American motor racing has been steadily moving towards "Spec", that is, each team racing the same car with the same engine and other components. The Indy Racing League runs Dallara chassis powered by Honda engines. (Although NASCAR technically uses a few different cars with different engines from different suppliers, they all look pretty much the same.) Now the latest spec racing cars for the Champ Car series – IRL's rival formerly known as CART – have just been delivered.
The new Panoz DP01 has been received by ten Champ Car teams, the first ten before the entire field makes the switch from the previous Lola-built cars. The new chassis will use the same turbocharged Cosworth V8 engines, the now independent engine supplier owning majority rights to the series and having involuntarily withdrawn from supplying engines in Formula One. They all run on spec Bridgestone tires, just as Formula One makes the switch next season.
Constructed primarily of carbon fiber, the new cars weigh an impressive hundred pounds less than their predecessor Lola counterparts. The chassis were delivered unpainted and all-but-identical to the teams who'll be adding their own team and sponsors' livery. We're looking forward to seeing the new cars in action.
[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian @ Dec 27th 2006 4:26PM
For a "spec" series this design is quite unique and innovative and advanced;)
http://www.hotdaug.com/images/albums/NewAlbum_cf830/PC220255.jpg
Just look at the LOW center of gravity. I wonder which F1 team will attempt to replicate this deisgn first, for say a cost of $100mm;) Oh a Champcar DP01 rolling chassis goes for around $300K each!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James2 @ Dec 27th 2006 11:10PM
Despite what they might want you to believe, NASCRAP is a spec series. All they do now is slap on different stickers to change the "make" of car. Why the Big 2.5 continue to spend millions supporting this charade is beyond me.
another Steve - NewOrderrr @ Dec 27th 2006 11:55PM
For a second there I thought I was looking at the old 2002 Arrows F1 cars before Super Aguri repainted them for 2006.
slicecom @ Dec 28th 2006 8:18AM
The DP01 is one of the nicest looking open wheel racecars i've seen. The only thing they could have done better is the nose. It would have been nice to keep it low. I cant wait to see these things in action!
Andre @ Dec 28th 2006 11:58AM
Yup its an Arrows lolol why in the holy hell would anyone allow Panoz to build a race car ? their "Last" real race care looked great but run like crap lolol God where is Reynard when u need them the golden age of CART opps Champ Car powered by Ford has passed about 10 yrs ago I miss those days, a French guy who would be a backmarker in F1 wins the Title what 3 yrs in a row lolol