

Formed in 2003, the Indy 500-winning program has undergone significant changes since the season concluded in September. Former partner and co-owner James "Sulli" Sullivan, Bourdais, and Bourdais' race engineer Olivier Boisson have left, and it's unclear whether Vasser would continue his affiliation with the team. If KV Racing emerges for the 2017 season, acquiring a new driver, engineers and mechanics would need to happen on a very short timeline.

On a related front, Kalkhoven, who owns KV's assets, had planned a move from the team's base in Indy to Carlin Racing's shop in Florida, but that process has been halted. It's believed all of KV's equipment is packed and waiting in its shop and could be relocated to a smaller base in the area if Kalkhoven goes forward on his own.

Some form of transaction between Kalkhoven and championship-winning Indy Lights team owner Trevor Carlin, with a sale of KV's Dallara DW12 Indy cars and associated components, was on the cards in recent months, but those talks appear to have stalled.


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#63 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 22 December 2016 - 17:36

2016IndySonomaTest_MarshallPruett_98__11

INDYCAR: Silly Season update for Dec. 21
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
Marshall Pruett (words & images)


The Christmas break is here and all of the Verizon IndyCar Series gifts, barring one part-time seat with Ed Carpenter Racing, have been given.

Hope still remains for KV Racing to answer the bell in 2017, but with the uncertainty hanging over the Indy 500-winning program, ECR's road course opportunity in the No. 20 Chevy is the only guaranteed opening waiting to be filled.

The leading candidates to share the car with team owner Ed Carpenter (and to join JR Hildebrand in the sister No. 21 Chevy on road and street courses) are familiar to open-wheel fans. Spencer Pigot, who piloted the No. 20 at seven rounds in 2016 (pictured above) and earned a best finish of seventh in the car, is said to be one of two primary contenders.

His main opposition, Ohio's Zach Veach, made quite an impression on the ECR team after out-pacing Pigot during a test day in the No. 21 at Sonoma Raceway just prior to the season finale. The fact that the Ohioan was also turning his first-ever laps in an Indy car that day only added to the accomplishment.

It leaves ECR with two young Americans to consider. Pigot having shown considerable potential in a handful of outings, and Veach, with one highly impressive test under his belt, make interesting cases for Carpenter, team manager Tim Broyles, and the engineering staff to evaluate.

Earning the nod in the No. 20 will also involve bringing sponsorship to the team, and while the exact sum required is unknown, the ability to deliver that figure will also determine whose name is placed on the 2017 entry list.

England's Alex Lynn, a GP2 frontrunner and Williams Grand Prix test driver, has also been mentioned as an option for the No. 20 car.

2016IndyCar_MarshallPruett_StPete311_548

With one of a few drivers all but guaranteed to land at ECR and KV Racing a giant question mark, 2017 could open with the field all but set for the opener at St. Petersburg (pictured above) on March 12. It would also leave a number of young aspiring IndyCar hopefuls scrambling to find an entry point to launch or continue their careers.

Gabby Chaves wants to remain in the Verizon IndyCar Series next year. The same is true for RC Enerson, Matthew Brabham, and Luca Filippi, among others. And from the Indy Lights ranks, Dean Stoneman, Jack Harvey and half of the returning Indy Lights grid would love nothing more than to have a car available for St. Pete, but demand currently outweighs supply.

Extra entries (outside of the Indy 500) are always a possibility for some teams; Andretti Autosport, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports come to mind, and for those who were unable to find part- or full-time homes next season, one-offs could be their only chance to participate in IndyCar.


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#64 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 25 December 2016 - 18:35

Relive one of 2016's best moments: A year removed from a crash that nearly took his life, James Hinchcliffe returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and won pole for the 100th Indy 500.

 


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#65 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 28 December 2016 - 20:06

Vil Pauer postao tata, cestitamo!!!
 
