hpras wrote:Part of the reason for the aero kits was to provide manufacture differentiation. Be able to look at the car any say Chevy, instead of getting to spot the logo. AFAIK, any engine manufacturer is allowed in so long as they agree the can supply their proportion of the field plus one. After the Lotus fiasco, Indycar is rightly a little gunshy about smaller manufacturers. Inline fours would require heavy reengineering of the car or even a whole new chassis. The current car is designed to use the V6 as a stressed member. I4s don't have the same structural properties.
I'd like to see an opening of the rules, 3.5 stockblocks like the Ecoboost vs current bespoke 2.2L engines vs World Car 2L engines. Each would have strengths and weaknesses. Won't happen.
Indy car trying to control and ensure supply is robbing the series of verity. If they are just the regulatory body then teams would be forced to find their own engines within the rule from any supplier.
Indycar as a regulator should just be focused on a balance of performance that would keep cars close but distinct.
PS- All the stock blocks would not be a stressed member and would need a frame to strengthen the car as in LMP2. The same can be done to I4 engines. Even F1 engines sometimes do not have the required stiffness that they run additional frames around engines. The current DW12 is quiet generic and modifications can be made quiet easily.