'12 Dallara 'base' car

By Andrew Cutler
April 25 2011

Tony Cotman, the man in charge of getting the 2012 spec IndyCar off of the drawing board and onto the racetrack, has just released a video for indycar.com where he gives an overview of the progress. Here are the highlights, followed by a link to the full video. 

Cotman expects Dallara to have a prototype ready for on-track testing come July or August. INDYCAR will then begin rigorous testing of all of the chassis' components to make sure that they will stand up to full race stresses and distances.

The engine manufacturers - Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus - should have their 2012 spec engines ready to begin in-car 'shake-down' testing by September or October (they are already in dyno testing now). By that time, the production lines at Dallara's new Speedway IN facility should be turning out the 'base' chassis - as well as their version of the aero kits - in earnest, with the intention of getting at least one 2012 car to every team by year's end.

As for the other aero kit manufactuers (Chevy, Lotus, French sportcar mfg ORECA and, most recently, Honda have all expressed at least a preliminary interest), Cotman suggests that it could be as late as May of 2012 before we see their wings and sidepods showing up on the new Dallara chassis: No specific reason was given for this delay in his presentation.

Here is a link to watch the video for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPZfGhptmr8&feature=player_embedded