INDYCAR has released new images of the new bodywork used in the Verizon IndyCar Series starting from the 2018 season.

The Verizon IndyCar Series will adopt a universal aerodynamic bodywork for all competitiors next season while the two Verizon IndyCar Series manufacturers will continue as engine suppliers. Used on the current Dallara IR-12 chassis, the bodywork will have a configuration for road courses and short ovals, and another configuration for superspeedway ovals. The supplier of the bodykit is yet to be announced, yet INDYCAR released computer-generated images of what the new bodywork will look like.

Copyright: INDYCAR

Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations, said of the new design: “While this remains a work in progress, we are encouraged with where the development of the 2018 car stands. The look of the car is bold, the performance data from simulations is meeting targeted goals and safety enhancements built into the design will be substantial.” According to Frye, INDYCAR is on target to begin testing the new bodywork on the IR-12 chassis by mid-summer.

The new bodywork will have a lower engine cover reminiscent of classic Indy cars while the turbocharger inlets will be moved inside the radiator inlet ducts. The rear wing and front wing main plane will be smaller in the new bodywork. The images didn’t show the rear wheel guards; previously they were expected to be removed from the road course and short oval configuration, yet left for in the speedway configuration. The new kit will also have the fins on the leading edge of the sidepods removed or minimized from their current size.

Tino Belli, INDYCAR director of aerodynamic development, described the reverse designing from appearance to functionality: “We’ve been working on the aerodynamics to suit the look, rather than the other way around“.

In order to aid overtaking and improve racing, the new design will generate most of its downforce from underneath instead of on top, decreasing the turbulent air in the wake. The hole in the floor of the current design will be sealed for road courses and short ovals, yet will be open on the superspeedways.

According to Belli, simulations show the new car meets the aerodynamic targets. It also has additional safety enhancements, including side impact structures in the sidepods and repositioned radiators, aimed to reduce the severity of side impacts by crushing.

However, the new design images don’t feature a head protection device like an aeroscreen although INDYCAR has been exploring ways to improve the cockpit safety.

Drivers enthusiastic about the new design

The new design has got positive feedback from Verizon IndyCar Series drivers. Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing said: “The new car, I haven’t seen the finished product by any means, but I think it looks pretty awesome. I’m excited about it. For me, it’s more like what I feel an Indy car should look like.

James Hinchcliffe of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports echoed Rahal’s views: “The sketches that came out I think look very cool, definitely some throwbacks to the old Indy cars and Champ Cars of old.” Hinchcliffe added that the performance goals are the most important thing: “If we hit that, then the quality of the racing will be tremendous, as it has been, but we can make it better, and that’s what the goal is for the new car.

Andretti Autosports’ Ryan Hunter-Reay sees the new design as a way to attract younger audience: “We just have to concentrate and focus moving forward on bringing in our younger fan base. I think that’s something that right now, for kids, everything is immediate, instant and there needs to be something they can latch on to. The same thing that made me latch on to INDYCAR when I was a kid, which was I saw the guys driving these cars that just sounded amazing, looked amazing.

Josef Newgarden of Team Penske praised the INDYCAR management for listening everyone’s ideas in the paddock in the design process of the universal aero kit. Newgarden also shares Jay Frye’s view of the universal aero kit helping the series to attract more manufacturers.

I think what they’re doing is they’re globally trying to hit most of the marks (with the universal kit) for whether it’s the fans, the drivers, the teams, the partners, and I think they’re doing it pretty gracefully, so I’m excited,” Newgarden said. “I think that’ll be cool and that will open up some doors and maybe provide a future path for more manufacturers like Jay had stated.