The two IndyCar engine manufacturers Honda and Chevrolet are to make their own body kits from the 2015 season.
The body kits will compliment the already existing Dallara kit for the DW12 with manufacturers tasked with making both Oval and Street/Road Course kits.
“Aero kits will improve the diversity of the fan experience and renew technical engagement, while providing a controlled cost structure,” said Derrick Walker, president of competition and operations at IndyCar.
Teams will be charged $75,000 for each body kit, making the set a grand total of $150,000 excluding fasteners for teams to attach the kits to the chassis. There will also be upgrades going into the 2016 season which have been priced at $15,000 each alongside spec parts produced by Dallara which will still be mandated even after the rule change.
The hope is that the kits will better differentiate cars from each engine stable as IndyCar chiefs are allowing Honda and Chevrolet relaxed parameters in order to build their aero parts.
“We are excited to be an IndyCar-approved supplier of an aero kit for our Chevrolet-powered teams beginning with the 2015 racing season,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet Racing Program Manager for IndyCar Series. “It is a unique situation in non-production based series to provide engines and aerodynamic body kits. This will allow Chevrolet to impact a wider bandwidth of car performance which comes with increased responsibility to our teams to put them in a position to win. We are confident that our collective team of technical partners are capable, enabled and focused to succeed.”
At the moment areas open for development include sidepods and engine cover for all tracks as well as front wing main plane and end plates on the ovals.
These announcements go alongside the announcement by Honda that their single turbo engine from the last two years will be replaced with a twin turbo V6 to bring it alongside the existing Chevrolet product.
