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IndyCar
INDYCAR: Cotman Named 2012 Car/Rules Chief
In a move called for by fans, the paddock and many journalists, Tony Cotman has been named as the chief of the 2012 car and rules.
Randy Bernard's stock has risen again after hiring Tony Cotman to steer the 2012 car and rules forward. (LAT)
Besides finding the money to pay for them, the biggest concerns for owners about the 2012 Indy car/engine is nailing down the rules and the prices. A lot of the IndyCar paddock, weary and wary of the current technical administration, wanted to see Tony Cotman put in charge of the new package.
They got their wish.
SPEED.com can report that IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has hired Cotman to write the rules, dictate policy and ride herd on the price of components like he did as the straw boss at Champ Car.
“I’m happy Tony has accepted this job, he’s well respected and a bright guy who has the experience of delivering a new car,” said Bernard.
“His priorities and mine are the same and that is to come up with the best competitive car for 2012.
“He’ll be the new car project leader and start immediately.”
Cotman, who served as chief steward and competition director at Champ Car from 2005-2008 before taking a job with IndyCar in 2008, was the mid-wife of the 2007 Panoz DP01 chassis.
He made it cheaper and told Panoz what it could charge for parts and intends to do the same thing with Dallara.
“My job is rules, prices and anything to do with the new car,” said Cotman, who resigned his full-time job at IndyCar last year but continues to be chief steward of Indy Lights as well as new track consultant.
“If I don’t like it, I’m going to fix it with the league’s support and I need to start talking to the teams because they need to be part of what is going on.”
The team owners had a meeting with Dallara at Mid-Ohio that produced more unhappiness and uncertainty than anything else.
“Overall there wasn’t much information or direction and what we took away from the meeting that was somebody has got to get busy on this thing right away,” said Dennis Reinbold, the co-owner of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “We didn’t get real excited about the new car announcement because we didn’t have enough information and we still don’t.
“I guess you can’t blame Dallara because they haven’t had much direction but we needed a technical director to oversee rules and car construction and getting Tony is a logical next step. He’s going to be a very welcome addition.”
Since the parts for a chassis that has been used since 2003 were judged to be ridiculously high, Cotman understands the owner’s concerns.
“We’ve got to get this cluster under control and my job is to represent the owners and the series,” he said. “We have to make it very clear that Indy car is running the ship, not Dallara, or any other suppliers.
“People need to know how things are going to affect their budget and I’m all for a new car but we’ve got to be smart in doing it. We’ll see what, if anything, is useful from the car we have now than can be carried over.
“And we need to get the engine rules out there so Randy has them when he meets with interested manufacturers.”
Keith Wiggins, who owns HVM Racing and scored a pair of wins in ’07 with the Panoz, says his fellow owners should be happy to hear there’s a new sheriff in town.
“Cotman didn’t have any experience in developing a new car but he clearly pulled off a successful program and it was a good car,” said Wiggins, who campaigns rookie Simona de Silvestro. “Tony was a firm guy that you could have an honest argument with and you always knew where you stood and he didn’t hold grudges.
“The biggest thing is that you know he clearly has our best interests and no private agendas.”
Cotman, who worked side-by-side with Scot Elkins (currently ALMS tech chief) on the Panoz, learned some valuable lessons that should make this transition smoother.
“Are there some things I’d do over? Absolutely,” he admitted. “We tested 2,500 miles but it wasn’t rigorous enough so things started breaking when PT (Paul Tracy) and Justin (Wilson) and Will (Power) began driving it so that was a mistake.
“But I was most happy that we didn’t compromise quality for price. The quality and prices were very good and I think everyone pretty much agreed on that so we need to make sure we do the same things with this car.”
They got their wish.
SPEED.com can report that IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has hired Cotman to write the rules, dictate policy and ride herd on the price of components like he did as the straw boss at Champ Car.
“I’m happy Tony has accepted this job, he’s well respected and a bright guy who has the experience of delivering a new car,” said Bernard.
“His priorities and mine are the same and that is to come up with the best competitive car for 2012.
“He’ll be the new car project leader and start immediately.”
Cotman, who served as chief steward and competition director at Champ Car from 2005-2008 before taking a job with IndyCar in 2008, was the mid-wife of the 2007 Panoz DP01 chassis.
He made it cheaper and told Panoz what it could charge for parts and intends to do the same thing with Dallara.
“My job is rules, prices and anything to do with the new car,” said Cotman, who resigned his full-time job at IndyCar last year but continues to be chief steward of Indy Lights as well as new track consultant.
“If I don’t like it, I’m going to fix it with the league’s support and I need to start talking to the teams because they need to be part of what is going on.”
The team owners had a meeting with Dallara at Mid-Ohio that produced more unhappiness and uncertainty than anything else.
“Overall there wasn’t much information or direction and what we took away from the meeting that was somebody has got to get busy on this thing right away,” said Dennis Reinbold, the co-owner of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. “We didn’t get real excited about the new car announcement because we didn’t have enough information and we still don’t.
“I guess you can’t blame Dallara because they haven’t had much direction but we needed a technical director to oversee rules and car construction and getting Tony is a logical next step. He’s going to be a very welcome addition.”
Since the parts for a chassis that has been used since 2003 were judged to be ridiculously high, Cotman understands the owner’s concerns.
“We’ve got to get this cluster under control and my job is to represent the owners and the series,” he said. “We have to make it very clear that Indy car is running the ship, not Dallara, or any other suppliers.
“People need to know how things are going to affect their budget and I’m all for a new car but we’ve got to be smart in doing it. We’ll see what, if anything, is useful from the car we have now than can be carried over.
“And we need to get the engine rules out there so Randy has them when he meets with interested manufacturers.”
Keith Wiggins, who owns HVM Racing and scored a pair of wins in ’07 with the Panoz, says his fellow owners should be happy to hear there’s a new sheriff in town.
“Cotman didn’t have any experience in developing a new car but he clearly pulled off a successful program and it was a good car,” said Wiggins, who campaigns rookie Simona de Silvestro. “Tony was a firm guy that you could have an honest argument with and you always knew where you stood and he didn’t hold grudges.
“The biggest thing is that you know he clearly has our best interests and no private agendas.”
Cotman, who worked side-by-side with Scot Elkins (currently ALMS tech chief) on the Panoz, learned some valuable lessons that should make this transition smoother.
“Are there some things I’d do over? Absolutely,” he admitted. “We tested 2,500 miles but it wasn’t rigorous enough so things started breaking when PT (Paul Tracy) and Justin (Wilson) and Will (Power) began driving it so that was a mistake.
“But I was most happy that we didn’t compromise quality for price. The quality and prices were very good and I think everyone pretty much agreed on that so we need to make sure we do the same things with this car.”
2013 INDY 500 Practice
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