The IZOD IndyCar Series has set a May 25 deadline for prospective aerodynamic kit suppliers to commit to the program for 2013 and 2014. IndyCar released final regulations to interested companies May 14.
The aero kit concept was announced along with the introduction of the 2012 Dallara chassis in July 2010 to allow visible bodywork diversity. Cars will be differentiated by their shape, with the car name incorporating the supplier for brand identity.
“I think each one of the manufacturers, both Honda and Chevrolet, are committed to doing aero packages,” said Roger Penske. “We obviously will be recipients of the Chevrolet package. I think that's going to be interesting.
“I'm really happy the series made the decision to have new cars and engines this year, and then we can have the aero kits for 2013, which will be another exciting time for the fans," added Penske, who was on of the team owners most vocal about the need to delay the introduction of aero kits, which had originally been scheduled to be introduced this season. "We didn't know what we had in cars and engines until now. The aero kits will be an added advantage for the sport and interest as we go into 2013.”
"We've had great interest from multiple companies," said Will Phillips, IndyCar's vp of technology. "Some companies may see this as exciting training for their engineers or as a means to showcase their hardware for aerodynamic development. Others, such as automotive companies, may see this as a way to enhance their North American brand presence."
Approved suppliers will design and develop the aero kits, and upon league approval, may charge teams a maximum of $75,000 per complete kit. Areas open for development for road/street/short ovals include sidepods, front- and rear-wing endplates, flaps and the engine cover. The speedway configuration includes sidepods, front- and rear-wing endplates and the engine cover.
No team may run more than three homologated aero kits within the two-year period, with one being the 2012 Dallara road/street/short oval and superspeedway aero kit.
IndyCar says a list of approved suppliers will be announced in June, with on-track testing tentatively scheduled for January 2013.