By Andrew Cutler
November 17 2010

The bosses of IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as the mayor of Indianapolis and several state government officals were on hand yesterday as Dallara Automobili broke ground on the construction site of their Speedway, IN facility. When completed, the plant will make the base 'Safety Cell (main chassis, driver's cockpit and engine mount)' for the 2012 spec IndyCar. 

The 100,000 sqaure foot facility will be Dallara's first plant outside of it's hometown of Parma, Italy. By basing it's IndyCar operations just down thew street from IMS, Dallara will significantly cut the price of it's car to the teams.

Company founder Gianpaulo Dallara, who was on hand for the ceremony, ultimately sees the new plant as doing more than just producing the IndyCar Safety Cell. “A company can’t survive by doing only one type of car,” he told reporters. “Our goal is to not only have the factory to build the new car and even the new Indy Light (car) but also to have a facility to use the next generation simulator that we are developing in Italy. We also hope to have a program for student at Indiana University who want to be an engineer in motorsports.”

Meanwhile, other journalists at the groundbreaking were asking ICS president Randy Bernard if there would be more IndyCar engine manufacturer announcements anytime soon. "I think we're out of time," he replied. "We've got a couple (Honda and Chevrolet) and I want to wait to do it right rather than rush it." With rumors of a possible Fiat/Cosworth alliance to bring Alfa Romeo-badged engines to the series still floating about and Lotus still expressing some interest in one day adding an engine program (they will supply 'aero kits' in 2012), he does remain hopeful of additional powerplants eventually joining the series. "I think you could add another couple more for 2013."