IndyCar: Series modifies aero kit update timeline

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According to Tino Belli, IndyCar’s director of aerodynamic development, a recent meeting led to a change in those plans.

“Originally, if a manufacturer was behind, they could use their boxes in 2015, but we reverted to the original rule we had in place where manufacturers can only do updates in 2016 because we grew wary of the teams having to pay for upgrades this year,” Belli told RACER.

In addition to keeping aero kit costs under control during their debut season, Belli cited another concern that led to the update delay.

“We wanted the manufacturers, if they used a box in 2015, to ask permission and we’d do checks and such,” he continued. “And they felt it would slow the process down due to the short season and that it might flip-flop the process where one person had an advantage in the beginning of the season, and the other party wouldn’t have time to respond.”

Belli referenced a beleaguered former engine supplier while describing the one scenario where an aero kit manufacturer can possibly receive permission to produce an update in 2015.

“Right now, the only recourse a manufacturer has if they are behind is a force majeure clause which is if they can prove to us they are in a position where it’s going to be to the detriment of the racing series – let’s call it a ‘Lotus’ clause – we will work with them to do whatever is needed to catch up, but not to the point of jumping ahead in 2015,” he noted.

With the thousands of hours spent by Chevy and Honda to refine their new aero kits, Belli does not expect to see update requests come across his desk this year.

“To be honest, I think it’s an unlikely situation,” he said. “Both manufacturers are very competent and do very good work. I expect one to have a slight advantage at one type of course over another type of course, and over a season, it should average out.”

Although we’re a year away from updates being introduced, Belli does not anticipate future changes being reveled by the series once those updates are approved and bolted onto the field of Indy cars. It should bring back a tradition that has been lost in the series as followers will have a reason to inspect the Chevy and Honda aero kits at each round and look for new additions.

“With the way IndyCar has to protect the manufacturers’ intellectual property,” Belli said, “the fans and the journalists will have to stay alert…”  ​