IRL: New Standards for Indy Racers in 1997

04/04/96

United Press International reported that the Indy Racing League is adopting new standards for it's race cars in 1997. Starting with next year's first IRL race, the Indy 200 at Walt Disney World, IRL racecars will have a new look, with the air scoops directly behind the drivers (like current F1 models). The new standard is expected to be structurally superior and highly competitive at about half the price of current models. The new standards eliminate some huge costs associated with gearbox and aerodynamic development.

Next year's IRL chassis will cost about $263,000, whereas the Lola, Reynard, Eagle, and Penske bodies that currently get used on the CART circuit cost about $420,000.

Unlike CART's series, the IRL series runs only on the traditional oval track of Indy racing, and can therefore take advantage of the need for only one basic setup for the chassis.

In addition to changes to the air scoops, the new chassis will have a smaller gas tank (35 gallons instead of 40), and the tub that surrounds the driver will be taller and wider.

The manufacturers of the new chassis will be Dallara Automobile of Italy, G Force of Britain, and Riley and Scott of Indianapolis, Indiana. Engines will be made by Oldsmobile and Nissan, Menard, or Ford and cost about $75,000--which is about half of what engines for the CART circuit cost.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel