The IndyCar Series tried something new a couple of
years ago. In addition to the engines, Honda and Chevy were invited to develop
their own aero kits for their customers to use on road courses and
super-speedways.
The 2018 chassis will once again be based on the
Dallara IR-12 first introduced five years ago. Only its appearance and
aerodynamic efficiency will be optimized for next season. As with the outgoing
manufacturer packages, there will be two versions: one for oval super-speedways
(optimized for higher speeds) and another for road courses, street circuits and
short ovals (with a greater emphasis on downforce). Both versions will generate
more of their downforce from underbody elements instead of surface wings.
The image shows the new design overlaid with an
outline of the current one. The engine cover, as you can see, will be lower,
the nose is more tapered, the sidepod fins are to be minimized (or eliminated
entirely), and the rear wing is lower and wider. Side-impact protection is also
being improved in the new design.
While the current packages will still be in use this
season, testing is slated to begin on the new design by mid-summer.
