Just another gimmick. 33 off the shelf racers isn't a race, it's a parade!
I wonder if this would entice Ford to join Indycar? They've been talking a lot about hybrid technology in WEC and IMSA as of late.
Excellent idea!!! You get to spend what you want on what you think you can win with. I just about bet some of the ideas offered would be rather interesting! Just remember one thing...safety is a priority. After that....first guy to the flag wins!
'Still trying to figger out what not having rules has to do with being allowed to use different makes.... There were/are rules when there were Indy car fields that had a variety of entries like: http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/race.php?raceid=9143 or today as in ten mandated diff designs in F1 as opposed to IndyCar rules mandating a monotonous one.... I know; 'better for the "show". 'An idea....everybody saves a bunch of money by watching a roulette wheel and see what number wins today..... ;p
Hybrid tech coming to Indy Car. How has this slipped between the cracks for so long? https://racer.com/2019/08/01/hybrid-power-coming-with-new-indycar-engine-in-2022/?utm_source=smg&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-hero BHW
sigh next thing you know IndyLights will be IndyE will we ever see a loud V8 or V10 in premier open-wheel racing again?
If you will join me in the TRL series you will have those and rotary,flat, turbine 4cylinder, turbo, supercharged and any other thing your mind can dream up and your check book can afford. The rule book is a page and a half long.
I think it's the best move for them to make from a series standpoint. Love it or hate it (I hate it) electrification is the way everything is headed so to be able to get OEM's to participate they need this. They will still be fast and loud but they have a compromise to get electric power in there. Only thing I'm concerned about is car weight. 900+ hp is great but with aeroscreen and hybrid they're adding a few hundred pounds to these things, need the rest of the weight to drop to maintain balance.
Turning back the calendars a decade and half ain't the way racing works (unless we're talking NASCAR). Every major manufacturer has a electric or hybird in their lineups. It is said that Porsche is set to make their entire line up fully electric within the next half decade and they seem to be well on their way to doing this. There's always Vintage/Historic racing, right? BHW
Yes, I well understand all of that. I don't want to derail a good thread debating the politics of Hybrid and EV. I just hope the high quality racing of IndyCar doesn't get lost in the transition. And I sincerely hope nothing resembling Formula E ever shows it's face.
Squawk about Formula E all you like. Both Mercedes-Benz and Porsche will be fielding factory-backed entries beginning next season and the series is about to erupt as the money is clearly flowing in this direction. In fact, any series would be hard pressed to have so many manufactures taking part... Formula E participating manufacturers: Audi Venturi Nissan (NE Renault) DS Techeetah BMW Porsche Penske Jaguar Mahindra Mercedes-Benz NIO Formula 1 participating manufacturers: Ferrari Mercedes-Benz Honda Renault BHW
Yes, yes, yes....I've watched Formula E and in it's 6th season the racing is still very subpar relative to other series. Of course manufacturers are flocking to this EV-spec racing series run on a very compressed footprint...the advertising benefit for cost outlay is great (and the "manufacturer" term for these spec "teams" is a bit loose). Don't get me wrong, I think Audi's FE WCC successes have likely improved their (and Porsche's) EV offerings. If I were in the EV market I would likely choose an e-Tron or Taycan over any Tesla product. But all that being said, Formula E racing is comical at best. Perhaps the technology will improve and the racing along with it. If an all-electric racing series is destined to take hold in the lower 48, I sure hope it can produce a better product than Formula E right off the bat. And yes, the caveman in me misses the noise.
The new FE championship team with the driver champ as well. I'm looking for a DS Techeetah dealer near me....