Indy Lights: New chassis being readied for first test

The brand-new Dallara IL15 Indy Lights chassis is days away from turning its first laps and just over a week from conducting its first test.

"We're expecting the first 4-cylinder turbo engine from AER to arrive shortly, and then we'll finish putting the first car together and go to Putnam Park for a systems test and shakedown," Indy Lights series promoter Dan Andersen told RACER.

Provided everything goes according to plan, the series will take the car to Mid-Ohio where it will spend Monday, Aug. 4, the day after the Verizon IndyCar Series event wraps, turning its first laps in anger.

"Conor Daly is going to be in the car for us at Putnam and Mid-Ohio, and we're really excited about having him help test and develop the car," Andersen continued. "We've invited all of the current Indy Lights teams, some new owners coming in, some others that have expressed an interest, and a bunch of drivers to see the car in action."

Dallara's engineers will oversee the test, and Andersen's Indy Lights technical staff, comprised of former open-wheel mechanics and crew chiefs, will run the IL15.

Priced at $234,700 for a rolling chassis, (minus wheels, data system, and brakes), and another $88,000 for an annual engine lease, the IL15 replaces the 12-year-old Dallara Infiniti Pro Series chassis which has become a bit of a joke in open-wheel circles. The old IPS car allows teams to run at a very economical rate each season, but due to the age of the chassis, interest has waned and car counts have hovered between eight and 12.

Compared to the Dallara IPS chassis that was designed for oval racing and later updated to run on road and street courses, Andersen hopes the IL15, which was designed for oval and road racing, will usher in a new era of prosperity for the series.

"We're still pinning down new teams for next year, but we have several new teams committed, hope to have most of the current teams join in, and have had a lot of interest in what this car will mean to the Indy Lights Series as we work to rebuild the final step of the Mazda Road To Indy ladder," he said.

At least two IndyCar teams are in discussions to join the Indy Lights series in 2015, and while some of the current teams have been vocal about the costs to upgrade from the IPS car to the IL15, Andersen says the series has no option other than to park its aging fleet in favor of a modern chassis and engine.

"You have a definite future with no change, and that's collapse," he noted. "I know it isn't going to be easy for some, but if they have relationships with a bank, the car will be paid for long before its 5-year lifespan is over, and Dallara is also offering a 3-year payment plan to ease the costs of making the transition. We think once people see the car, see its speed and how well it compares for cost and performance with other cars of its kind in Europe, a lot of their concerns will be eased."