 

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12willpower

Most amazing experience of my life. Best Xmas present you could ask for. Beau William Power...9lbs 4 oz 21 inches long-big boy


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#66 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 03 January 2017 - 18:54

 


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#67 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 05 January 2017 - 15:27

Pocinju ovogodisnja testiranja, Ganasijevci danas na Sebringu testiraju sa sva 4 bolida:
 

Chip Ganassi Racing will become the first Verizon IndyCar Series team to hit the testing trail in 2017 when all four of its drivers visit Sebring International Raceway on Thursday.

The team's most recent attempt to test at Sebring (along with Dale Coyne Racing) in early December was met with sporadic rainfall that ruined any change of gathering meaningful data. With CGR's offseason switch from Chevy to Honda engines and aero kits, tomorrow's outing represents a long-awaited chance to log miles and learn with drivers Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball.

"It's been a while since I've been in an IndyCar - since September 18th - so it will be interesting," Kimball told RACER. "I'm really excited to see how it goes. The Honda will be very different from an engine perspective and an aero perspective. The engineers have worked very hard at coming up with a long test list for all four of us to try, and it will take multiple tests to get through everything we want to understand."

Kimball expects the entire CGR team to be working faster than ever to capture data and driver feedback to assess and use for its next tests.

"It's constant tuning, working with Honda Performance Development to learn engine performance characteristics, and we while can start learning in the workshop, we need as many miles as possible on the track tomorrow so we can make more progress," he added. "You don't know what you don't know until you start turning laps."


Edited by Rad-oh-yeah?, 05 January 2017 - 15:33.

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#68 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 06 January 2017 - 19:48

Nakon proslogodisnjih problema sa kisom, TMS se za ovu sezonu kompletno rekonstruise. Ugradjuje se nova drenaza, na krivinama 1 i 2 se smanjuje nagib (3 i 4 ostaju nepromenjene), staza se prosiruje i dobija novi povrsinski sloj asfalta.

 

Detaljnije:

 

 

indycartopshots-texas-helio.jpg


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#69 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 10 January 2017 - 18:01

As IndyCar moves into the “Universal Aero Kit” era beginning with the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season, as many as 12 different companies are hoping to get the contract to build the body kits that will be used on the Dallara chassis for the Chevrolet and Honda teams.

“We’ve actually had interest and proposals from 11 or 12 different companies that want to build the universal kit,” IndyCar director of development Tino Belli told Autoweek. “That was quite a surprise because I’m not sure many race fans knew there were that many companies capable of designing and building the universal kit.

“The new aero kit will be visually exciting to the fans.”

IndyCar will discuss aspects of the universal aero kit on Thursday at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit.

“There has been a lot of enthusiasm for this project,” IndyCar president of competition Jay Frye told Autoweek. “We are enthused about that. Hopefully it shows we are pointed in the right direction and like the plans we have come up with. The more people involved, the better. There are a lot of different criteria that come with that, and it is evolving.”

When IndyCar entered its “Era of Aero” in the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season, the Honda and Chevrolet aero kits were supposed to give the two manufacturers distinct brand identity, improve the performance on the track and give the fans of innovation something to talk about.

Instead, it split the field in half, with Chevrolet holding a commanding edge over Honda in 2015. That led Honda to request a special dispensation with the rules to help close the performance disadvantage to Chevrolet.

That gap was narrowed significantly in 2016 as Honda improved, but while the aero kit did bolster the performance of both manufacturers, many fans could not differentiate one car brand from the other.

IndyCar announced last season it will freeze the 2016 aero kit rules for the 2017 season, and a universal aero kit will be introduced beginning in 2018. Switching to a universal kit will save both manufacturers millions in development costs.

According to Belli, IndyCar has been working on a universal aero kit since May 2016 -- at one point, the series considered making the change for the 2017 season. The new kit should dramatically improve the appearance of the car.

“The Chevy and the Honda aero kits were complicated because they were in competitive situation racing against each other and create more aero efficiency and downforce more than the other one,” Belli said. “The way we structured the rules is we did not allow two components to occupy the same space on the vehicle because we didn’t want 30 different diveplanes. They had to build a kit in a modular way -- parts on top of parts, but all the parts had to fit simultaneously on the car. It ended up being quite a complicated jigsaw puzzle for them to manufacturer.”

