New IRL Chassis

[zoostation]

would it be possible to use a tweaked dp01?


(dont hate on me lol im just wondering)

[grassrootsracer]

I say either go back to front engine roadsters or merge!

Why front engine?

[DRC]

I say the two open wheel series should merge, dump ALL of the current chassis and come up with a new, wingless (yes, I said wingless) chassis that puts the empatis on driver skill, not aerodynamics.

I saw a special on TV this weekend that had a bit on the old Auto Union "Silver Arrows" and I got to thinking just how beautiful those cars were. I'm sure somebody could come up with a modern take on that car that would be sexy, safe, and exciting to watch around any track.

Before y'all dismiss the idea and call me crazy, just think how this would truly differentiate American Open Wheel Racing from any other in the world. It could still be a balance of high tech and affordability (whatever that balance needs to be...probably more on the high tech side since we already have NASCAR)...it could still be very fast...it just might bring racing back to the racing world again.

Edit: ..empetis? Not sure I spelled that right...

[fan-veteran]

I have an idea of using the well known turbo 2,65L engine (CART has ever been associated with turbo engines, or at least i think so) limited to 12K rpm and a boost issue - to give around 750 bhp on ovals and 1000 bhp on road/city circuits. It is cheap and reliable. Two manufacturers for example - Honda and Ford, two chassises - Panoz and Dallara. Strict cost limits.

And also - what about so called Handford device on superspeedways (on Michigan)?

[call_me_andrew]

Why front engine?

1-To resemble the old roadsters of the 50's.
2-Lower cornering speeds on ovals.
3-Easier to distinguish IndyCars from Champ Cars or F1 cars.

[JPMfan]

How can Dallara build a new chassis, when they don't even know what engine they would make it fit to?

[Mark in Oshawa]

They were supposed to have new chassis this year. But there are only 3 teams that can afford a new car. I'll leave you to guess on who.

I say either go back to front engine roadsters or merge!

Andrew, that is my feeling. IF they went to a "roadster", they would be able to draw on the wealth of talent in the USAC ranks driving silver crown and midgets, and make the series an American series. This was part of the raison D'etre for the IRL being formed. To give those guys a place to race. Save for Sam Hornish, and a couple of years of Tony Stewart, no one has really made that leap and succeeded have they?

If the IRL wants a car to work from, I think the cost of buying the Panoz DP01 set up for ovals is less than asking Dallara to do one from scratch. If the dreaded merger does happen, at least the teams wont go broke buying new parts. That I know sounds simple, but I guess if they do that, it signals to the CCWS they will hear merger talk more seriously, so I suspect Tony will go to Dallara for a new car, and keep the artificial state of OW racing going for a few more years.

As for the crack Nickefalzone had what does looks have to do with anything, I guess you hit your head getting out of your PACER.

Look if the race cars don't look right, it turns fans off. I bet Grand AM Daytona Prototypes would be a lot more of an attraction on TV and in person if they were not so damned strange looking. The early G-Force and Dallara setups for the IRL looked very contrived, and the nose of the Dallaras in a speedway package just looks like something from the 70's......

If they wont buy the Panoz, at least have a car look like something people would dream to drive.