[h=2]INDYCAR: Aero kit freeze confirmed; new kit for '18[/h] Wednesday, 14 September 2016


Marshall Pruett / Images by Pruett, IMS Photo

The Verizon IndyCar Series confirmed it will require Chevy and Honda to halt development of the aero kits currently in use and carry those kits over, unchanged, for the 2017 season. As RACER revealed months ago, the series will freeze both kits in the specification used through the end of the current season and begin work on the creation of a new, universal aero kit that will be introduced for 2018.
Just as the spec Dallara aero kit was mandatory for every engine supplier to use from 2012-14, the universal kit will become the one and only bodywork package once it is designed, produced and distributed.
According to IndyCar's president of competition, the shift away from custom aero kits has been met with the full support of the paddock.
"There has been no pushback; actually there's been a lot of enthusiasm from all our partners, all our stakeholders," Jay Frye told RACER. "Just like on everything else we have done, we have talked to them for a long time now to come up with a solution with this idea going forward."
With both manufacturers achieving relative parity with the performance and looks of their aero kits, moving to a standardized kit will help the series to entice new manufacturers who will only be required to bring engines to the series.
"One of our biggest goals we stated numerous times, is about getting another engine partner to come in," Frye said. "The model, the way it currently sits, it would have been very hard to recruit another manufacturer to come into the sport because developing a custom aero kit package is a pretty big hurdle to overcome. Part of our process in coming to this decision has been from vetting this idea with other manufacturers that we have talked to. Ultimately, we want to be able to grow the sport through another engine partner coming in."
Frye says the series will develop the universal kit into 2017 with the goal of simplifying the standardized bodywork while maintaining the same general level of performance found today. Moving a greater portion of downforce production to the bottom of the car is also a priority.
"We are comfortable with, performance wise, where both of our current partners are at, that we are able to do this in 2017, regroup and come in 2018, come up with a more universal aero kit that we can go forward with that performs like what we have now," he added.
"Part of the goal is making it where the cars aren't as aero dependent on the top side, and adjusting it so there's more downforce on the bottom, less parts and pieces to create debris issues and different things. That is something we are working hard to come up with. Introducing it in 2018 bought us some more time, and we're trying to come up with a clear-cut path for the short term, three to five years."
Once IndyCar has settled on the shape and performance standards for the new aero kit, it will solicit bids to produce the bodywork and award a new contract to its chosen constructor.
The most encouraging news could be IndyCar's approach to shaping the universal kit. The Dallara DW12 has rarely been accused of pleasing the eye, and with a chance to address its visual shortcomings, Frye says everything from getting rid of the overhead air intake to ditching the rear bumper pods is being considered.
"Absolutely; a big part of the goal, cosmetically, is it has to be really cool, and that is something we are working hard to do," he said. "Will it look drastically different than the current car? Yes. Performance wise, we have goals we want to obtain, but can that be done while changing the look of the cars in this exercise? Yes.
"We got more of a clean sheet approach for 2018, where there are many people currently involved to come up with what that solution will look like, and we are

 

F1 aerodynamics is here:
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