Lemans will be interesting...

[Garage Dog 65]

We built all the molds, pieces and the first concept demonstration vehicle for the delta wing project. When you read about the project design and the reduced production costs, parts/materials costs, engine design combos, performance capability and way reduced operation/maintenance costs - it's hard to argue with the reasons to build/race one. But Jay is correct - it's not everyone's visual cup-o-tea... so it didn't have a chance as the IRL series replacement car.

Jim

[onevoice]

Originally Posted by Garage Dog 65

We built all the molds, pieces and the first concept demonstration vehicle for the delta wing project. When you read about the project design and the reduced production costs, parts/materials costs, engine design combos, performance capability and way reduced operation/maintenance costs - it's hard to argue with the reasons to build/race one. But Jay is correct - it's not everyone's visual cup-o-tea... so it didn't have a chance as the IRL series replacement car.

Jim

The delta wing is a marketing ploy, and nothing more. It didn't have a chance as a replacement Indy Car because it met none of the design criteria for what an Indycar needs to be capable of. It never was half the HP, or half the weight, or twice the efficiency.

There is absolutely no reason to have the performance limiting narrow track to have good aerodynamics. A normally designed car with the open rules they were using would have run circles around it.

[J-440]

Garage...that's the beauty of new technology in racing. A lot of it trickles down into new car designs and eventually to us gearheads. Just look at Audi, Ferrari, Chevy...etc. Lighter, stronger, and faster cars for us "civilians" from the guys who live for racing.
The Lemans series was getting a little stale from what some people were reporting and the organizers were happy to let the Panoz/Gurney team bring in some new radical cars.
Kudos for the Nissan team for thinking outside the box. Can't wait till next year!!