The Verizon IndyCar Series yesterday unveiled the car that will be used next season, calling it "bolder, safer and more thrilling" than the current car, according to Jim Ayello of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. IndyCar President of Competition & Operations Jay Frye said that among the biggest positives of the '18 car is that it will cost teams "less money to convert their current cars than once was initially imagined." Perhaps a more important fact is because there are "fewer and less expensive parts to the kits, the annual costs to teams for maintaining their cars" will be 30-40% less than they are now. Frye said that the savings "hopefully will encourage new teams to enter the series." Ayello notes the new car has a "retro chic design" that has received "rave reviews from fans, media and drivers alike." Designers reverse-engineered the car to give it a "historical feel but make it also a very forward-looking car." IndyCar also "boasted an enhanced LED display system on each car, which previously showed what position the car was in, the time of a pit stop and when push-to-pass is being used, saying it will be more fan friendly in the future." As for the car being "'more thrilling,' IndyCar expects that the car, now lighter than before, will be faster at some tracks" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/25).
