Indy teams plan 2012 prototype

Most of the Indycar team owners – Chip Ganassi, Roger Penske, Michael Andretti, John Barnes, Tony George, Kevin Kalkhoven, Dennis Reinbold and Keith Wiggins – have formed a company called Delta Wing to design and build a prototype Indycar for 2012.

Former Lola designer Ben Bowlby’s brief is to produce a smaller, lighter, more raceable four-cylinder turbo car.

“All the owners agree that we need innovation back at Indianapolis,” said Bowlby. “We want to give the IRL an innovative, creative option. We believe this can attract a renewed interest from car and engine manufacturers.”

Dallara, Swift and Panoz will all bid to build the new Indycar, due to sell for $140,000. At this stage Honda is the only confirmed IRL engine builder for 2012.