IndyCar Is Getting Rid of Aerokits to Entice More Engine Manufacturers

From Road & Track

In 2015, IndyCar introduced what it dubbed "aerokits," which were manufacturer-specific components that would differentiate the look of the Dallara DW12 chassis depending on if you used a Honda or Chevrolet engine.

There were people who thought this was a great idea. There were many who thought it was a bad idea. There was one team owner that I spoke to that thought it was a waste of money and that nobody on the street would notice the difference.

That team owner was correct. What it did was drive up costs, didn't improve the racing, and the kits ended up looking so similar that nobody could really tell which was which.

Now, Racer reports that aerokits are going away, and nobody is upset.

The plan has a few facets. First, aerokit design would be locked in at the end of 2016 for one last run in 2017. Then, in 2018, a new universal aerokit would be given to all the teams. Other areas that are currently either spec or blocked off for development might become open to the teams.

So why will IndyCar do this?

The real reason is that aerokits make the threshold of entry for new teams and, more importantly, new engine suppliers much higher than it would be otherwise. If a new engine supplier wants to enter the series, they are on the hook for engines and bodywork for cars. For companies that want to promote engine tech, it having to make an aerokit really doesn't make any sense.

Right now, with just Honda and Chevy making engines, IndyCar's field is split 50:50. Honda and Chevy have made huge commitments to the series, but they also can't supply half the field forever, so they've been pushing IndyCar to get a third engine manufacturer to get a three way split going.

Of course, IndyCar did have a third supplier when Lotus entered the series in 2012, but the engine was such a disaster that teams saddled with the powerplant would have been better off not running at all. IndyCar has made some gains in popularity recently, so perhaps a big player or players would jump in if the aerokits were removed.

The only way to find out if to make it happen. That one team owner I spoke to must be unbelievably happy about this.