IndyCar delivers ERS units early

The NTT IndyCar Series has begun to distribute its new energy recovery systems to the 10 full-time teams and 27 season-long entries that will use them in testing at the Milwaukee Mile on June 11 and go hybrid racing on July 5-7 at Mid-Ohio.

Built by Chevrolet and Honda, the custom IndyCar ERS package, which makes use of a motor generator unit -- the Empel 180 -- overseen by Team Chevy and an energy storage system -- comprised of 21 supercapacitors supplied by Skeleton -- made by Honda Racing Corporation US, is received by Team Chevy IndyCar engine builder and partner Ilmor Engineering.

Under direction from IndyCar, Ilmor assembles the bellhousings that carry the ERS units as a spec component, places them in portable crates, and has delivered the first batch of 27 to a garage in Gasoline Alley at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for teams to come and retrieve.

Once teams are done with the Indy 500 and start preparing for next weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix, they will have ample time -- thanks to all of the partners involved getting the completed bellhousings ready one week earlier than expected -- to plan their work ahead of the Milwaukee test.