According the Belli, the two manufacturers dramatically improved the performance of the cars by a significant amount. The initial kit by Chevrolet tested at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was so fast it would have placed the IndyCar in the middle of the grid for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

The universal kit will have fewer options and will be much simpler.

“We wanted to save money for the teams so they didn’t have to do massive development and spend a lot of money in the wind tunnel,” Belli said.

IndyCar is hoping to find a balance between “entertaining racing” and “innovation” that keeps costs in control.

“We are going to pare back on somewhat free aerodynamic development that will introduce a series of challenges to the teams again,” Belli said. “Change makes the teams and engineers and mechanics have to be flexible in their approach. They will have to approach things quite differently in 2018.

“They will have to go back to working on the details to make the cars for faster. Maybe the changes will be less visible to the public.”

According to Frye, the universal kit will have a “retro look” to some of the great Indy cars over the last 20 years and incorporate some of those looks into one body kit.

“Hopefully, it’s something the fans will really get excited about,” Frye said. “The cosmetics of the car will be a really cool, sleek-looking race car. We are hoping the look we came up with is balanced between the performance part and safety part of the car.

“It will be much sleeker, cleaner, with a retro look. Compare a 1968 Camaro to a 2016 Camaro -- the cars look alike, but performance-wise and technology-wise, they are not even close.”

Read more: http://autoweek.com/...s#ixzz4VNZInbcn


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#70 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 11 January 2017 - 16:16

Reigning Auto GP Formula Open champion Luis Michael Dorrbecker will test an IndyCar for Schmidt Peterson Motorsport at Sebring in March.

The 24-year-old Mexican will join the team as an observer for the open test at Phoenix next month before taking his turn at the wheel of the SPM Honda for the second day of the Sebring test on March 1st.

"It is a dream come true to be able to confirm that I will get in an IndyCar," said Dorrbecker, who is backed by Telmex.

"If someone had told me when I started karts that someday I would share track with drivers like Tony Kannan and Scott Dixon, who I saw running in the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez when I was a kid, I would have not believed it.

"It's a big step in my career after winning the Auto GP championship in 2016 and I think that's the way to go to be the first full-time Mexican driver in the IndyCar Series since Adrian Fernandez in 2004. I have the advantage of knowing the track from when I competed in Skip Barber, but this car is an animal; very different from what I've done before, not only because of the power, but also because of the technological level it has. We are prepared mentally and physically to make the most of this great opportunity."

Dorrbecker has spent the past several seasons competing in Europe, but tested an Indy Lights car with Schmidt in 2012.

 

Prica se o mogucem angazmanu za treci SPM bolid za nekoliko trka ove sezone, kao proba za punu sezonu 2018. Navodno je Karlos Slim zainteresovan da finansijski pogura stvar, jer se pregovara o mogucoj trci u Meksiku za 2018. i dalje.


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#71 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 11 January 2017 - 16:59

With renewed interest in the Verizon IndyCar Series from engine manufacturers, IndyCar officials are not only confident of landing a third engine partner but a fourth engine partner is a legitimate possibility.

Freezing the current aero-kit rules for the 2017 season and then introducing a universal aero kit beginning in 2018 has removed a key hurdle for new production partners to join IndyCar.

“One of the main reasons we wanted to move away from the aero-kit competition is to introduce a third and maybe a fourth auto brand,” IndyCar director, aerodynamic development Tino Belli told Autoweek. “Typically, companies that might come in have indicated they did not really want to develop and engine and an aero kit. Current engine manufacturers indicated the costs in developing an aero kit were higher than they expected.

“They (Honda and Chevrolet) both want a third and a fourth engine manufacturer to come in, as well. Our hopes are high that we will attract a third manufacturer, and it could be a fourth if things go well.”

