The Great Chassis Debate of 2010: The Lola

Lola was the fourth contestant in the great chassis debate of 2010, but that certainly takes nothing away from their effort.  The Lola design is by far the closest in the evolution of design to the current Dallara Indycar.  There are slight deviations in style and design from the current Dallara, however anyone looking at the Lola design who currently is aware of Indycar would know instantly what series the concept belongs in.  This is obviously something that would not be said of the Delta Wing project.

There are positives and negatives to this.  The negatives are that the Lola doesn’t appear to be moving quickly into the future.  The Delta Wing certainly is a radical design that would change the future of Indycar.  Lola would not necessarily do this, however that may not be considered a negative by all.  In keeping with the same general style of the current car, Lola would ensure that current fans of the Indycar series would continue to be fans. 

One major concern for the Indycar Series is to gain a new group of fans to add to their current base.  The Lola will not do this simply based on its appearance.  The car is too close to the current version to turn heads based on looks alone.  So if Lola is chosen as the chassis, the main idea to bring in more fans is to improve the racing on the track.

Lola recognized this during their design period and came up with a few ways which will peak interest in the series through their evolutionary design.  One basic way this was done was to allow for two different type of chassis packages based around the universal Lola design. 

Lola claims the two packages can be run without any advantage over one another and can fit several different types of engines.  Lola emphasizes that many engines can fit, ensuring that whatever engine choice or choices the series makes from 2012, their chassis will not need to be retrofitted.  Whether or not the car will be able to perform equally with two packages is yet to be seen, however.  This is a problem with test cars.

You have to run them in order to understand if they are actually going to work the way you hope they are.  The positive of multiple chassis designs like this is that it will allow certain teams to stand out with a different look, and will allow for different types of sponsor liveries on the cars.  Lola has also noted how other packages could be fitted to their basic chassis design. 

Essentially, this could allow for a basic tub based chassis that allow for individualization of each car based on whatever type of kit is used to finish the look.  While this might not be the multiple chassis series that most people clamor for, it seems to be the closest that will occur.  This is similar to the Delta Wing idea of multiple people making the same car.

Lola also has one idea that is specific to their design.  The company has made their chassis design so that parts of it can be used in both the Indy Racing League and the Indy Lights.  This will make it much cheaper for Indy Lights teams to upgrade their cars in order to run in the IRL for a package of races, or even for a team to upgrade for good. 

This will also allow young drivers in the Indy Lights series to get a better feel for what it is like to drive an Indycar.  Currently, there is not a great feeder system for the IRL, with the Indy Lights cars being vastly different from their big brothers.  A design like this would vastly improve the skill and familiarity of young drivers with the Indycar Series. 

In the end, the Lola is not revolutionary in its design, but is may be just what the series needs.  Its most important features are in the flexibility it allows for Indy Lights, as well as for multiple chassis kits within the Indycar Series.  The series must currently weather the economic storm, and Lola would help many teams do that by not greatly altering the cars themselves, and making for a greater efficiency of dollars spent for all teams.  Lola may not be the most exciting choice for Indycar, but it just might be the smartest.  At the very least, the series should note Lola’s idea about integrating the Indycar with the Indy Lights series and keep the company in the loop for future chassis consideration.