IRL: Falcon Cars unveils first chassis

Falcon takes flight with unveiling of first IRL car.

CONCORD, N.C.--Falcon Cars unveiled its Falcon Indy 01-A on Nov. 22 to a gathering of Indy Racing League team owners and officials, technical partners and media at the company's facility in Concord, N.C.

The Falcon is the first car, completely designed and manufactured in the U.S., under the 2003 IRL technical specifications. Falcon joins Dallara and Panoz G Force as IRL chassis suppliers for the 2003 season.

"Over the past several months, we've been extremely busy designing the 2003 Falcon Indy Car and setting up a world-class design and manufacturing facility, Falcon Cars President Michael Kranefuss said. "We're very proud of our accomplishments, and after tonight's presentation, hope that you'll be equally impressed with our commitment to excellence."

The sole purpose of Falcon Cars is to create exceptionally competitive and safe race cars that prove to be "best in class."

"We are devoting our energies exclusively to competing in the Indy Racing League," Kranefuss said. "It is our mission to become recognized as producers of race cars that are capable of consistently winning races and championships.

"Through constantly researching new methods relevant to the core of our business and developing and utilizing the most advanced tools and technologies, we will reach our goals.

"We are not alone. We are developing partnerships with race teams that share our goals to succeed. Our policies facilitate an open-minded approach that seeks and integrates input from our teams and technical partners to continually improve the performance and value of our product and the quality of our service."

Technical director and partner Ken Anderson mastered the challenge not only completing the design and production of the new car but also directed the efforts to facilitate and furbish the plant to a world-class level of operation. Anderson's responsibilities include the management of all technical affairs within Falcon Cars.

"We've worked hard," Anderson said. "We have progressed from the stages of design, aerodynamics, tooling and fabricating to manufacturing. The initial process is complete. The product is unveiled, Falcon Cars' first product: the 2003 IRL Falcon Indy 01-A."

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