Pop Off Valve, for IndyCar fans

"Dan lives in the memory of everybody at Dallara," company president and founder Gianpaolo Dallara said. "He has been a true champion; not only because of his many victories, but and above everything else, because he has been a true and warm man to all the people he encountered. "All people at Dallara always enjoyed meeting him in Italy and in the USA. We will honor his memory for the years to come by dedicating the Dallara IndyCar 2012 in his name. He deserves that."

INDYCAR officially announced today that Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon and his Bryan Herta Autosport team will begin testing of the 2012 Dallara IndyCar starting in August. IZOD IndyCar Series teams are scheduled to receive their first new chassis Dec. 15 and the second by Jan. 15.

Lotus has revealed that it has forged an association with Engine Developments, Ltd. – better known as Judd – to develop its new V6 turbo engine, which will compete next year in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Get 'em while they're hot!

In a move sure to get his butt kicked by IMS yellow shirts, Larry Hawley at FOX 59 in Indiana leaked this photo of the 2012 IndyCar in oval trim. Please note: the aero kit is for display only and, according to Tony Cotman, will not resemble the actual aero kit in use at the start of the 2012 season. CLICK HERE FOR THE ROAD COURSE VERSION

In the interests of acknowledging the current rumor (and, unfortunately, gifting page views to the guy who started it), we'll post the link to the "GM to IndyCar in 2012" article that has the Internet abuzz today. You'll have to make the decision about how much you trust its legitimacy.

E.J. Viso, who competed last season for KV Racing Technology, was the first driver to be fitted in a mock-up monocoque of the 2012 IndyCar Safety Cell at the Dallara Automobili factory in Italy this week. Drivers of different heights will provide feedback regarding comfort, pedal positions, sight lines, headrests, steering wheel positions and leg room as part of the development process. Graham Rahal, among the taller IZOD IndyCar Series drivers, is scheduled to visit the facility in mid-November. Additionally, Dallara personnel will measure their upright position relative to each other.

Robin Miller at SPEED.com reports that IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard has hired Tony Cotman to write the rules, dictate policy and ride herd on the price of components like he did as the straw boss at Champ Car. Cotman, who served as chief steward and competition director at Champ Car from 2005-2008 before taking a job with IndyCar in 2008, was the mid-wife of the 2007 Panoz DP01 chassis.