INDYCAR Considers Request for Delay

By Indycar.com staff

"This isn’t CART or Champ Car, but it is important that we are a team working together. I want to make sure they are being heard, and I respect their opinion. At the same time, we have to do what’s in the best interest of INDYCAR. "
-- Randy Bernard

IZOD IndyCar Series team owners asked INDYCAR CEO Randy Bernard to delay the introduction of aero kits until the 2013 season, but INDYCAR has yet to make a decision on the request.

The owners, by a vote of 15-0 (with one owner abstaining), made an appeal to INDYCAR officials during a meeting held at the Ipaitava Sao Paulo Indy 300.

“We had a great team owners meeting in Brazil concerning the 2012 car and made some great developments,” Bernard said in an interview on VERSUS' "IndyCar Open Wheel Weekly." “One of those developments that came out of that though was the team owners voted to not have an aero kit until 2013. And they asked INDYCAR not to have the aero kit until 2013.”
Aero kits, which can be made by any manufacturer, will dress the IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Cell that is being developed by long-time chassis manufacturer Dallara. The new chassis, which will be powered by manufacturers Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus, is scheduled to debut in 2012.

“Having different looking cars is something that has been true and blue to Indy car,” Bernard said. “The ICONIC Committee has told us that is important, but we also have to listen and understand the concerns of our team owners as well. The biggest thing about our team owners is that we are hitting them with a lot of capital outlay next year. We want to make sure that we are listening to everyone right now.”

Bernard has reached out to two of the three engine mnaufacturers who will participate in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2012 and understands the challenges they might have in developing an aero kit.

“I’ve heard from the team owners, which is very important to me,” he said. “This isn’t CART or Champ Car, but it is important that we are a team working together. I want to make sure they are being heard, and I respect their opinion. At the same time, we have to do what’s in the best interest of INDYCAR.

“INDYCAR will make the final decision. We will look at it together as an executive team and I may bring the ICONIC Committee back into this. I heard the team owners loud and clear. It’s very important for them to wait until 2013.”