The New IRL Chassis Is.....

[cosworth151]

Dallara!

It will have interchangable body kits to go over the basic tub.!

I'm still watching the live announcement. More soon.

[Jericoke]

This is absolutely fantastic.  They invite 'Ford, GM, Lotus, Ferrari' to compete with 'Lockheed and Boeing' in designing the low cost aerodynamic kits.

[cosworth151]

Dallara will build a new production plant in Speedway, Indiana to produce the tubs. The tub will cost $349,000, with the complete car, sans engine, at about $385,000. It will weigh in at about 1380 lb, a savings of 185 lb over the current car.

The chassis/tub itself will carry the name "IndyCar," not Dallara. The finished car will carry the name of the areo kit builder.

Sadly, the still seem intent on outlawing V8 engines in place of Turbo 4's and Turbo V6's. 

[cosworth151]

Here's how they expect it to work.

[Jericoke]

Sadly, the still seem intent on outlawing V8 engines in place of Turbo 4's and Turbo V6's. 

I generally agree, but if the car makers refuse to make V8s, then at least we might get a variety of engines once again.

[cosworth151]

They seem more than willing to build V8's for F1, LeMans, NASCAR, NHRA, V8 Supercars........

Too bad the Baron of Bulls doesn't have any motorsport background. He might remember what a fiasco it was when NASCAR tried to make it's Busch (now Nationwide) series a V6 series. 

[Jericoke]

They seem more than willing to build V8's for F1, LeMans, NASCAR, NHRA, V8 Supercars........

Too bad the Baron of Bulls doesn't have any motorsport background. He might remember what a fiasco it was when NASCAR tried to make it's Busch (now Nationwide) series a V6 series. 

F1 has 2 'normal' car companies making V8s, that's only one more than IRL.

NASCAR engines aren't exactly high tech, which is what IRL is trying to do to differentiate themselves.

I can't really speak to LeMans or NHRA... but if IRL uses LeMans spec engines, then why not?  Certainly gives credence to the FIA's 'world engine' idea.

The main thing is that modern engines are so damned powerful, a V8 just isn't needed to provide the spectacle, and doesn't provide any use to the company from a technology point of view.

[John S]

F1 has 2 'normal' car companies making V8s, that's only one more than IRL.

Now lets see there's Renualt, Mercedes and Ferrari, just which one of those is not normal? - I know who I would choose but I'm too kind to say. 

[Jericoke]

F1 has 2 'normal' car companies making V8s, that's only one more than IRL.

Now lets see there's Renualt, Mercedes and Ferrari, just which one of those is not normal? - I know who I would choose but I'm too kind to say. 

I suppose that Fiat could always drop a Ferrari Type 056 into an IRL car and call it Mopar.

(they could even bore it out a bit and call it a Hemi!  )

[cosworth151]

Car Culture types here in the U.S. have a habit of linking performance with V8 engines. There were many fine performance cars that never found a mass market because they didn't have a V8. The Mustang SVO and Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (Turbo I-4's) Buick GNX (Turbo V6) Thunberbird Super Coupe (Supercharged V6). It goes clear back to the 50's. Hudson dominated NASCAR, but didn't sell to the performance crowd because it had a straight 6.

Sadly, this will be the scene at IRL headquarters in 1012.

[lkjohnson1950]

The famous Offenhauser engine that won many 500s, was a 4. First naturally aspirated, then turbocharged. No one wondered if they were powerful or fast. They can run Harley twins for all I care, as long as they increase the power so that they actually have to drive and not just steer.

Lonny

[cosworth151]

But they won't attract many new fans. IRL will be viewed even more as a "minor" series.

[Jericoke]

But they won't attract many new fans. IRL will be viewed even more as a "minor" series.

I guess that's the fundamental problem... if IRL fans are V8 fans, then IRL has a big problem.... the car companies are abandoning V8s because the number of V8 fans is shrinking.

IRL might have trouble gaining fans in the V8 crowd, but they can't let that remain their core audience forever, or it won't be anything beyond a minor series.

[cosworth151]

the car companies are abandoning V8s because the number of V8 fans is shrinking.

Really? Which ones? Ford, GM & Chrysler can't build V8's fast enough. Toy, Honda and Nissan have realized that if they want to sell vehicles in the US, they'd better put V8's in them. The most popular vehicle in the country for years isn't even available with anything smaller than a 281 cid V8. Ford talks about it's "eco-boost" turbos, but it sell V8's.

[Jericoke]

the car companies are abandoning V8s because the number of V8 fans is shrinking.

Really? Which ones? Ford, GM & Chrysler can't build V8's fast enough. Toy, Honda and Nissan have realized that if they want to sell vehicles in the US, they'd better put V8's in them. The most popular vehicle in the country for years isn't even available with anything smaller than a 281 cid V8. Ford talks about it's "eco-boost" turbos, but it sell V8's.

Don't confuse cars and trucks.

The people concerned with hauling power aren't always the same people interested in the pony car wars, and if F150 sales were relevant to IRL fans, Ford would still be powering open wheel racing.

The number of cars sold in North America that even offer a V8 is small.  The new Mustang and Camaro advertising even pushes the fuel efficient V6s.  (They might be mistaken, but Alan Mullaly doesn't sell cars people don't buy... if people wanted a V8 Mustang by the millions, he would sell them.)

Henry Ford must be rolling over in his grave.

(Honestly, if I could see a way forward for IRL to use American V8 engines, I'd have already sent my resume to Bernard.  I want Ford, GM and Mopar there as much as anyone.  There's just not enough gearheads to be the majority of the IRL's fanbase.)