In an effort to reduce costs for competing teams during the 2009 season, Dallara has revealed that it will lower the price of parts for its IndyCar Series chassis.
The manufacturer plans to reduce the cost of general and specific spare parts, including items such as wishbones, wings and radiators, by between 8-20 per cent, and estimates that the average team savings will be approximately eleven per cent compared to 2008. The new prices will be available to teams when the 2009 catalogue is released in January.
“Everybody knows that this is a difficult time, and we have to do our best now to help the teams,” IndyCar Series project leader Andrea Toso admitted, “If we can help the teams go through this difficult time, it is in the best interest of the manufacturers, the series and the teams. If we don't do anything now, maybe one year from now it's too late. We hope that all suppliers and partners will understand this initiative and follow suit.”
A long time partner to the IndyCar Series, Dallara has been providing chassis to teams since 1997, and hopes to remain involved when the series revises its technical package in the future.
“In light of the current global economic crisis, to see the effort Dallara has made to help all of our teams with an across-the-board cost reduction is truly the definition of a partner,” admitted IRL president of competition and operations Brian Barnhart, “They are just going out of their way to do what they can to ensure the stability of the IndyCar Series, beginning in 2009.”
The move to reduce costs caps a frenzied IndyCar Series season for Dallara, which saw the addition of 15 new chassis to the field to meet the demand of increased car count resulting from the unification of open wheel racing less than 30 days prior to opening day.
“The ability to ramp up and supply equipment on that late of notice after unification showed their commitment to the series as well, and now what they are doing from the business side is a tremendous gesture and hopefully one that can be followed by other suppliers in the series,” Barnhart concluded.