IndyCar will discuss aspects of the universal aero kit on Thursday at the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center in Detroit. It’s likely a new engine manufacturer would not be able to join IndyCar until the 2019 season in order for the new company to have proper time to design, build and develop an engine.

Mark Miles, the CEO of Hulman & Co. who also serves as IndyCar CEO, visited with several interested international automakers in December. He has been working with IndyCar president of competition and operations Jay Frye on luring new manufacturers to the Verizon IndyCar Series.

“We let prospective OEMs know what we are doing and our thought process,” Frye told Autoweek. “The reason we did that was if we came up with a plan and took it to prospective OEMs, they may not like what we have come up with. They are aware of what we are doing, and there seems to be some enthusiasm.

“Part of what we had to do was eliminate some of the hurdles, and one of the hurdles was the aero kit piece. We have eliminated the aero kit with a universal aero kit. Is this a guarantee they will come? No, but is there much more of an opportunity for them to come? Yes.”

When a new engine manufacturer joins IndyCar, Frye expects the car count to get back to 28 cars per race, with more than 33 entered for the Indianapolis 500.

“You would hope a new OEM would come in and create new opportunity for ownership,” Frye said. “The new engine manufacturer may have an existing team or two, and a new owner comes in. This would be part in parcel with expanding the field by having a third, and even a fourth, engine manufacturer join the Verizon IndyCar Series.”

Marvin Riley, IndyCar director of engine development, believes the addition of just one new engine partner would have some tremendous benefits for the sport.

“Once we get a third manufacturer, I think you will see some positive things happen in the series,” Riley told Autoweek. “What we are trying to do with our rules package is make it as attractive as we can to new engine manufacturers. We are taking input we have had with them already to listening to the concerns of our current customers and their expertise designing these platforms and where they want to go.

“A third manufacturer could change the game, and it could happen soon. But the answer to that question is much better addressed with Jay Frye. We maintain a lot of conversations with a lot of different partners and a lot of the changes we have made in the last six to eight months to make it more attractive to the teams and series while maintaining the high technology while keeping the costs down is something that is going to help a third engine manufacturer come in. Taking out the aero-kit equation for 2018 will make it a lot easier for someone to come in. By focusing our strategy for the future on a high-qualify, good-looking car while focusing the manufacturer efforts on the engines, that is going to make it a lot more attractive for someone else to come in.

“That is a big part of our strategy for a third engine manufacturer.”


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#72 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 11 January 2017 - 21:58

The Verizon IndyCar Series is exploring the addition of Twitter to its live streaming offerings for the upcoming 17-race season. The open-wheel series has been in the practice of using Facebook Live and YouTube to live stream all sessions that aren't aired on television by broadcast partners ABC and NBCSN, and according to the series Facebook Live and YouTube streaming will continue in 2017.

The use of live streaming via Twitter will be tested and barring any issues, will be added as a third viewing option for fans to use with untelevised practice sessions.

The opening IndyCar race weekend takes place March 10-12 on the streets of St. Petersburg.


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#73 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 12 January 2017 - 16:02

2017 Verizon IndyCar Series TV schedule

(all times ET; times subject to change)
March 12, St. Petersburg, Fla.    ABC, 12 noon-3pm
April 09, Long Beach, Calif.         NBCSN, 4-7pm
April 23, Barber MP, Ala.            NBCSN, 3-6pm
April 29, Phoenix IR, Ariz.           NBCSN, 9-12 midnight
May 13, GP of Indianapolis, Ind.ABC, 3.30-6pm
May 20, Indy 500 qualifying Day 1, Ind.       ABC, 4-6pm
May 21, Indy 500 qualifying Day 2, Ind.       ABC, 4-6pm
May 28, Indianapolis 500             ABC, 11am-3.30pm
June 03, Belle Isle, Detroit, Mich. Race 1     ABC, 3.30-6pm
June 04, Belle Isle, Detroit, Mich. Race 2     ABC, 3.30-6pm
June 10, Texas MS, Texas            NBCSN, 8-11pm
June 25, Road America, Wisc.     NBCSN, 12.30-3.30pm
July 09, Iowa Speedway, Iowa    NBCSN, 5-8pm
July 16, Toronto, Ont., Canada    NBCSN, 3-6pm
July 30, Mid-Ohio, Ohio                NBCSN, 3-6pm
August 20, Pocono Raceway, Penn.             NBCSN, 2-6pm
August 26, Gateway MP, Ill.       NBCSN, 9-12 midnight
September 03, Watkins Glen, NY.                 NBCSN, 1-4pm
September 17, Sonoma, Calif.     NBCSN, 6.30-9.30pm


