I've been noticing how we maybe getting Multiple Engines for the future. But now the question about Chassis. Some people prefer staying single, some people prefered at least 2 to start off, some wanted more than 2 (multiple chassis). Vote your choice and have shed some light in it.

My opinion here: my concern here is, with both multiple engines, there isn't much diversity in chassis when we decided to use single. What makes Indycar quite distinct instead of looking exactly the same car (Same Chassis) is that most cars aren't looking the same, their handling is different, the teams can work with, affordability. Indycar needs to at least leasen the requirements of the chassis so that it favors the competition, variety and cost-effective.

The series shouldn't somehow promote monopolization of Chassis (Dallara) by simply relying on concept cars.

Also The requirements we have and keep relying on the current and the only chassis on implementing the wheelbase, aerodynamics and so fourth seemed to render racing worse. Maybe it's time for the new car soon, not later.

i would love multiple chassis and engines.

not sure it makes financial sense, though. but in the world where money grows on trees, i am all for it.

1seriesfan - 09 June 2009 05:39 PM

i would love multiple chassis and engines.

not sure it makes financial sense, though.

I concur. While I would prefer to see the return of multiple chassis manufacturers... the truth is that the IRL already tried that with the current IR5 chassis and it actually resulted in increased costs for teams.

The G-Force/Panoz IR5 chassis became progressively less competitive with the Dallara IR5 despite both being designed at the same time. Several teams started abandoning the Panoz IR5 in favor of the Dallara IR5 despite the IRL asking teams to keep running the Panoz chassis.

"The teams have gone their own way in preferring the Dallara, but the Panoz car is perfectly legal to run the entire 2007 IRL season." - IRL Official Les MacTaggert

Ethanol, Honda Power and Panoz “No Problem”: Rumors of Incompatibility of Panoz Chassis Debunked on IRL Call (February 7, 2007)

Despite the IRL's overt encouragement... the Panoz was completely abandoned by all full-time teams after the 2006 IndyCar season with the most notable being Rahal-Letterman Racing which started their switch from Panoz to Dallara mid-season. The IRL then went into damage control mode and stated that Dallara had become the exclusive chassis supplier... but that was merely spin as Panoz simply failed to keep their IR5 chassis competitive. The Panoz was then quietly mothballed by all part-time teams after the horrific Phil Giebler Panoz IR5 accident at Indianapolis in 2008. The Panoz itself was destroyed and Giebler was hospitalized for several days. The result? The 2009 Indianapolis 500 was the first race in the modern era to have a single chassis supplier.

post script: Target Chip Ganassi still travels with one of their Panoz IR5s in Target livery, but it is now relegated to being a static display for use by the Versus telecast to illustrate mechanical issues.

Harking back to those halcyon days before the "split" we had several Chassis and engines; racing was good, money available. Penski made some very competative chassis but then there was the dog. Reynard and Lola competed with each other, for a while Reynard was the way to go, Lola almost disapeared from the grid; then Lola brought a new chassis and Reynard did disappear.

If Panoz, Lola or Delarra want to play with the big boys (which Indy Car can and hopefully will be) then they have to keep their chassis competative. Right now Indy Car isn't really in a position to make demands of chassis manufacturers. There should be a call for proposals with a set of specs that DO NOT match the existing Dellara. Everybody gets new cars; whatever they want as set by the very broad specs. Buy from a supplier or build your own. Choose from the engines available (more than one) now go racing.

I voted, but I plead the 5th.

Multiple Engienes
Multiple Chassis
Multiple Tire Suppliers
V8s,V10s,V12s
Multiple Fuels

waterboy_09 - 13 June 2009 03:19 AM

Multiple Engienes
Multiple Chassis
Multiple Tire Suppliers
V8s,V10s,V12s
Multiple Fuels

How is Dale Coyne going to survive in a series as expensive as you're suggesting, particularly in the engine area?

That is a good point ChrisR, but you have to remember that youused to be able to run a stock block engine which reduced costs greatly and you culd fab your own chassis or run last years car with updates and still have a good chance. Smaller teams traditionally bought a chassis from a larger team and updated it and did quite well

In a perfect world it would be multiple chassis and multiple engines.

In reality the best we can hope for is one chassis and multiple engines with manufactures support.

I have said this in a couple threads now and I think multiple chassis is perfect. We also have plenty of multiple different chassis that I think can work. We have many many spec 2nd tier formula cars out there and I think if the IRL made a few simple rules a power to weight ratio rule an aerodynamic efficiency range and a fuel range rule. Teams would go out and have there choice of a bunch of brilliant chassis out there. I am sure we could get at least 3 different chassis from other series with different strengths and weaknesses that would cause great racing.

From what I gather through internet research and what my memory recalls is that the engine and chassis rules implemented at the IRL's inception were created to allow teams to purchase from the manufacturer of their choice at a set coast so all teams had access to equal equipment in order to allow for a more equal level of competition. Looking at the past few years it is obvious that the field still isn't equal and there is no choice. The rules were written at a different time in AOWR history that has long since passed need to be updated to reflect the current situation in regards to teams ability to create and develop. There must be a place in the middle where there is an option to purchase equipment from the manufacturer at a set price approved by the series as we have now and an ability for other teams to build something from the ground up with any budget they desire. In the past this didn't seem feasible because the "haves" had too much cash. Although Roger and Chip still have more cash than the rest of the field, do they really have an unlimited budget still? Not sure they have all that much cash to build from the ground up a new car or engine but it seems like they have the desire to do just that and try to beat each other not just on the track but in the shop. Why not give them a chance to build their own car and or engine package? They are already winning every week anyway? The manufacturers aren't coming back anytime soon so just let the teams that want to create do it. Roger and Chip are just racing each other right now and have the advantage anyway, let them race each other while racing against the Honda/Dallaras too. If they blow the field away it'll be no different than it is now except that there will be different cars on the track. Honda wants that competition anyway, or so they say. Seems like the series won't be able to lure manufacturers into developing engines at a set coast to the teams but Roger and Chip have connections with other manufacturers and it seems like that is the way they'll be drawn in. If that is the case and TCGR and TPR draw in some new blood then the rules can be evaluated in a few years in the event that Honda can no longer keep up with the other makes at a set price that is reasonable for the owners and the manufacturers. And if TCGR and TPR want to sell their developments it shouldn't be a problem, but it must be at the same coast or less of that set by the series for the other series suppliers. It seems like this would work as long as the series had the fall back engine supplier like Honda or perhaps something like Cosworth. Does any of this seem reasonable or is it all just crazy talk?