IndyCar has pushed back the introduction of a new car until 2028.
The championship has been using its current chassis since 2012, and even though the car looks different to how it did 13 years ago, the series is admittedly in need of new machinery.
In April series owner Roger Penske confirmed the car would come in 2027, despite Mark Miles - CEO of IndyCar owner Penske Entertainment - using looser phrasing ("as early as 2027") to the Indy Star a month earlier. But ultimately that has been pushed back again - as first reported by Racer on Thursday.
The Race understands the reason for this is mostly down to the fact that both engine manufacturers - Chevrolet and Honda - have not signed deals beyond 2026, and if either was to develop a new engine formula, both would need longer lead time to prepare than being ready for 2027.
Speaking in a media briefing at the last round in Detroit, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown told a select group of reporters that he felt that Chevrolet was committed to the series. It's not yet clear if Honda is planning to re-sign or not. It has won all of the first seven races to start this season and its first Indianapolis 500 since 2022.
Brown was also vocal on the need for a new car, as he in part blamed the age of the current chassis for a recent spate of high-profile rule-breaking scandals.
IndyCar's month of controversy
- Penske qualifying scandal repercussions
- Penske sacks senior staff
- 2024 Indy 500 winning car admission
- Penske drivers' contrasting reactions
- Andretti and Prema lose Indy 500 results
- IndyCar's plan to tighten its tech
- McLaren's 'whistle-blowing hotline'
He explained: "I understand we're waiting on the engine formula which will drive what type of car you need, but I think at the end of the day, we've done a lot of band-aids on this car, and it's why it weighs so much. It's not fast enough, etc, etc, do a better job of integrating the hybrid.
"I think when you just start bolting everything on, you end up with a big, heavy, and then, unfortunately, some teams are innovating via engineering a very old car, because that's the only way you can find more pace out of it.
"So I'm not saying if you have a new car, teams won't still do what teams have been doing for 100 years in motor racing, but I do think when you've got a spent car, it's been around so long, and you go, 'where can we innovate?'. You start innovating in areas you shouldn't innovate in."
IndyCar is expected to provide a full and public update on its 2028 plan soon. Teams were being told earlier this week about the plans in place.
