Dallara DW12

Dallara DW12
CategoryIndyCar Series
ConstructorDallara
Designer(s)Tony Cotman
Luca Pignacca
Sam Garrett
Andrea Toso
PredecessorDallara IR-05
SuccessorDallara IR-27
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fiber monocoque with honeycomb kevlar structure
Suspension (front)Double A-arm, pushrod, with third spring and anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)As front
Length201.7 in (5,123 mm) on road/street course, short ovals; 197.33 in (5,012 mm) on 1.5-mile intermediate ovals, superspeedways and Indianapolis 500 (Mk. III)
Width75.5 in (1,918 mm) minimum (Road/Street), 75.75 in (1,924 mm) minimum (Ovals), 76.5 in (1,943 mm) maximum (measured outside rim to rim)
Height40 in (1,016 mm)
Axle trackMax. 76.3 in (1,938 mm)
Wheelbase117.5–121.5 in (2,984–3,086 mm) adjustable
EngineChevrolet Indy V6 (2012-present), Honda HI24TT (2012-present) and Lotus Indy V6 (2012) 2.2 L (134 cu in) V6 90° with 4-stroke piston Otto cycle with efficient combustion process and greater emission engine burning single (Honda in 2012-2013)/twin-turbocharged (supplied by BorgWarner), mid-engined, longitudinally-mounted
TransmissionXtrac #1011 6-speed AGS (Assisted Gearchange System)[2] sequential semi-automatic paddle-shift + 1 reverse
BatteryBraille ML7Ti 12 volts
Power575 hp (429 kW) on speedways, 625 hp (466 kW) on 1.5-mile ovals, 675 hp (503 kW) on short ovals and road/street courses + 60 hp (45 kW) on push-to-pass
Weight1,650 lb (748 kg) on 1.5-mile speedways, superspeedways and Indianapolis 500; 1,680 lb (762 kg) on short ovals; 1,690 lb (767 kg) road and street courses (including additional of aeroscreen)[3]
FuelE85 (85% ethanol + 15% gasoline) (2012-2022):
Sunoco (2012-2018)
Speedway (2019-2022)
100% renewable E85 (85% ethanol + 15% biofuel):
Shell (2023-)[4]
LubricantsPennzoil (rest of IndyCar Series teams), Ridgeline Lubricants (Chip Ganassi Racing) and Lucas Oil (Arrow McLaren)
BrakesBrembo (2012-2016) later PFC (2017-present) carbon discs and pads. Brembo (2012-2017) later PFC ZR90 (2018-present) 4-piston (all oval races)/6-piston (road/street course races) calipers
TyresFirestone Firehawk dry slick and treaded wet tires
O.Z. Racing and BBS wheels
ClutchAP Racing CP8153-DE03-SN 3-plate carbon with steel housing
Competition history
Notable entrantsAll IndyCar Series Teams
Notable driversAll IndyCar Series Drivers
Debut2012 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

The Dallara DW12 (formally named the Dallara IR-12) is an open-wheel formula racing car developed and produced by Italian manufacturer Dallara for use in the IndyCar Series. It replaced the aging Dallara IR-05 chassis in the 2012 IndyCar Series season and is to be used through the 2026 season, after which it is to be replaced by the planned Dallara IR-27.[5][6][7][8][9]

Since 2012, all IndyCar races are contested with cars built on a common chassis supplied by Dallara,[10] keeping costs to the fixed $349,000 per chassis negotiated by the IndyCar organization.[11] The new specification of chassis also adds safety features, the most prominent being a partial enclosure around the rear wheels. Since 2015, Honda and Chevrolet have offered alternatives to the Dallara aerodynamic kit for the chassis.[12]

The chassis is named after Dan Wheldon, who was the car's test driver, and who was killed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2011, the final race of the previous IR-05.[13] The new front section is designed to prevent similar single-seater crashes such as the one that killed Wheldon.[14] The nomenclature recalls that of the old Formula One team Ligier, whose cars were labeled JSxx after French F1 driver Jo Schlesser, who died in the 1968 French Grand Prix.

  1. ^ "The Car and Engine". ryanracing.com. Ryan Hunter Reay. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
  2. ^ "Xtrac - ASSISTED GEARCHANGE SYSTEM".
  3. ^ "2015 IndyCar Rulebook, Chapter 14: Technical Specification" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-06-03. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Shell, IndyCar to introduce 100% renewable race fuel in 2023". motorsport.com. IndyCar.com. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Dallara DW12, named after the late Dan Wheldon, transformed IndyCar". CNN. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-03-03. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  6. ^ Pruett, Marshall (20 April 2022). "IndyCar to extend DW12 lifespan through at least 2024". Racer.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  7. ^ "IndyCar: How much longer will series use its 13-year-old relic?". AutoRacing1.com. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "IndyCar News: Series hopes to replace its 15-year-old relic in 2027". AutoRacing1.com. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "IndyCar CEO Mark Miles on the Fox media rights deal, expanding into new markets, and plans for an international series". July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "IndyCar's 2012 Chassis: Lessons Learned from the Car of Tomorrow". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Dallara named IndyCar chassis supplier for 2012". Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Aero Kit Discussions, Decisions Continue To Evolve". Archived from the original on 2013-01-02. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  13. ^ "INDYCAR: DW12 extended four more years". RACER.com. October 25, 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Dallara to name 2012 IndyCar in honor of Dan Wheldon". Autosport.com. 18 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 18 October 2011.