11/02: That's supposed to be an Indycar??
Delta Wing Racing Cars, a group reportedly funded by a several IRL team owners, recently released images of a 2012 IndyCar concept:
I don't know what you think, but I agree with most fans on Trackforum, a big Indycar fan community , who are against the design almost 3 to 1.
There's no doubt the IndyCar Series is struggling. But one of the few things that IndyCar has going for it is the identity of the cars. When I talk to people that aren't into racing, they don't know a thing about the current IndyCar Series, but they know what a Indycar looks like. They associate a modern, low profile, four wheeled, open cockpit car with exposed wheels and wings with an Indycar. Tossing that identity out the window seems risky at best.
Perhaps IndyCar is trying to start with a clean slate and appeal to a new generation of younger fans. But I don't think this car will be particularly effective in that regard, and an unscientific poll at trackforum agrees. Kids may like Batman and rocket ships, but that does not mean they'll follow a series that races cars that look like that. This thing does not even look cool and futuristic; it looks like something out of a bad 70's movie!
I'm not against innovation in racing, in fact I'm all for it, particularly in a series like Indycar which has always brought about innovation. But this change is not like rear engines, or wings or ground effect tunnels. This is a dramatic change to a new SPEC car that bares pretty much no resemblance to the past 100 years of Indycar racing. And while the designers claim greater efficiency, safety and cost reduction with the delta wing car, I fail to see how these improvements require a car to look like the delta wing car does.
Here's some concepts from Dallara and Swift for the 2012 Indycar that make similar claims:
I beleive people are more likely to follow sports they can relate to. What if IndyCar allowed and promoted gas vs. electric powerpants? I think that's something people can relate to and something that can generate interest within the mainstream media. Delta wings? Not so much.
I don't know what you think, but I agree with most fans on Trackforum, a big Indycar fan community , who are against the design almost 3 to 1.
There's no doubt the IndyCar Series is struggling. But one of the few things that IndyCar has going for it is the identity of the cars. When I talk to people that aren't into racing, they don't know a thing about the current IndyCar Series, but they know what a Indycar looks like. They associate a modern, low profile, four wheeled, open cockpit car with exposed wheels and wings with an Indycar. Tossing that identity out the window seems risky at best.
Perhaps IndyCar is trying to start with a clean slate and appeal to a new generation of younger fans. But I don't think this car will be particularly effective in that regard, and an unscientific poll at trackforum agrees. Kids may like Batman and rocket ships, but that does not mean they'll follow a series that races cars that look like that. This thing does not even look cool and futuristic; it looks like something out of a bad 70's movie!
I'm not against innovation in racing, in fact I'm all for it, particularly in a series like Indycar which has always brought about innovation. But this change is not like rear engines, or wings or ground effect tunnels. This is a dramatic change to a new SPEC car that bares pretty much no resemblance to the past 100 years of Indycar racing. And while the designers claim greater efficiency, safety and cost reduction with the delta wing car, I fail to see how these improvements require a car to look like the delta wing car does.
Here's some concepts from Dallara and Swift for the 2012 Indycar that make similar claims:
I beleive people are more likely to follow sports they can relate to. What if IndyCar allowed and promoted gas vs. electric powerpants? I think that's something people can relate to and something that can generate interest within the mainstream media. Delta wings? Not so much.
Michael Mork wrote: