INDYCAR: Series conducting full-scale wind tunnel tests

The Verizon IndyCar Series is currently conducting full-scale wind tunnel testing of a Dallara DW12 dressed with aero kits from Chevy and Honda. Once that data gathering process is complete, the series will be able to benchmark the performance capabilities of both aero kits used in 2015, and to determine whether it will grant Honda's request to re-homologate portions of its aero kit for 2016.

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"The process is under way, we're acquiring 2015 aero kit data from both manufacturers, and a lot of groundwork is going on," IndyCar technology VP Will Phillips told RACER. IndyCar has been conducting the tests at Windshear's wind tunnel facility in North Carolina, and the process will help the series to independently verify Honda's claim that it needs to develop areas of its aero kits (that are not currently permitted) to be competitive.

Through its Honda Performance Development competition arm, the Japanese brand has asked IndyCar to invoke aero kit Rule 9.3, which would give HPD and its partners at Wirth Research the ability to fix whatever fundamental shortcomings they believe will serve as a significant disadvantage in 2016. Per the aero kit rules, aero kit manufacturers are allowed to modify items within three regions on their cars for next season, and as Honda has previously stated, their performance problems fall outside of those three areas.

Once IndyCar completes its testing at Windshear, it will review the aero data and approve or deny Honda's request. Phillips also says the series will continue the practice of full-scale wind tunnel testing as Chevy and Honda bring their updated aero kits online, and use the 2016 data to further refine the aero specification for certain tracks.

"We will be conducting further aero testing with next season's kits to benefit track specifications going forward," he noted. "We'll be doing a lot of work going forward where we might not have achieved exactly what we wanted in some areas during the previous season, and will be able to use our own information instead of relying on third-parties. This will certainly help us as we go forward to 2016 and the future."