ChrisR - 30 March 2008 11:32 AM

I don't think anyone has gone out on a limb so far as to suggest that the DP01 was a good looking car either..

Well, then let me be the first! I think the DP01 is one of the prettiest cars to ever grace a racetrack, and the Dallara looks like an aardvark. Is that partisan enough for you?

That said, the Dallara produced some pretty satisfying racing at St. Pete, and I'll be more than happy if we get more of the same.

I'm curious about the "incredibly bad" statement as well.

johnw63 - 07 April 2008 10:33 AM

I'm curious about the "incredibly bad" statement as well.

Anything involed with ChampCar = Incredibly bad according to Steve.

Neither car did/does wonders for me. The one thing I do love about each is the fact that none have fenders. That's good enough for me. I don't watch races for the looks of a car. I never understood why anyone would go on and on about how a car looks when nobody is asking you to buy one.

Have you seen the new Dallara Daytona Prototype ?

It's not a pretty car. The current IRL chassis has the longest nose, in front of the wheels I can recall ever seeing. There's something about the shape of the sidepods too. To me, it looks like it was built after the aerodynamics guy went home and got a big surprise the next morning.

By the way, the DP01 WAS designed to run on ovals. The Elan/Panoz guys said so specifically.

I told it before. A good mid point between CART and IRL cars could be something like a DP-01 with a NA Honda V8. That should be enough to equal teams, keep the engine and give the series a new look.

Something like this......basicly a Reynard inspired with a NA engine

Looks good to me.

monzarottie - 02 April 2008 01:55 PM

Steve Levin - 02 April 2008 12:01 PM

Hopefully we won't have to go with a car that sacrificed so much to the gods of cost containment, like the DP-01, which was incredibly bad. And boring to look at.

Steve

I suppose aesthetics are somewhat subjective, but I absolutly love the look of the DP01. The rear wing was the only bad visual element IMO. Way too big. It certainly had it's share of teething pains though. Fuel hose interlock, engine re-start and driver seating position were issues at the beginning. All but the engine re-start system had been solved by a few races into the season. It's sole purpose was to race on the roads and streets which in turn makes it an aweful option for the ovals. I would be interested to know what was so incredibly bad Steve? Of course it's all water under the bridge now (Long Beach GP not withstanding)

Let's not forget that the DP01 broke most track records.
The DALLAR was a fill in car until something better came along and that will be the DP01.
The DP01 WILL be back in 2010 with both Ford/Cosworth and Honda power.
Tony Cotman will lead the Indy Car World Series in the right direction.

johnw63 - 08 April 2008 06:30 PM

Looks good to me.

I'll second that. From the front it looks like the older CC cars with the roll hoop, and has the air box where it could handle either a turbo or N/A. Wait....did we just agree on something John?

I don't want a new car. I want a new formula.