Edited by Rad-oh-yeah?, 12 January 2017 - 16:02.

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#74 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 12 January 2017 - 18:23

INDYCAR unveils initial concepts for 2018 car look
By Curt Cavin | Published: Jan 12, 2017


DETROIT – Jay Frye is fond of noting that current Chevrolet Camaros possess visual characteristics to yesteryear models. The INDYCAR president of competition and operations believes the Verizon IndyCar Series is on a similar path to historical throwback.

Without giving specific details to how the cars and their accompanying aerodynamic bodywork might look when they hit the track for the 2018 season, Frye offered the first visual peek into the future today at INDYCAR’s exhibit at the North American International Auto Show in the Motor City.

Frye unveiled a series of drawings designed to start the imagination process. The drawings were completed months ago, but they give the first picture of where the series is headed with its bodywork designs that will cover the Dallara IR-12 chassis.

A point to be made: There is no indication the images Frye showed are what the cars will look like in 2018 – the process of bodywork design is a work in progress. But it’s a start witnessed first by media gathered at the first major North American auto show of the year.

In coming weeks, Frye has an assortment of details to share with stakeholders, including drivers and team owners. INDYCAR is scheduled to provide another public update following the preseason’s open test Feb. 10-11 at Phoenix International Raceway. The goal is to have a car built for display at the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in May, with on-track testing in the summer.

INDYCAR previously announced an aero freeze for the upcoming season, which means teams will use the kits offered by Chevrolet and Honda for the 17 races. The season opens two months from today, March 12, with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

This story will be updated following Frye’s media roundtable discussion at 11 a.m. ET.01-12-New-2018-Car-Concept-Sketches-HIRE


Edited by Rad-oh-yeah?, 12 January 2017 - 18:24.

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#75 Rad-oh-yeah?

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Posted 12 January 2017 - 20:26

The process of defining the replacement for Dallara's 2012 DW12 chassis will begin once IndyCar's new universal body kit has been introduced later this year. As the first step in a new five-year plan, the universal bodywork, which will replace custom aero kits made by Chevy and Honda in 2018, was commissioned to ease the introduction of new engine manufacturers to the series.

Once the universal kit is finalized to the point of going into mass production, IndyCar competition president Jay Frye says the next stage of the five-year plan will involve developing the specific criteria and date to replace the DW12.

"We have a five-year path, with the first four years mapped out," Frye told RACER. "We're staying with aero kits for 2017, going to the new bodywork for everyone in 2018, and by 2019, we should know the status of having a new engine partner and have them understand how the universal car is working.

"So we could stay with the current chassis through 2020 and look to do something new in 2021, or extend that if that's what the market calls for. The exact time for a new chassis is one area where we know the general window to consider going down that path, but we're not ready at this point to put an exact date on it."

With a new sole supply contract in place with Dallara through 2020, Frye views the universal bodywork vendor selection process as one that could open the door to choosing its future chassis partner.

"We've had a lot of interest from people wanting to design and manufacture the 2018 bodywork," he added. "And the cool thing is, we've told all of them that if you aren't the one chosen to build it, there's another opportunity to do a new chassis as early as 2021. Once the 2018 car is track testing and moving like we want it go later in the year, we'll shift our focus to the 2021 chassis opportunity. Again, it could end up being 2022, but right now, we're referring to the first chance for a new chassis as 2021."


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