IndyCar’s aero kits planned for 2015 debut as part of innovation timeline

By Jun 2, 2013, 11:44 AM EDT
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Call it, “aero kits, take three.” The long-discussed, planned implementation of aerodynamic adjustments to the Dallara DW12 IndyCar begins for the rest of this year, as part of a 10-year gradual process of innovation. IndyCar series officials, including Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles and IndyCar’s new president of competition and operations, Derrick Walker, announced preliminary details of a return to innovation ahead of the Indianapolis 500.

With partner approval, IndyCar will introduce various aerodynamic configurations in 2015. Prior to actual body adjustments, the series will work with chassis provider Dallara to look to reduce the potential for lift on the car. That process begins immediately.

The timeline of getting manufacturers and teams confirmed will occur over the next two-three weeks, with participation set to be announced in July.

Essentially, how it breaks down is that the base DW12 chassis will be the model at least through 2018, with a completely new car look evident by 2019 if not sooner. The combination of aero adjustments plus horsepower increases by the manufacturers, when approved by all partners, will determine the evolution cycle between now and 2021, the end of this cycle.

Right now, it appears current manufacturers (Dallara, Chevrolet, Honda, Firestone) will be involved in the process, with the engine manufacturers the ones committing to aero kit designs. Plans for a revival of Indianapolis’ “cottage industry”  are remote at best, for the moment.

Stay tuned to MotorSportsTalk next week for more information on aero kits, their timeline, and their planned implementation. In the meantime, here are the initiatives outlined as part of IndyCar’s long-term strategy:

  • 2013 – IndyCar and Dallara look to reduce the surface area of the underbody of the current chassis to reduce the potential for lift in preparation for the addition of various aerodynamic configuaritions in 2015.
  • 2014 – Engine upgrades as part of the current homologation process; downforce adjustments to enhance racing, overtaking as well as safety at various racetrack configurations, as needed.
  • 2015 – Aero configuration components introduced for the full IZOD IndyCar Series season in conjunction with potential enhancements to the underbody.
  • 2016 – Opportunity for tire development, if needed, with Firestone, as well as engine power enhancements as required. As this year is the 100th Indianapolis 500, a new qualifying record of 237.000 mph is the goal.
  • 2017 – Possible aero configuration kits and engine upgrades. Potential for areas on car to be opened for team development.
  • 2018 – Competition enhancements made based on performance of 2017 package.
  • 2019 – Potential introduction of new body style and engine formula.
  • 2020 – Competition enhancements made based on performance of 2019 package.
  • 2021 – Possible aero configuration upgrade.

Winner Josef Newgarden earns $3.666 million from a record Indy 500 purse of $17 million

By May 29, 2023, 6:01 PM EDT
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INDIANAPOLIS — The first Indy 500 victory for Josef Newgarden also was the richest in race history from a record 2023 purse of just more than $17 million.

The two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion, who continued his celebration Monday morning at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earned $3.666 million for winning the 107th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

The purse and winner’s share both are the largest in the history of the Indianapolis 500.

It’s the second consecutive year that the Indy 500 purse set a record after the 2022 Indy 500 became the first to crack the $16 million mark (nearly doubling the 2021 purse that offered a purse of $8,854,565 after a crowd limited to 135,000 because of the COVID-19 pandemic).

The average payout for IndyCar drivers was $500,600 (exceeding last year’s average of $485,000).

Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske, whose team also fields Newgarden’s No. 2 Dallara-Chevrolet, had made raising purses a priority since buying the track in 2020. But Penske but was unable to post big money purses until the race returned to full capacity grandstands last year.

The largest Indy 500 purse before this year was $14.4 million for the 2008 Indy 500 won by Scott Dixon (whose share was $2,988,065). Ericsson’s haul made him the second Indy 500 winner to top $3 million (2009 winner Helio Castroneves won $3,048,005.

Runner-up Marcus Ericsson won $1.043 million after falling short by 0.0974 seconds in the fourth-closest finish in Indy 500 history.

The 107th Indy 500 drew a crowd of at least 330,000 that was the largest since the sellout for the 100th running in 2016, and the second-largest in more than two decades, according to track officials.

“This is the greatest race in the world, and it was an especially monumental Month of May featuring packed grandstands and intense on-track action,” Penske Entertainment president and CEO Mark Miles said in a release. “Now, we have the best end card possible for the 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500: a record-breaking purse for the history books.”

Benjamin Pedersen was named the Indy 500 rookie of the year, earning a $50,000 bonus.

The race’s purse is determined through contingency and special awards from IMS and IndyCar. The awards were presented Monday night in the annual Indy 500 Victory Celebration at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis.

The payouts for the 107th Indy 500:

1. Josef Newgarden, $3,666,000
2. Marcus Ericsson, $1,043,000
3. Santino Ferrucci, $481,800
4. Alex Palou, $801,500
5. Alexander Rossi, $574,000
6. Scott Dixon, $582,000
7. Takuma Sato, $217,300
8. Conor Daly, $512,000
9. Colton Herta, $506,500
10. Rinus VeeKay, $556,500
11. Ryan Hunter‐Reay, $145,500
12. Callum Ilott, $495,500
13. Devlin DeFrancesco, $482,000
14. Scott McLaughlin, $485,000
15. Helio Castroneves, $481,500
16. Tony Kanaan, $105,000
17. Marco Andretti, $102,000
18. Jack Harvey, $472,000
19. Christian Lundgaard, $467,500
20. Ed Carpenter, $102,000
21. Benjamin Pedersen (R), $215,300
22. Graham Rahal, $565,500*
23. Will Power, $488,000
24. Pato O’Ward, $516,500
25. Simon Pagenaud, $465,500
26. Agustín Canapino (R), $156,300
27. Felix Rosenqvist, $278,300
28. Kyle Kirkwood, $465,500
29. David Malukas, $462,000
30. Romain Grosjean, $462,000
31. Sting Ray Robb (R), $463,000
32. RC Enerson (R), $103,000
33.  Katherine Legge, $102,000

*–Broken down between two teams, $460,000 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, $105,500 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing/Cusick Motorsports