Images from media.gm.com and trackforum.com
It’s no secret that we’ve never been fans of the DW-12, choosing instead to rather obstinately cling to the old fashioned belief that open wheel race cars should actually be open wheeled. As noted previously on this site, the current trend in IndyCar chassis design is neither visually pleasing nor true to the nature of the sport. Looking like something caught from the Marianas trench, IndyCar’s latest iteration is most decidedly not helpful to this eyeful end. We say nuts to that.
Image from media.gm.com
After great secrecy and build up to Chevy’s introduction of their aero kits, the reaction has been predictably underwhelming and justifiably so. Drawings, for goodness sake? Largely holding our pens on this point of the rather ungainly appearance of Chevy’s effort, that’s about to change. The road and short oval kits will supposedly provide a bit more speed, but judging by the artist depictions they look ugly, silly and needlessly new fangled.
“Winglets on stalks” is how one author described those things sticking out from the front wing of the car. They aren’t exactly what most fans of artistry on wheels had in mind as an upgrade over the dated, boxy and cumbersome Dallaras. Safety concerns notwithstanding, more mass on the rear wing/bumper isn’t what’s needed, either. Quite frankly the whole package looks somewhat ridiculous. Our acceptance of these changes can only improve over time, as our initial reaction couldn’t be any worse.
Image from Indy Race Reviewer
We have several important concerns. What will casual fans think who tune in to see these spiny, porcupine looking cars? Where’s the classic, sleek, distinctive look of the IndyCars of yore? As foolish as decaled NASCAR behemoths look banging into walls and each other at sub 200 mph speeds, we fear the new look IndyCars may appear even more laughable. That’s not good for racing.
Photo from nydailynews.com
This comes at the same time Billionaire Bernie’s F1 cars receive a much needed nose job. As others have noted, the number of debris cautions caused by knocked off nose winglets alone could outpace even NASCAR’s embarrassing level of race killing yellows. That is unless they’ve installed vacuums on those hulking rear pods. As usual, IndyCar can and should do better.
Image from Indy Race Reviewer
Aero kits shouldn’t look silly. The carnage they leave behind shouldn’t slow down races. Plainly we’re not pleased with this new version of IndyCars. To be charitable, they’re function over form and their functionality remains in question. Allow us to suggest a different name for them rather than aero kits. That is, “puffer fish kits.” They’re potentially as toxic as the dangerous deep ocean dweller and to fans with any aesthetic sense at all they’re equally as palatable. We only hope they’re not lethal to the sport.
Image from Indy Race Reviewer
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I sense just a little NASCAR hate! Call nascar what you want A-hole. Nascar could buy and sell Indy with the pocket lint left over in their wallet. Lets talk about foolish, driving around in a open cockpit with you skull sticking straight up out of the top of your car! That is foolish,and stupid. O yeah one more thing, sprint cup cars run way over 200 mph they had cars running high 220 in the early 80 douce! For safety they had slowed them down out of concern for the spectators! Indy has been and is still fading away! The new ugly as hell car isn’t going to fix that! Face it all you got is the Indy500 and it history. If not for that Indy would be long gone! Gee I wonder why the Indianapolis 500 track owners wanted to let the decaled foolish looking cars come race at their track?
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