More images of 2012 designs from Dallara
Posted 1 month ago.
Posted by: Paul
More images from the proposed Dallara designs are coming forth. Below are additional images of all three designs. With the additional angles available, I’m starting to like design #2 more and more all the time. Crap, I think that means that Steph and I might be close to agreeing. One of us is going to have to change our opinion now….
In addition to the new images, Dallara has also released more details about the production and costs of the new proposed chassis. Yesterday, the Indy Racing League announced that any chassis selected would have to be built in the United States, preferably within the State of Indiana. Dallara has gone one step better than that and confirmed that a new Dallara chassis would be built in the United States and potentially in the City of Speedway, presumably giving a much-needed tax boost to that struggling community. How many direct jobs it would bring to the area is unknown at this time but I have no doubt there are a lot of good engineers with racing experience to be found.
Of more direct concern for the teams are some of the other items put forth in Dallara’s announcement. The costs of the new chassis is expected to be reduced by 45% and given that it will be American made, the purchase price of the chassis and spare parts will no longer be subject to fluctuations in the US dollar. Being Indianapolis-based also means that parts should be more readily available as most teams will only have a 10-15 minute drive to the point of manufacture.
Aside from the price reductions, Dallara also claims this models will be “much lighter, more efficient car with less drag and more downforce.” Now, the current model IZOD IndyCar Series Car has never been known for its lack of downforce so putting more downforce in the car seems like a peculiar tactic, especially as Dallara claims the need for a less-powerful engine. From a safety standpoint, Dallara says the new cars have “been improved with increased resistance to frontal lift and improved yaw stability. Improved raceability also has been addressed in the design with less sensitive aerodynamics in traffic for better overtaking and the reduced incidence of wheel-to-wheel contact.” Hopefully this means we won’t see the blow-over issues that we had with the current-model Dallara in 2003 and 2004. (To be fair, there have been significantly less blow-over accidents since the introduction of the vertical “spine” wicker in 2005 and other modifications mandated by the IRL in 2004 and 2005.)
We eagerly await more information on 2012 concept cars in the coming days. Of course, we know that Delta Wing is presenting their car next week at the Chicago Auto Show, and reports are coming from Swift that they will also unveil their design for the next generation IZOD IndyCar Series car at some point next week.
Dallara Concept #1
Dallara Concept #2
Dallara Concept #3
I still like #1, though I don’t know that it has really done anything to increase the advertising space on the car.
#2 looks bad-ass to me. It not only looks fast, but it also looks rugged, almost muscular
Damn. So much for being productive today. Now I am going to have to spend all day looking over these CAD models, and reading the comment boxes.
#1 would really look like the Batmobile with Marco’s ‘Venom’ Sponsor on it.
I like #2 more with these pics. And I like #3 even less. Seriously Can-Am 2012!
It just looks to be moving away from a IndyCar #3.
I too like design number 2. Design #3 looks like a lawn dart. Yikes!
“Crap, I think that means that Steph and I might be close to agreeing. One of us is going to have to change our opinion now….”
LOL! Yeah, I think we are much closer to agreeing, now that we’ve seen the alternate angles. I found concept #3 intriguing until I saw the overhead shot — now I just think it looks ridiculous. Concept #2 is probably the best compromise between that and #1, which doesn’t look different enough from the current car to me to be worth the effort of a redesign.
That said, though, two points are much more important than all of this:
1. I won’t hang my hat on any of these until we see what the folks at Swift and Delta Wing have to offer.
2. The appearance of the final selection matters far less than whether it races well and keeps everyone safe.
Not much to learn from renderings of cars that cannot be fully designed or built until the engine installation is determined.
I’d be much more interested in reading more editorial content on this:
“Hopefully this means we won’t see the blow-over issues that we had with the current-model Dallara in 2003 and 2004. (To be fair, there have been significantly less blow-over accidents since the introduction of the vertical “spine” wicker in 2005 and other modifications mandated by the IRL in 2004 and 2005.)”.
Perhaps a more detailed analysis might include some actual facts next time.
Andy Bernstein
The new pictures more or less confirm what I commented in the original article. The side view of the second car kills it, since the nose is too long. Safety first, I know, but couldn’t they move front wheels a little forward? The sidepods don’t look so strange from the new angles. I’d discard the other two proposals right now, except perhaps the first car’s F1 2010-ish thin central plate in front of the rear wing.
“The costs of the new chassis is expected to be reduced by 45% and given that it will be American made, the purchase price of the chassis and spare parts will no longer be subject to fluctuations in the US dollar. ”
Hurrah!!!
“more downforce… less-powerful engine”
Boo!!! Please go the other way round!
#3 looks like they plagiarized the Fioravanti LF1 concept car from March of last year. See http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2009/03/20-fioravanti-lf1/
I don’t think any of these cars is perfect. I’d take the sloping side pods from #2 and put them on… no wait, I don’t get to make changes or even choose the best one. None of us makes those decisions.
I still want to see more than one car design in a race.
Tom, great link, thanks. They point out the use of active suspension necessary to maintain rides height on a full ground effect design like that. I doubt IndyCar would add the expense of active suspension.
The first car looks like a modern rehash of a late ’90s Reynard/Lola.
#2 I don’t much care for.
#3 looks like a rip off of the Fioravanti LF1 Racer that appeared at the 2009 Genenva Auto Show.
http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/105662/f1-Fioravanti-inline.jpg
The IRL needs multiple chassis or it’s just going to be another boring spec series.