This is Too Big to Rush It
Once again, there is a delay in testing of the new IndyCar hybrid system that is scheduled to debut at the season-opener at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in three months. There had been a test scheduled for later this week, on the road course at Homestead involving ten teams from the NTT IndyCar Series; but that test has been pushed into January.
Supply chain issues are blamed as the culprit. That was the same reason given about a year ago, when IndyCar announced they were scrapping plans to develop a new 2.4-liter engine to mate with the new hybrid component. All parties involved felt it would be better to focus on developing the new hybrid component and match it to the current 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged engine that has been in use since the 2012 season.
Nathan Brown of The Indianapolis Star, had an excellent article on Thursday that did a good job of laying out the timeline of all the delays that have occurred since the hybrid idea was announced in August 2019. In all fairness, COVID played a big part in this timeline of delays and I suppose it still is when they still cite supply-chain issues.
The Homestead test was going to be the first time many of the teams and drivers would get to have any firsthand experience with the new hybrid component. To thjis point, only four teams (Penske, Ganassi, McLaren and Andretti) and six drivers have tested the new system. Even if the postponed test takes place in early January, that’s only about two months before the system debuts the weekend of March 8-10 at St. Petersburg.
If this was a modification to the front-wing, or something like that, a two-month lead time might be OK. But this is a major change to the car, and also the entire strategy on how a team might run a race.
Now, there is speculation that the debut of the new hybrid component may be pushed back to June, just after the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 – presumably at Detroit. I don’t like that idea at all.
After Brown posted his article on Thursday morning, IndyCar put out a highly sanitized press-release Thursday afternoon, discussing all of the good things going on with the hybrid testing. In the last paragraph, there was hint that the hybrid component might not debut until sometime mid-season. The timing of the press-release was curious, at best.
I don’t want this rushed. With a lighter aero screen and gearbox for 2024 to offset the additional weight of the hybrid system, IndyCar is not going to scratch this project, so they need to get it right before a competitive wheel is turned. I understand why it’s important to go hybrid – Formula One and IMSA already have. But this does not need to be a half-baked effort when it hits the track for competition.
It is sounding like there are too many issues, preventing the vast majority of the grid from testing the hybrid car until the season is about to start. We know right now that the next test will not be until two month prior to the start of the season, at the most. Who knows what supply chain issues or other unforerseen problems might pop up before March.
That means we can probably expect to see the debut in June, but I don’t like that either. By that time, there will have been five points-paying races, an exhibition race and qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. That’s a third of the season. That’s a lot of season already run, before dropping in a game-changer in equipment. You have to think that whatever testing has been done to this point would heavily favor Chip Ganassi Racing and their driver, Scott Dixon, who has been handling the hybrid testing for the team.
If they can’t start the 2024 season with the hybrid unit readily available to all the teams and plentiful testing, I think they should go ahead and push the debut of the hybrid system to 2025, and go ahead and run the 2024 season with the same power-plant they have been using for well over a decade. Making a major change in equipment, when most teams have had little testing in the middle of the season, sounds like a problem waiting to happen.
It sounds like IndyCar officials are quietly admitting that the season will start without the hybrid component. If that’s the case, what does one more delay matter at this point? Push it back another year and get it right. Make sure there are plenty of units available to everyone, continue testing with more teams and drivers involved and get it right for 2025. This thing is too big to rush it.
George Phillips
Oilpressure 
December 8, 2023 at 5:59 am
It doesn’t make any sense to introduce this revamped car 1/3 if the way through the season. This hybrid debut will be delayed again so I think you will get your wish after all George. The critics are going crazy. Paraphrasing-IndyCar is done. Put a fork in it. Fire Miles. Penske should sell. It’s a vintage chassis being upgraded to a hybrid It’s too heavy.Why not redesign the whole car? I’m concerned about the look of this. F1’s recent successes have exposed much examination of IndyCar. I’m trying not to be critical but IndyCar has a significant PR problem . 2024 is not getting off to a good start. I hope this is not a harbinger of things to come.
December 8, 2023 at 6:57 am
I couldn’t agree more, George. If they introduce the hybrid during the season, when will the testing occur? I was under the impression that IndyCar teams are pretty busy during the season. The most reasonable time to test would be during the break between Toronto and Gateway, while NBC is busy broadcasting the Olympics, but that’s still just a few weeks, and if people are concerned that making the hybrids available in January won’t leave enough time for testing before St. Pete, how will the Olympics break provide enough time? Moreover, there are only five races after that break, so IndyCar would be jumping through all of these hoops to run the hybrid at just five races.
