The past few decades the Indianapolis 500 has been compared to being as dangerous and thrilling as the old gladiator fights in the Roman Coliseum, and as technologically up-to-date as the NASA Space Program. No one can say that anymore, we all know you cannot say such a thing anymore about the race or the IndyCar Series. Although I will say the racing is still exciting to watch, the technology is still nearly the same as 15 years ago. You don't see people interested in the technical part of racing as you did in the popular days of CART.. The reason is because there is nothing new with the technology in the chassis, and engines. This is where "Innovation" has just took a stand still.
Starting with the fact is if we actually had competition between different chassis makers, it would gain the attention of more fans that want to pay attention to the technology the series has to offer. There is nothing innovative about being a spec series, nothing at all. We learn to things on what is safe, and what is faster to use on the cars by allowing more than one manufacturer in the IndyCar Series. Why do you think the cars got so safe, and continued to be faster up until the Mid-1990's. The reason is simple, they had chassis competition. They didn't have a car that is built just to make more money. The fact is this car might cause the teams to spend more money than originally thought, and I think the people making and designing the cars know this to. There are some obvious obscurities to the Dallara just by taking a quick look of their car itself.
- If you look at the design of the "bumpers" on the back of the DW-12, if there was a decent amount of impact to the rear of the car, the bumper would then be dislodged in the tire. Causing the rubber of the tire to tear up and cause more damage in the rear of the car. It would destroy things like the wing, and practically anything on the back of the car.
- Another thing is that the main chassis' bodywork is wider than the wheel base of the cars. In the past since the wheels stick out first, only the tires would hit the wall causing little if no damage. Now with the DW-12, if the car even just brushes the wall it will destroy bodywork, which would need replacing each time that happens. Also it may cause damage to things such as the suspension, considering those cars are going at speeds in access of 220mph at certain tracks.
Just those two reasons alone could cause some type of money problems in the near future. That is just my opinion so we'll see as the season roles along. This car has caused way too many proven problems so far though. Dallara has not yet provided any IndyCar team with enough spare parts for each car they race. For teams that have incidents during the race, they may not be able to continue racing due to the fact the they can't replace something like the rear backing plates, or bumpers. This is simply, because the manufacturer of this $500,000 car cannot provide enough spare parts. I would think teams are fumed, just because there are not enough spare parts to run efficiently.
Also I would love to see the rules for the engines opened up a lot. If they want to stop pack racing, and for the cars to run faster, and sound different from each other, this would then solve the problem. I think different types of engines such as allowing diesel engines, V6, and V8 engines, and even manufacturers going to the extreme with V12 engines, would allow for an incredible variety, making IndyCar even more the most diverse racing series in the world. There is nothing innovative about a V6, 750hp engine. Saying this, because BMW had a four cylinder racing engine going over 1000hp in the 1980's. This engine is a huge step back from anything they have used previously. Everyone still practically has the same engines since the rules restrain for trying new things. Some argue that something like this could never happen again, that it's impossible to allow for a variety. It is plausible that we could have this again, I mean look at the American Le Mans Series, and the 24 Hueres du Mans, they currently have all of the engines I just previously mentioned. Allowing new chassis and engines could offer different manufacturers to use their products and ideas to test on the track again, and allow them to be certified to allow use in the real world.
This leads to my next conclusion, the Indianapolis 500, and CART used to allow companies to test their products with cars on the race track for testing. If this product was then approved safe by the AAA through testing at the race tracks, the product could then be used by the public. Companies such as Bardahl, or Cummins used to pour millions in to the series just so they could test their products, and promote them through the IndyCar Series. Now there is none if that. If IndyCar would allow for companies to test and run their products in the IndyCar Series again, I'm sure many companies that deal in making automotive products would then start bringing money to the series. This would directly allow for "Innovation" it would allow for IndyCar to start being the "testing facility" for products, and the promotional tool for many companies. Many companies in return would provides millions of dollars for the IndyCar Series, and would allow to reach out to a larger fan base saying that they mention IndyCar while advertising their products. Even now you see companies such as Bardahl mention they won races such as the Indianapolis 500, even that being over 60 years ago.
These opportunities can be taken and opened up in the IndyCar Series in the near future, this would allow the IndyCar Series to go back where they used to be in technological advances in the automotive world. New ideas and creations would allow new things to change not only the series, but the whole world by affecting everyone. More money, and excitement would allow for more interest in the sport. You will see more diehards than just the casual fan you see now. These are just part of what they could do to restore the "World's Most Diverse Racing Series."
