A new IndyCar that’s driver friendly
The IndyCar organization unveiled a new chassis design for this year’s race series that seems to correct some problems drivers griped about in the previous version. As explained by driving legend Mario Andretti, who was on-hand for the event, “Downforce lets you go quicker through corners, but it creates turbulence. Drivers would tell me, ‘I can’t get close to the guy in front of me.’ Reducing the surface aerodynamics which creates turbulence is a big step forward.” What Andretti was referring to is a reconfiguration of the front and rear wings on the new design that reduces their role in generating downforce. But the new design lowers the car floor slightly to boost ground effects. Other changes include movement of side pods forward on the chassis, seen as giving a larger crush zone which will boost driver safety. Josef Newgarden, who won the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series championship (seen here being interviewed), gave his take on the new design, saying it “looks more like an Indy car should.”
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