Putting it off until 2025 makes far more sense.
December 8, 2023 at 7:56 am
You make excellent points, but boy oh boy it’s just another bad look for IndyCar. The scraped 2.4 liter. The perpetually delayed new chassis and 3rd OEM. The failed video game. Now this….
IndyCar hangs their hat on its competition. I agree, it is and continues to be the most competitive major racing series around. But I feel sorry for fans older than me (I’m 48) who grew up watching this sport when its hallmark characteristics were innovation. I’ve spent more years watching a spec series than an innovative one. That said, as competitive as the series is, at some point we gotta have an injection of newness here. It has become Groundhog Day watching these same cars year after year after year go out there. Stagnant. Stale. Whatever other adjectives you desire to aptly describe this deal.
December 8, 2023 at 8:03 am
I agree it makes more sense just to wait a year, rather than put cars on the track with a duct-taped new aeroscreen and an extension cord hanging out the back. Now that Miles announced no new chassis in the foreseeable future why don’t they take a year and have Dallara modify this chassis to better allow for these changes? Or would that technically be a “new” car? I’m shutting up now because I’m talking technical issues I know nothing about.
December 8, 2023 at 9:27 am
Definitely don’t like changing horses in the middle of the stream! The only good that comes from that is someone is going to get really wet. Finish your testing in 2024 and let’s wait for a 2025 debut of a fully operational system.
It wouldn’t be fair for a team to have “issues” due to not being able to work out all the kinks of a new system in the middle of the season.
December 8, 2023 at 9:48 am
I’m thinking they will postpone until 2025 for the reasons you and others mention. They seem to be scared of their own shadow under Mr Penske and cannot take any criticism which a full one years postponement would have brought. I have just listened to Marshall Pruett’s podcast which makes it very clear that if you want accreditation as a journalist you will follow the owners path and views. Any dissent is punished it seems by threats and cancellation. I would not be surprised if Pruett is in trouble and also Pato O’Ward for his comments after his F1 test. Doubt Mr Penske will cancel O’Ward but it does mean that we the fan need to read all commentary with a cynical hat on to access the truth rather than Mr Penske truth. And we all had such high hopes when he arrived as the owner.
December 8, 2023 at 10:11 am
Might as well postpone it to the following season. I’m frustrated that you can potentially pick up fans of Drive To Survive saying “Hey what’s IndyCar about?”. Only for them to see a series with a chassis that is 12+ years old, can’t get a new power plant kicked off. Indycar can’t get out of its own way.
December 8, 2023 at 2:17 pm
It we would stop pointing out that the chassis is 12 years old, people new to the sport wouldn’t know that. I can’t tell one NASCAR from another, nor the current cars from the pervious versions. Most people can’t see a difference between F1, F2, and F3 cars, nor between INDYCARS and INDY NXT cars, so let’s stop complaining about the old chassis.
Most people who already follow INDYCAR do it for the excitement of the racing, and that is what will attract people who watch a race for the first time.
I can remember the days when the winner was the fastest of the few cars which didn’t breakdown. It is important to have a reasonably reliable race car, and I am not in favor of mid-season rules changes in any sport. That always favors some competitors over others.
December 8, 2023 at 6:41 pm
Just read about Honda at Racer.com and Honda’s financial concerns resulting in a potential INDYCAR exit following the 2026 season.
It would appear a wake up call since no third engine supplier is stepping up to join Honda & Chevrolet.
Focus is on the old chassis syndrome ……………
Or prioritize a third engine supplier ? ?
December 8, 2023 at 10:08 pm
I’m a pretty positive guy, and I have no dislike for Indycar as it is and has been in recent years, but…
The series really needs a PR win, because it is racking up the losses in that department.
December 8, 2023 at 10:24 pm
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December 9, 2023 at 3:13 am
Having read Pruett’s latest article in Racer re Honda it would seem that hybrid is extremely important to attract more engine manufacturers and that without more engine suppliers arriving 2027 might be indycar powered by Ilmor or similar. It would also appear that Indycar need to copy IMSA in how they attract engine manufacturers.
Penske is proving to be a tricky owner especially if you are a fan. Pruett once again also took his professional life in his hands in his blog by criticising Penske for not allowing free speech within the reporting community. Pato O’Ward might get away with it but MP is vulnerable.
Something ain’t right and while the chassis is old that is way down the list of problems Penske have on their in list. Seems to me as if a fresh pair of eyes is required or a dictator getting it wrong needs to be toppled.