Category IndyCar Series Predecessor Dallara IR-05 | Constructor Dallara | |
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Designer(s) Luca Pignacca
Sam Garrett
Andrea Toso Chassis Carbon fiber monocoque with honeycomb kevlar structure Suspension (front) Double A-arm, pushrod, with third spring and anti-roll bar | ||
The Dallara DW12 is a formula racing car developed and produced by Italian manufacturer Dallara for use in the IndyCar Series. Officially designated as IR12, it was developed for use in the 2012 IndyCar Series season, replacing the aging Dallara IR5 chassis and would be used for the next six seasons until its successor is introduced in 2021 due to the series' philosophy of upgrading its chassis every nine years since 2012. The DW12 was introduced after the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship. The chassis is named after Dan Wheldon, who was killed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2011.
Contents
Starting in 2012 the series moved to using a common chassis supplied by Dallara. Using a single supplier to supply chassis was introduced as a cost control method, and IndyCar has negotiated a fixed cost of $349,000 per chassis. The new specification of chassis also improved safety, the most obvious feature being the partial enclosure around the rear wheels.
This chassis is intended to support multiple aerodynamic kits, but the introduction of these was delayed until 2015, with Honda and Chevrolet supplying the alternatives to the Dallara package.
On 18 October, Italian manufacturer Dallara confirmed that the 2012 series car would be named after the late IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon (DW12) in honour of his work testing the car before his death two days prior at Las Vegas, with the new bumper/nerf bar section being featured, it was designed to prevent many similar single-seater crashes such as the one that killed Wheldon. The nomenclature is similar to that of the old Formula One team Ligier, whose cars were labeled JSxx in memory of French F1 driver Jo Schlesser after his death at the 1968 French Grand Prix.
Dallara cars have won twelve of the sixteen Indianapolis 500s they have contested. In 2013, Dallara reached its milestone 200th Indy car victory at Barber.
The ICONIC Project
The 2012 season saw the implementation of the Indy Racing League's new ICONIC Plan (Innovative, Competitive, Open-wheel, New, Industry-relevant, Cost-effective), the biggest change to the sport in recent history. The car used through 2011, a 2003/2007-model Dallara IR-05, and naturally aspirated V8 engines (required since 1997) were permanently retired. The ICONIC committee was composed of experts and executives from racing and technical fields: Randy Bernard (INDYCAR CEO), William R. Looney III (military), Brian Barnhart (INDYCAR), Gil de Ferran (retired Indy 500 champion), Tony Purnell (motorsport), Eddie Gossage (Texas Motor Speedway), Neil Ressler, Tony Cotman (NZR Track Consulting) and Rick Long (motorsport). IndyCar accepted proposals from BAT Engineering, Dallara, DeltaWing, Lola and Swift for chassis design. On July 14, 2010, the final decision was made public, with organisers accepting the Dallara proposal.
New chassis
Under the new ICONIC regulations, all teams will compete with a core rolling chassis, called the "IndyCar Safety Cell", developed by Italian designer Dallara. Teams will then outfit the chassis with separate body work, referred to as "Aero Kits", which consist of front and rear wings, sidepods, and engine cowlings. Development of Aero Kits is open to any manufacturer, with all packages to be made available to all teams for a maximum price. ICONIC committee member Tony Purnell gave an open invitation to car manufacturers and companies such as Lockheed Martin and GE to develop kits.
The IndyCar Safety cell will be capped at a price of $349,000 and will be assembled at a new Dallara facility in Speedway, Indiana. Aero Kits will be capped at $70,000. Teams have the option of buying a complete Dallara safety cell/aero kit for a discounted price.
On May 12, 2011, Dallara unveiled the first concept cars, one apiece in oval and road course Aero Kit configuration.
On April 30, 2011, IndyCar owners voted 15–0 to reject the introduction of multiple Aero Kits for the 2012 season, citing costs. Owners expressed their desire to introduce the new chassis/engines for 2012, but have all participants use the Dallara aerodynamic package in 2012, and delay the introduction of multiple aero kits until 2013. On August 14, 2011, IndyCar confirmed that the introduction of multiple Aero Kits would be delayed until 2013 for "economic reasons," and furthermore, it was put off for 2013 as well. Chevrolet and Lotus had already announced their intention to build aero kits.
2011 Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon carried out the first official test of the Dallara chassis at Mid-Ohio in August 2011. Following Wheldon's death at the season-ending race in Las Vegas, Dallara announced that the 2012 chassis would be named the DW12 in his honor.
Debut
The first official test of the Dallara IR12 chassis was carried out by Dan Wheldon at Mid-Ohio on August 8, 2011. Phase I of testing involved Wheldon, and was planned to involve three road courses and three ovals, over a total of about twelve days. The second test was held August 18 at Barber, and the third was held on the USGP road course at Indianapolis on September 1. Oval tests took place in September at Iowa and Indianapolis.
Honda (Scott Dixon) and Chevrolet (Will Power) began Phase II of on-track testing at Mid-Ohio in early October. A scheduled test at Las Vegas was cancelled after the fatal crash of Dan Wheldon at the venue, resulting in Dallara renaming the chassis, a practice adopted from Ligier, which named its race cars "JS" for Jo Schlesser. Testing resumed in late October and continued through February at several venues including Sebring, Fontana, Homestead, Phoenix, and Sonoma. Lotus first took to the track on January 12 at Palm Beach, and testing by individual teams began on January 16.
A full-field official open test took place on March 5–6 and 8–9, 2012 at Sebring International Raceway.
The Dallara DW12's race debut was at the 2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 25, 2012. Team Penske's Will Power won the inaugural pole and Helio Castroneves won the first race with the DW12.
Full-field oval open tests also took place on April 4, 2012, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and May 7, 2012, at Texas Motor Speedway.
The car's Indianapolis debut came in the 2012 Indianapolis 500. In its first three 500s the car has seen 136 lead changes, including a track-record 68 in 2013.
Aero kit (2015–2017)
Honda and Chevrolet introduced aero kits designed by them. It was meant to be implemented in 2012 but was delayed to 2015. Chevrolet was often quicker than Honda, and also won the engine championship.
The first official test of Chevrolet's Aero Kit was carried by Will Power on October 17, 2014, at Circuit of the Americas. Dallara DW12 Chevrolet Aero Kit made a pre-season testing debut at NOLA Motorsports Park on March 14, 2015. The Dallara DW12 Chevrolet Aero Kit's race debut was at the 2015 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 29, 2015. Team Penske's Will Power won the inaugural pole and Juan Pablo Montoya won the first race with the DW12 Chevrolet Aero Kit.