INDYCAR: New chassis project timeline set

The process of defining the replacement for Dallara's 2012 DW12 chassis will begin once IndyCar's new universal body kit has been introduced later this year. As the first step in a new five-year plan, the universal bodywork, which will replace custom aero kits made by Chevy and Honda in 2018, was commissioned to ease the introduction of new engine manufacturers to the series.

Once the universal kit is finalized to the point of going into mass production, IndyCar competition president Jay Frye says the next stage of the five-year plan will involve developing the specific criteria and date to replace the DW12.

"We have a five-year path, with the first four years mapped out," Frye told RACER. "We're staying with aero kits for 2017, going to the new bodywork for everyone in 2018, and by 2019, we should know the status of having a new engine partner and have them understand how the universal car is working.

"So we could stay with the current chassis through 2020 and look to do something new in 2021, or extend that if that's what the market calls for. The exact time for a new chassis is one area where we know the general window to consider going down that path, but we're not ready at this point to put an exact date on it."

"We've had a lot of interest from people wanting to design and manufacture the 2018 bodywork," he added. "And the cool thing is, we've told all of them that if you aren't the one chosen to build it, there's another opportunity to do a new chassis as early as 2021. Once the 2018 car is track testing and moving like we want it go later in the year, we'll shift our focus to the 2021 chassis opportunity. Again, it could end up being 2022, but right now, we're referring to the first chance for a new chassis as 2021."