Revolution calling: DeltaWing stirs controversy after Chicago Auto Show unveiling
by Tony Johns on Feb 10, 2010 2:24 PM EST
in Feature Stories
11 comments
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out.
- The Beatles, Revolution
It has been a week of unveilings and concepts and thoughts about the future. But none of the concept cars that were released by Dallara Automobili and Swift Engineering matched the audacity - and subsequent hue and cry - that the new concept from DeltaWing, LLC did today.
In a masterpiece of understatement, DeltaWing's CEO Dan Partel said in the company's press release, "Today marks a fundamental shift in how race fans and the general public will view all racing cars in the future; this is a game changer."
What he left unsaid - but what erupted all over the Internet after the unveiling - was that IndyCar fans might not react well to a game-changer of this magnitude.
DeltaWing posted several videos of the new car, including two videos of DeltaWing mockups built in the rFactor video game racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Indianapolis Motor Speedway:
Additionally, a video was released to show in graphic detail the airflow around the chassis:
In an interview with SPEED.com's Robin Miller, DeltaWing designer Ben Bowlby maintains that simulation tests show that the DeltaWing will be a more stable, higher-performance racecar than the current IndyCar - even with less power:
What we’ve found is that we have better acceleration because of the dragster like layout and low drag and weight. We’ve also got better stability under braking because we can keep more of the braking on the rear wheels behind the center of gravity. The drive-ability envelope has been expanded. Our simulations show it’s going to be a lot of fun to drive. We have targeted maintaining aerodynamic performance at high yaw angles so that drivers can recover from over-cooking it.
Significantly, the DeltaWing relies almost completely on ground-effects downforce, while an aircraft-style vertical stabilizer acts to solidify the car's yaw performance while simultaneously spoiling lift in side-on aero profiles. The increased surface area of the car also allows for more significant sponsor signage area over current designs.
The DeltaWing is probably the most significant change in IndyCar design philosophy since the change from front-engined roadsters to rear-engined racing machines. But while revolutionary design always sparks controversy, this particular revolution has many fans infuriated and worried for the series' future. While Internet comments are not always the best repository for an accurate cross-section of opinion, the backlash over the DeltaWing design has been rapid, vitriolic and vehement.
The questions looming over the DeltaWing project are important to address:
- How much of a revolution can IndyCar racing stand? How fine can the line be between revolution and alienation?
- How much support does the DeltaWing consortium have within the Indy Racing League?
- With so many team owners committed to the DeltaWing, would the rejection of Ben Bowlby's design spark more than just controversy?
- If the DeltaWing is approved, can IndyCar survive until a new generation of fans can replace those who give up on the series in protest?
DeltaWing, LLC plans to have a working prototype on track by August 2010. In the meantime, the Lola Group is expected to issue its own, probably far more conventional, 2012 IndyCar designs before the end of the month.
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i waited for this!!!
This thing is hideous! If I want to see cars like this, I’ll go to the salt flats for some land speed record setting. That is NOT an indycar! Obviously I got caught up in the hype, but this is ridiculous. If they adopt this design, I doubt I can follow the sport….
TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....
I Hate This Car!
To me, it looks like a cross between a rocket, a top fuel dragster and a Bonneville Salt Flats car. I loathe the design and don’t think it will work at all.
Having said all of that, I am not a mechanical engineer, and Ben Bowlby-the designer of the car-is. If the car achieves everything Bowlby say it can and what IndyCar wants, then I will just have to learn to accept it. Unlike some-like Evanbio-I won’t stop watching because of this design, but I sincerely hope this was an effort to prod IndyCar and other chassis manufacturers into action as opposed to an actual realistic idea for the future IndyCar.
by Ironcurtianantihero on Feb 10, 2010 2:51 PM EST reply actions
At first glance
it looks like something in one of the “johnson” montages from Austin Powers.
But, if it races, I can learn to live with it – though I have my suspicions that the decision has already been made to accept one of the Dallara chassis.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
I'll be honest...
I like the Swift designs the best. A good combination of retro styling and futuristic design cues. But I think I could live with just about anything besides the DeltaWing.
I don’t care how much of a genius Ben Bowlby is or how efficient it is or whatever. I can’t for the life of me believe that I will ever find a field of 33 mobile phalluses at the Indy 500 either entertaining or visually interesting.
You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!
agreed
perhaps my initial comments were a bit too strong. i do know this, one thing that supposedly helps nascar in popularity is people claim they can “connect” with the cars they see on the track. i’ll hold my thoughts on that statement for another time, but there is NO WAY people will connect with that car. the racing would have to be PHENOMENAL for it to attract people to watch.
TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....
You want to inject energy into the league try that, people will pay attention
You’ll lose some of the old diehards but frankly, the league will die if we just try to please the diehards. Its also a concept, so I’d be curious what happens in the evolution to actual car. Appealing to the NASCAR crowd is foolhardy as the NASCAR crowd already has NASCAR. I’d love to see fighter jet style cars fly around the track pushing man and machine to their physical limits. Or we can drive wheel assist boosted Danica mobiles.
Yes, it's a concept.
Fortunately, it’s not the only concept out there. If there weren’t some frankly awesome concepts out there by Swift and more coming from Lola, I’d be a lot more worried.
The DeltaWing won’t inject energy into the league – in fact, a lot of my peers in other areas of racing are laughing themselves silly looking at it.
You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!
Sure is not aesthetically pleasing by any means,
Not a fan of this car myself.
LaMichael James + Kenjon Barner + Lache Seastrunk + Dontae Williams + Josh Huff + Keanon Lowe + Remene Alston +...
This IS A Joke Isn't It?
It doesn’t seem to be April 1…
yet I’m looking at the Fireball XL5
with wheels and somebody’s telling me they want to race it at Indy??
And people thought Tony George was nuts??
C’mon, please say it was all just a joke… please??
Count Culo
"It Was Dark Over Westphalia,
In April Of 45"
The most important thing in this post is
that hopefully Mid-Ohio will be torn down by 2012. The track is too narrow even for motorcycles.
But seriously
I like the Dallara visually, even though I guess the Delta Wing may actually make for better racing. The Swift looks too European.
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