DeltaWing, the new Indy Lights Chasis?

Having failed to get its radical chassis idea accepted for inclusion in the IZOD Indy Car Series, the powers behind the DeltaWing project have thrown their collective hats in the ring to be the new chassis for the Firestone Indy Lights Series in 2014.

The DeltaWing was created to vie for a spot in the new IndyCar Series, but once the Dallara DW12 was selected, DeltaWing designers and constructors – led by American Le Mans Series founder Don Panoz – decided to run the car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Panoz and his Elan Technologies were responsible for the production of the successful Panoz DP01 Champ Car in 2007, and is expected to work toward the creation a similar program to replace the 10-year-old Dallara Indy Lights chassis. Dan Gurney’s All American Racers built the DeltaWing that ran at LeMans in June.

It is reported that Swift Engineering, Dallara, and veteran open-wheel builder Mygale have joined Elan Technologies as the leading contenders for to provide the new Indy Lights chassis.

A decision on the chassis could come in the next two months, but delays could easily crop up as IndyCar is still working on a 2013 schedule – which series CEO Randy Bernard said last weekend at Mid-Ohio is still very much a work in progress.

To further muddy the waters, IndyCar is also working on its situation with Lotus as the engine manufacturer is currently looking for a way out of its five-year contract with the series.

Michael Krumm tests the DeltaWing

Photo by: Highcroft Racing