With the upcoming rule/car changes (2011?) should the IRL stick to the spec chassis or open the series up to engineers to design various chassis such as this one? Personally I like a little imagination, but sometimes it comes at the cost of close competition.
What do you think?

: thats the 2011 gary b model smuck!

I want to see them open it up. The argument with a spec series is it keeps costs down so everybody can compete. That's not happening. The same two teams dominate now so opening it up isn't going to change that. Sure, you don't which of the 4 drivers might win, but it's still the same two teams. Those teams have the most resources so they are going to be at the top anyway. Open it up so teams can come up with their own mousetrap.

I remember starting to watch in the 80's when I was a kid. The different types of cars were a big draw for me. You could tell the difference in the cars and could tell the type they were. I remember the Buick stock blocks back then. There were so much louder than the rest and I always thought that was cool. I'd like to see it opened up again. There has to be a way to open it up and still contain cost somehow.

My first race track was Indy in 1980. I have seen some beautiful cars.... some strange cars...... some ugly cars. This car, to me, is pretty darn cool. It seems like evolution of the Indy car has been stagnant since the mid 90's and is due for a facelift. It says Eagle so I assume it is a Gurney creation. I for one would love to see that car on the track.

Haven't heard that in awhile...with a name like smucker, he had to be good!

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 AM ----------


Yeah, there were some "odd" creations. Who could forget Davey Hamilton's Dad in this monster! If you like looking at those cars you should check out this thread, if you haven't already. Lots of photos. Over 50,000 views so far! We should start a midget/sprint photo thread like that here on IOW.
David.

http://www.trackforum.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=126644

It would be neat to see it opened up to two or three different chassis', hopefully they could be U.S. designed. The chassis shown does look pretty interesting, (the side pods may need a little rework to not create the ramping effect).

Open it up, but keep the body design within a certain template so you don't get ridiculous stuff like the pic posted

It is already opened up. R&S and G Force/Panoz bailed out. Same with the engines, everyone has pulled out but Honda. Maxim could build one if it met the rules and passed the tech rig, which includes crash testing, just as Dallara could build a USAC sprint car if it me their rules.
I work from the Dallara trailer at the IRL races and we are always hearing of company's that have plans for a new chassis in the works but I guess it takes so much now just to get the first one on track.
The IRL does allow the teams to make some of their own parts.....such as Penske's mirrors and Panthers A arms.

I don't care what they do on chassis as long as the don't fiddle with the aero package they finally hit on mid season on the ovals....

As for engines...... sure would be cool to see a Don Ott SBC out there....

Yep, the result of competion is a WINNER. Strange that racing people have trouble with that concept in certain contexts. Assuming they could afford to buy the cars which is doubtful these days, they could open up the competition again and it wouldn't be long before the fastest would separate from the rest and the rest would be history, again.