BAT unveils challenger for 2012 IndyCar concept prize

by Tony Johns on Mar 5, 2010 11:42 AM EST in Feature Stories Comment 14 comments

BAT Engineering, a company formed by IndyCar design veterans Bruce Ashmore, Alan Mertens and Tim Wardrop, launched their concept at their new website today, complete with render images of the new car.

In a press release, BAT leaned heavily towards the "safety" angle, mentioning that the design team met with Dr. Terry Trammell and IndyCar's safety team to help guide the design's form and function.

Renders of the new car after the jump...

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Reminds me of Dallara 3 a bit, especially in the wing.

It’s interesting that so many of these designs have an open-wheel design that no longer exposes the wheel and suspension on the rear wheels.

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

by Bill Potter on Mar 5, 2010 11:44 AM EST reply actions

Yep...

Hard not to think that the DeltaWing leaks aren’t to blame for that trend, eh? :)

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!

by Tony Johns on Mar 5, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

I would never suggest that someone nefariously leaked DW information to other teams.

In all seriousness, it would appear that the designers/engineers of the next generation IndyCar do see a need to close the wheels a bit, in order to create closer racing, among other things.

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

by Bill Potter on Mar 5, 2010 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Uh, huh.

I think people may have to adjust their perception of “open wheel” a bit when the next car debuts. The reason that open wheel cars used to be open wheeled was because the builders didn’t want the car to carry the extra weight of fenders. Back in the day when the cars were largely made out of steel and/or aluminum, this would mean a substantial weight savings. And in those days, there was no wind tunnel data to tell them that the drag incurred by fully exposed wheels was enormous, possibly a greater penalty than the weight that the fenders would have meant.

Now that we do know that wheels are so draggy, and that they introduce the possibility of a catastrophic wheel-against-wheel and possibly “car going into the grandstands and ending the series in a cascade of litigation” event, it only makes sense that the wheels get covered up somewhat.

As for the BAT car…eh. It’s OK. I’ll probably be happy, no matter what gets picked, especially if we can get some different engines in play, and possibly some cosmetic variation between teams and cars.

by The Speedgeek on Mar 5, 2010 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

In terms of comsetic variation and different engines, I'm all for it.

While this car doesn’t really appeal to me, visually, I think in the end we’ll see a chassis that brings in elements from all of these designs, even if it means the rear wheels aren’t as open as they’ve been in the last 30 years.

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

by Bill Potter on Mar 7, 2010 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

Dex

They have unveiled nothing.

It’s some drawings. Precisely as Dallara ‘unveiled’ some better drawings and Swift unveiled some REALLY good drawings with a lot of thought put into them.

I’m not sure whether this helps them or not. Just as I’m not sure DW unveiling a massive cock helped them either.

All I know is only one candidate will have a car on track this year and that is DW.

by Declan Brennan on Mar 5, 2010 12:02 PM EST reply actions

Dex

……..and Lola also had some nice drawings that fit in between Dallara and Swift. Sorry to miss them out. :)

Dex

by Declan Brennan on Mar 5, 2010 12:03 PM EST reply actions

Nice, but

I do not want spec indycars in 2012.

Does North America need a racing tv channel?

by Rick Kappler on Mar 5, 2010 1:43 PM EST reply actions

be ready for disappointment.....

i would love for there to be chassis competition, but it just isn’t going to happen. engine competition is more likely, which would make the series the same as NASCAR in that effect. Safety and cost are 2 areas that are going to kill the possibility of chassis competition. The best bet is for the APPEARANCE of chassis competition with the DW or Lola concept/design. Even then, it’s unlikely as one combination of parts is bound to perform better on road/street and a different on ovals.

Of course, there’s an easy solution to the latter issue. Set a rule where the teams have to choose one combination for the entire season. Yes, they can adjust wing angles, etc. But not like when teams had both Dallara and G-Force chassis for different races. Imagine the strategy this would bring! Does Penske put WP in a car set up to do better on his best tracks, or set him up with an advantage on ovals to even things out? If you add in allowing teams to RENT the different combinations in testing, this could be a very exciting rule.

TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....

by Evanbio on Mar 7, 2010 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

I'm Going to Say This as Gently as I Can

That opinion isn’t going to move the needle in any way, shape or form. Nor will mine, nor should it.

The design is okay. Not my favourite-Swift is-but again, that’s somewhat irrelevant. The IndyCar management will make the decision. And I do trust that they will make the best one for the SERIES, not for one person or group of fans.

by Ironcurtianantihero on Mar 5, 2010 3:46 PM EST reply actions

Not a fan of this car.

It looks like an impregnated version of the current IndyCar.

This off-season officially sucks for FIVE reasons and counting...

by CaDuck on Mar 5, 2010 5:25 PM EST reply actions

engineering

but what about the engineering of it?

Does North America need a racing tv channel?

by Rick Kappler on Mar 5, 2010 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

The safety stuff, you mean?

I like the theory. Not sure I like the implementation.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!

by Tony Johns on Mar 6, 2010 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

I understand the importance of the engineering in the car,

However, I think that part of the racing experience is centered around the cars being aesthetically pleasing and “cool” looking.

This off-season officially sucks for FIVE reasons and counting...

by CaDuck on Mar 7, 2010 12:46 AM EST up reply actions

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