Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
IndyCar
INDYCAR: 2012 Car Reactions
SPEED’s Robin Miller provides first reactions and insight into IndyCar’s new car concept.
Robin Miller  |  Posted July 14, 2010   Indianapolis, IN
IndyCar unveiled its innovative new car strategy Wednesday at Indianapolis. (LAT)
The only radical thing about the first new Indy car in almost a decade will be visible on the price tag but it’s such a dramatic departure from today’s costs it could jump start open wheel racing in America.

After two months of analyzing facts, comparing companies and gauging the economy, IndyCar’s 7-man ICONIC panel opted for a familiar name but with a whole new set of prices and parameters that could bring some diversity back to the Indianapolis 500.

Dallara, which has built Indy cars since 1998 and been the sole supplier since 2005, has been selected to build the guts of the 2012 chassis – the Indy Safety Cell. But the rule book is now open for Lola, Swift, BAT and Delta Wing (the other four companies vying to get the contract) or any interested racing/car manufacturer to design their own bodywork, wings and aero packages.
IndyCar's 2012 car will be constructed by Dallara, but open for manufacturers to create their own aero kits. (IZOD IndyCar)

In other words, there is the potential to have several different looking cars at the Indianapolis 500 after eight straight Mays of boring spec racing.

But, unlike the current Dallara model which sells for $700,000, the rolling chassis for 2012 will list for $349,000. And, with a nice rebate from the Indiana government, that figure will drop into the neighborhood of $235,000 if you are an Indiana-based team.

Considering Honda is expected to drastically lower its yearly lease, this means almost a 50 percent reduction in start up costs.

“It’s very good news, it’s what we needed because the prices have been out of line with the value of our series for quite a while,” said Dennis Reinbold, who along with Robbie Buhl has been fielding Indy cars for a decade.

Tony Cotman, a member of the ICONIC board and chief steward of the Indy Lights who also was the mid-wife of the 2007 Panoz in Champ Car, is pushing for rigid control on parts.

“The reduced car cost is necessary and overdue but the critical thing is the running costs, that’s where the teams spend all their money,” said Cotman. “And we have to do a good job of controlling the parts prices.”

After listening to the pitch of five car manufacturers, the 7-man ICONIC committee assembled by IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard selected Dallara to build the new car – which will be assembled in the shadow of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It was the Italian company’s willingness to put up a racing factory on Main Street in Speedway, which will bring a minimum of 75 new jobs to Indianapolis, that really swung the panel’s decision.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is appropriating approximately $5 million to help subsidize an industry that still brings millions to the local economy. That money will be given to Dallara which, in turn, will give $150,000 rebates to each Indiana-based team buying a new car.
Tony Purnell addresses the crowd as Neil Ressler, Rick Lond and Gil de Ferran. (LAT)

When Bernard, who had never seen an Indy car race when he was hired last winter, announced he was forming a 7-man committee to chose cars and engines, it was met with much skepticism since most racers can’t agree on what day it is.

“It was an unbelievable process to have seven experts with a range of ideas and opinions that were 180 degrees apart on some aspects and to see how they rolled up their sleeves,” said Bernard, who enlisted Tony Purnell, Rick Long, Eddie Gossage, Neil Ressler, Brian Barnhart, Gil de Ferran and Cotman to make the most important decisions in recent history.

“With serious debate, research data and critical thinking, they became a team and were unanimous in every decision.”

Some of the current IndyCar owners had voiced their support for the DeltaWing, a space age creation from the mind of ex-Lola designer Ben Bowlby, which was funded by Chip Ganassi.

It was seen as too much, too soon by many insiders but Bowlby’s creative concept was the impetus for IndyCar to get off its behind and finally address a new car last winter.

Lola, with the longest-running history at Indy dating back to 1965, had been absent from the US scene since 2006 and made a strong presentation to the ICONIC board while Swift’s proposed design was viewed by many as the slickest.

But, those companies either wanted total exclusivity or weren’t funded well enough to match Dallara’s commitment to a dedicated production facility.

“Tony Purnell came up with the idea of the safety cell and letting everyone get creative with the car’s clothes,” said Bernard. “I know a lot of people wanted us to have two or three cars but right now that just wasn’t feasible.

“Hopefully, we’ll have several different looking cars and different sounding engines by 2012.”

See: IndyCar Embraces Innovation For 2012

Play! SPEED Fantasy Racing and Super 7 Sweep
robin_miller's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin Miller

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.