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IZOD IndyCar Series' team owners and CEO Randy Bernard have met in recent days and the introduction of the new aero kits was discussed. However, the team owners have made the point that they do not want them, period.
“We're all in agreement that nobody wants new aero kits next year because it's not really necessary right now,'' said Dennis Reinbold, who co-owns Oriol Servia's car along with Robbie Buhl.
Instead, the team owners have expressed their concerns over the escalating costs and they would rather have new pricing arrangements with Dallara and other suppliers instead of having to invest more money in the DW12 car.
The owners believe the car is pretty good on all sorts of circuits and that the aero kits that are supposed to be developed by Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus would only be an extra expense (estimated at $75,000) they do not need.
Some of them have even suggested that the engine manufacturers should take the money they were going to spend on those kits to reduce the price of the engine lease.
The problem is that the teams have to buy genuine and certified components from Dallara, Cosworth (electronics) and Xtrac (gearboxes).
In the past, local shops were allowed to build parts or teams could produce these in-house for cheaper but that it is not the way things are working today.
One team owner estimated the annual overall costs are at least 25 percent higher than a year ago and that the addition of aero kits would only make things worse.
“We're all in agreement that nobody wants new aero kits next year because it's not really necessary right now,'' said Dennis Reinbold, who co-owns Oriol Servia's car along with Robbie Buhl.
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| Dario Franchitti, Dallara DW12 Indy car (Photo: IMS) |
Instead, the team owners have expressed their concerns over the escalating costs and they would rather have new pricing arrangements with Dallara and other suppliers instead of having to invest more money in the DW12 car.
The owners believe the car is pretty good on all sorts of circuits and that the aero kits that are supposed to be developed by Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus would only be an extra expense (estimated at $75,000) they do not need.
Some of them have even suggested that the engine manufacturers should take the money they were going to spend on those kits to reduce the price of the engine lease.
The problem is that the teams have to buy genuine and certified components from Dallara, Cosworth (electronics) and Xtrac (gearboxes).
In the past, local shops were allowed to build parts or teams could produce these in-house for cheaper but that it is not the way things are working today.
One team owner estimated the annual overall costs are at least 25 percent higher than a year ago and that the addition of aero kits would only make things worse.