More 2018 IndyCar bodywork images released

An overhead shot was also included, which shows the significant departure coming to the sidepods, engine cover, and rear of the Chevy- and Honda-powered cars next year. The switch from an overhead air intake and tall engine cover to low-line bodywork over the engine is best viewed from the side, but the aerial shot does add detail with the louvers that sit atop the sidepods to extract hot air from the engine bay and radiators.

The most notable change is in the shape of the sidepods, which uses a proven "Coke bottle" profile that tapers toward the back of the car. The stock Dallara DW12 bodywork used from 2012-14, and the aero kits that followed from 2015-17 from Honda and Chevy (Chevy pictured below), used an inverted Coke bottle shape with narrow inlets for radiator ducting at the leading edge that expanded toward the back of the tub to accommodate the water and oil radiators.

The upcoming sidepod change, and the reason for the more traditional shape, was to move the radiators forward – alongside the cockpit – to improve aerodynamic efficiency and to provide more crushable material next to the driver in the event of a hard side impact.

Despite the release of new renderings, it's believed the 2018 superspeedway bodywork has evolved to some degree since the images were produced. The final version of the bodywork is not expected to be homologated until later in the year, which means more details changes are likely to be made after the superspeedway and road course/short oval packages have been put through rigorous track testing.