PDA

View Full Version : A Fifth Chassis Proposal


Chamoo
23rd February 2010, 14:13
The BAT Project, led by Bruce Ashmore, Alan Mertens and Tim Wardrop plan on making their proposal to the IRL in regards to their 2012 Indycar design.

Link Here (http://www.racecar-engineering.com/news/cars/443787/fifth-firm-to-reveal-indycar-2012-concept-next-week.html)

I'm interested to see what Ashmore and co. come with up.
garyshell
23rd February 2010, 16:56
BAT project? Now where have I heard that before???



http://www.homdrum.net/alfa/images/alfa_bat579_500.jpg

Gary
Mark in Oshawa
23rd February 2010, 19:21
Well, whatever comes of the next season and the push for a new chassis, it wont be a lack of choice....
SUBARUTEAM
23rd February 2010, 20:50
its good to see 5 suppliers keen to work with the irl. there is obviously some positive vibes out there.
Easy Drifter
23rd February 2010, 21:17
I understand Ken Anderson is also working on a design but has asked for a time extension to 2020. :s mokin:
Civic
24th February 2010, 08:33
Didn't Ashmore do some "what if" design sketches for a magazine recently (as in the past five years)? Don't remember if it was Road and Track or Racecar Engineering or some other magazine.
nigelred5
24th February 2010, 12:39
I believe he did. Wasn't some of that done with Menard? The illustrations were in a typical Blue Johns Mansville/ Glidden Menards paint scheme.

I still say, let them all in. Use the original price fixed chassis IRL model, with two or more engine suppliers either providing engine kits to builders or cost controlled leases. I actually always liked that part of the original IRL, eh hem...vision,.... but that was about it.
V12
24th February 2010, 14:36
I still say, let them all in. Use the original price fixed chassis IRL model, with two or more engine suppliers either providing engine kits to builders or cost controlled leases.

:up: sounds like the best compromise between technical excitement and cost controlling to me
Mark in Oshawa
24th February 2010, 15:19
I still say, let them all in. Use the original price fixed chassis IRL model, with two or more engine suppliers either providing engine kits to builders or cost controlled leases. I actually always liked that part of the original IRL, eh hem...vision,.... but that was about it.

It would make sense, so you know this decision is gonna cause brain cells to be killed by the thousands while they look for reasons to NOT do it this way.

This cost containment mantra is fine, and I have railed against the economics of the sport, but the fact is at some point, competition for chassis suppliers will help keep costs down. Last time I looked, Monopolies guarnteed just failure...and right now, Dallara has a monopoly.
chuck34
24th February 2010, 15:48
I believe he did. Wasn't some of that done with Menard? The illustrations were in a typical Blue Johns Mansville/ Glidden Menards paint scheme.

I still say, let them all in. Use the original price fixed chassis IRL model, with two or more engine suppliers either providing engine kits to builders or cost controlled leases. I actually always liked that part of the original IRL, eh hem...vision,.... but that was about it.

Hey I'm not the only one that likes/liked that! That's good to know, sometimes I wonder.
JustRace
4th March 2010, 03:19
I understand Ken Anderson is also working on a design but has asked for a time extension to 2020. :s mokin:

Nice.
JustRace
4th March 2010, 03:26
I believe he did. Wasn't some of that done with Menard? The illustrations were in a typical Blue Johns Mansville/ Glidden Menards paint scheme.

I still say, let them all in. Use the original price fixed chassis IRL model, with two or more engine suppliers either providing engine kits to builders or cost controlled leases. I actually always liked that part of the original IRL, eh hem...vision,.... but that was about it.

The question is - what volume does a manufacturer need in a fixed price model to be profitable, and can the car count support 1, 2, 5 manufacturers? Economically this might be an issue.

Emotionally, I agree.
px400r
4th March 2010, 11:45
The question is - what volume does a manufacturer need in a fixed price model to be profitable, and can the car count support 1, 2, 5 manufacturers? Economically this might be an issue.

Emotionally, I agree.

I think at most only 2 constructors of customer chassis can be supported. If you look at CART in the 80s and 90s, one chassis was preferred by most teams at a given time- March, then Lola, then Reynard, then Lola again. What made it interesting were the one offs- Penske, Eagle, Swift, Porsche.

That's what made Lola's proposal so intriguing- one basic chassis with the option to provide 2 different "looks."