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2015 Chevrolet IndyCar is a Balanced Aero Mix Between Drag and Downforce

Well now, what do we have here? Nope, it’s not a 2015-spec Formula 1 single-seater, but something more American. Still, there are some similarities between IndyCar and the Formula 1 championship.
2015 Chevrolet IndyCar 3 photos
Photo: Chevrolet
2015 Chevrolet IndyCar2015 Chevrolet IndyCar
In 2014, F1 adopted the 1.6-liter turbocharged Hybrid Power Unit, while IndyCar is currently using 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 motors fueled with E85. With an output of up to 700 HP and a rev limit of 12,000 rpm, this season will see Honda and Chevrolet duke it out.

6 of the 12 participating teams employ Honda know-how, while the golden bowtie automaker takes the other half of the pie. Despite the minor differences regarding the oily bits, all cars use a Dallara IR-12 chassis. Because of this, the big question is who has the better aero package?

With initial team on-track testing scheduled for March 16th and 17th, IndyCar director of aero development Tino Belli said that “differences between the 2014 Dallara chassis and the 2015 aero kits and between the Chevy and Honda aero kits will be quite easily spotted by an interested fan.” But that’s not the end of the story.

Tiny also highlighted that “the Chevy might not always run in exactly the same configuration between a Penske and Ganassi car, and the same with Honda between, say, an Andretti and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car because teams will have options.”
Alas, the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series will see Chevy run the aerodynamic package featured below. As you can see, the road course / short oval body design of the Chevrolet racecar boasts with redesigned front wing elements, sculpted side pods and a more aggressive rear wing.

In addition to this configuration, the manufacturer reports that a high-speed oval speedway configuration will be introduced ahead of Indianapolis in May. More information is available in the press release below.
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press release
About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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