The General Tells the Indy Star New Car Recommendation by June(ish)

Retired Gen. William Looney, USAF, who will lead the car search for the Izod IndyCar Series has gone on record with Curty Cavin over at the Indy Star. Better bust over there and see what His Lordship has to say re: the search for a car.

Please note all the constituencies the General says the car decision has to consider.

Comments

[GeorgeK]

Hmmmm, let's see, a committee evaluating differing needs by different user groups headed by a retired Air Force general with no prior interest in racing sounds like a formula for predetermined mediocrity.

How is the general EVER going to get past the rudder on the BAT to consider anything else???

Jus' sayin':)

[Andy Bernstein]

Talking tech seems to blow over most peoples' heads, and I'm not an engineer so maybe not qualified to try anyway.

But I fail to see how a race car constructor can approach a finalized chassis design when the power output, weight and configuration of the engine are all unknown variables.

If Honda is the only manufacturer with a genuine interest in IndyCar, doesn't that mean they fill the "ICONIC" chair as the engine expert?

That's the only specific mentioned so far: an engine expert will be invited. But Cavin indicates that the engine selection is not to be a task of the ICONIC panel.

So who is writing the engine spec, when will it be published, and why has this priority been relegated to a side note in public statements by the Series and in public discourse?

These are not trivial questions from a nitpicker. Mr. Toso of Dallara made the same points in his February interview with StopandGo. Something needs to make these new chassis Go.

The chassis decision date is also an interesting variable, as it has drifted from May to August or anywhere in between. Why this is of particular importance is that Delta Wing has a working prototype under construction, with a planned completion of August.

Since they have selected their own engine spec, Delta is far ahead of the other constructors. That either gives them a huge advantage if the decision process drags on, or gets them a car built around an engine which may not suit the criteria.

None of the facts help to clarify this picture so far. What am I missing? Thanks.

[pressdog]

I actually think people with a fresh perspective -- even if they haven't seen a race in person -- are good for this process. Free from the preconceptions that tend to cloud everyone's vision. One of the reasons I'm encouraged by the hiring of Bernard. Isn't all bogged down with baggage, etc.