Chevrolet and Honda will produce their own aerodynamic body kits for the Dallara chassis from 2015, IndyCar has confirmed.
IndyCar previously announced in June its intention to see multiple aerodynamic packages introduced, demonstrating a major shift in technical thinking for the open-wheel class.
IndyCar has approved specific kits for superspeedways, short ovals as well as road and street courses.
The category had originally envisaged that individual teams could develop their own wing packages when the DW12 chassis was introduced in 2012; an idea that was unanimously voted down by the teams.
Chevrolet and Honda had also shown initial resistance to producing the kits, but are now both on board.
“The introduction of bespoke bodywork from Honda and Chevrolet will provide fans with additional brand identification and that can only help IndyCar racing,” said HPD technical director Roger Griffiths.
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The series will also open up at the start of 2016 for additional engine manufacturers and third party vendors to be an IndyCar-approved supplier.
Areas where manufacturers are free to develop the aero are sidepods, engine cover and oval front wing main plane and end plates. Alterations to the car’s undertray with a view to improve safety are also being considered.
On-track testing will commence on October 6 and continue to January 18, 2015.
Key points of the new regulations:
• No entrant may use more than two aero kits during a season. The 2012 Dallara aero kit is approved as one of the aero kits.
• Dallara will continue to supply a number of standard components that affect aerodynamic performance.
• For the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, an entrant may use more than one aero kit during practice sessions. The aero kits utilized in qualifications must be used in the race.
• Entrants will be charged no more than $75,000 per aero kit by the supplier, inclusive of all components, but excluding fasteners. A 2016 upgrade kit will cost no more than $15,000.
• Six days of pre-production testing have been approved, with each supplier using a maximum of two cars from entrants. Engine mileage accrued will not count against the entrants’ 10,000-mile-per-year allocation or engine count.
• The aerodynamic platforms will complement engine manufacturer competition that returned to the IndyCar Series in 2012 following a six-year period in which Honda was the sole supplier.
• For the 2014 season, both manufacturers will supply consumer-relevant 2.2-litre, twinturbocharged V6 engines using E85 fuel
