Interesting Item on New Chassis in Indy Star (Merged)

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by HJJ

http://jalopnik.com/5804718/the-futu...er-be/gallery/

IMO, shows how ICONIC failed. I still vote for the DP-01 in oval racing/airbox config (last pic).

I know it's all done and dusted but this article istill interesting:

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/a...at-never-were/

I personaly think they made a big mistake not choosing Lola.

[gttouring]

The mistake was having one manufacturer or as it is worse dallara insisting the nose has to stay in place rather than building a crash structure after the pointy bit...

[bjohnsonsmith]

At least the Lola package included Indy Lights.

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by HJJ

http://jalopnik.com/5804718/the-futu...er-be/gallery/

IMO this just shows how ICONIC got it wrong. I'd still vote for the DP-01 in oval/airbox trim.

The problem is, the DP-01 was not suited for ovals. Had it been running this year in the hands of de Silvestro, Tung, and Carpenter, it would have severely injured, if not killed them.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

The problem is, the DP-01 was not suited for ovals. Had it been running this year in the hands of de Silvestro, Tung, and Carpenter, it would have severely injured, if not killed them.

I thought the DP-01 was designed to race on both oval and road/street courses.

I don't know about them a being killed or severely injured. The DP-01 has an incredibly strong safety cell which met with FIA specs and it incorporated the raised nose, producing a safer environment for the driver in the event of a head on collision with a wall or another car.

[christcc2]

Originally Posted by ptclaus98

The problem is, the DP-01 was not suited for ovals. Had it been running this year in the hands of de Silvestro, Tung, and Carpenter, it would have severely injured, if not killed them.

If used as originally designed, then yes, there could be some real safety issues.

But all it needs is a proper chassis update. Panoz is perfectly capable of doing that.

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I thought the DP-01 was designed to race on both oval and road/street courses.

I don't know about them a being killed or severely injured. The DP-01 has an incredibly strong safety cell which met with FIA specs and it incorporated the raised nose, producing a safer environment for the driver in the event of a head on collision with a wall or another car.

It was also designed for the n/a Honda lump and Champcar did have an oval test with the car.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I thought the DP-01 was designed to race on both oval and road/street courses.

I don't know about them a being killed or severely injured. The DP-01 has an incredibly strong safety cell which met with FIA specs and it incorporated the raised nose, producing a safer environment for the driver in the event of a head on collision with a wall or another car.

I can't remember all the details since it's been 4 years, but there were a few changes that were needed to make the DP 01 work for ovals and it was nothing that couldn't be done.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I can't remember all the details since it's been 4 years, but there were a few changes that were needed to make the DP 01 work for ovals and it was nothing that couldn't be done.

I know a guy who worked on the project when he was at Panoz. The nose configuration would need a complete overhaul, air intakes for cooling opened up, new wing assemblies built and an oval set of suspension bits (uprights, stabilizers, etc.) would all have to be designed within the geometry of the current road course chassis to make it work.

It could be done, but not cheap to do.

Due to the deal they cut with Champ Car to get the contract, Panoz would have had to sell spares for three seasons beyond the first season just to break even on the project.

After Champ Car folded, Panoz swallowed the loss hard (the argeement to settle with CCWS didn' even cover half of what they needed to break even), and tightented its belts by letting a number of people on their engineering and aerodynamics staffs go.

Their current "car construction staff" is a skeleton of what it was a few years ago...they don,t even have a designer on staff...just a draftsman who has no aero experience.

So anyone who thinks that the DP01 could rise from the ashes and Panoz could (or would even be interested in) make those changes to make the car oval worthy now needs to read this post again and think realistcally.

Could not currently happen, given the situation at Panoz...

Couldn't even happen on a bet in todays real world situation with Panoz

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

After Champ Car folded, Panoz swallowed the loss hard (the argeement to settle with CCWS didn' even cover half of what they needed to break even), and tightented its belts by letting a number of people on their engineering and aerodynamics staffs go.

Not true. Most everybody was still on board till after the Superleague cars were completed.

They also have a very good chance at getting some race car build projects in the near future.

[HJJ]

Well enough about chassis discussions, seems GM's lump is coming along nicely.......

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ine-on-target/

[HJJ]

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ine-on-target/

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

So anyone who thinks that the DP01 could rise from the ashes and Panoz could (or would even be interested in) make those changes to make the car oval worthy now needs to read this post again and think realistcally.

Could not currently happen, given the situation at Panoz...

Couldn't even happen on a bet in todays real world situation with Panoz

I don't think anyone was thinking that, just random talk about it. It's a five year old design now anyways.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by HJJ

Not true. Most everybody was still on board till after the Superleague cars were completed.

They also have a very good chance at getting some race car build projects in the near future.

The point I was making is that if anyone wanted to convert the DP01s now, that there are not sufficient personnel at Panoz to design and execute it.

To see how thin they are at Panoz right now, just look at how "successful" that Abruzzi GT car is thus far in the ALMS...

My friend was one of the people they let go when the Superleage cars were finished. I know exactly when they were released.

They do not have the necessary personnel on board at this time to properly execute and create an oval package for the DP01.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I don't think anyone was thinking that, just random talk about it. It's a five year old design now anyways.

In the days of spec. racing whether it is a five year old design, or a five month old design, it ain't new and it ain't old, except for being the same old-same old.

[gttouring]

Originally Posted by Bob Riebe

In the days of spec. racing whether it is a five year old design, or a five month old design, it ain't new and it ain't old, except for being the same old-same old.

heh heh
that's funny- I wonder what the IRL honchos really think of this? and the IPS cars are always so goofy looking with that nose and wing mustache
the old Buick Indy lights and Atlantics have looked better before

[ptclaus98]

Originally Posted by gttouring

heh heh
that's funny- I wonder what the IRL honchos really think of this? and the IPS cars are always so goofy looking with that nose and wing mustache
the old Buick Indy lights and Atlantics have looked better before

The front end isn't the problem with Indy Lights.

[jondownunder]

If you mean the rear wing, I have to agree.

The Lights car looks a whole lot better than the 2003 IRL monstrosity to my eyes, but still looks ridiculous with those wings. I don't know why they couldn't give it a similar aero package to the old World Series by Nissan car, which I believe it is closely related to?

In any case, give me the old Lolas any day...

[ptclaus98]

No, more like the whole thing from the roll bar back.

[gttouring]

Again heh heh ugly cars. Ugly and slow. All hail anything new at this point

[jondownunder]

I don't believe it's been mentioned in the IndyCar forum, but the DeltaWing will race after all, at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2012:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-24-hour-race/

[icemachine]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

I don't believe it's been mentioned in the IndyCar forum, but the DeltaWing will race after all, at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2012:

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...-24-hour-race/

That will be pretty damn cool.

[gttouring]

With lights and I bet a touch wider it looks good. This is gonna be neat. Is it special runner or LMP? Half horspower less consumption..gas?
Good to see, is ganassi not involved?

[gttouring]

Double post sorry.

[djb]

hey, now I am interested (being a LM fan)