Wheldon Shakes Down New IndyCar Chassis and Engine

Just the Facts:

• The 2012 IndyCar racecar debuted Monday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
• Dan Wheldon, who won his second Indy 500 this year, was the driver.
• The new Dallara chassis was powered by a 2.2-liter turbocharged Honda V6.

LEXINGTON, Ohio — Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon on Monday took the first laps in a prototype of the new-generation IndyCar chassis and engine at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The new chassis will replace the present Dallara-built model, which has been in use since 2003.

The car was powered by a turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda V6, one of several optional engines that will replace the 3.5-liter normally aspirated Honda V8 that has been the series standard since 2006.

The session, held the day after the IndyCar Series race at Mid-Ohio, launched a 12-day schedule of testing at various tracks. The 1.5-mile high-speed oval Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth will be the next site.

No lap times were disclosed from the closed session, and no comments from the driver were reported.

"It's a lighter car, it has more horsepower and it has a lot less drag than the current car, so naturally on the right day it will go quicker, and that's something that the fans have to look forward to," project director Tony Cotman said in a press release.

The new rolling chassis will have multiple add-on body components around the core unit, specifically designed for the type of track on which the car will be competing. Competing manufacturers will produce these components.

Inside Line says: IndyCar took a different approach to its new chassis and engine in comparison to NASCAR, whose Car of Tomorrow project resulted in a machine that was more spec than anything else. At least IndyCar is trying to achieve some variety in appearance and powertrains.