An ICONIC Death?: Will The IndyCar Bigboys Start a Rival Series?

A recent IndyCar related article had the writer laying down what was his prediction for the future of IndyCar due to the ICONIC committee's choice for the new IndyCar.

It wasn't good.

More to the point, that article predicted that the major teams in IndyCar -- namely Ganassi & Penske -- could potentially end up moving to start a rival open wheel series that is non-spec. The reason being? The Delta Wing.

A Closer look shows why they might be very right:

While some argue that it may not look "cool" enough, the Delta Wing was a revolutionary step in styling and engineering; one that would see the death of the "spec" label in IndyCar and a new generation of competition that was open to all comers to create an IndyCar that could race in the series.

In Short, it would have put the "Indy" back into IndyCar.

But with the ICONIC committee choosing the stasis of the Dallara chassis, those dreams of a 4 cylinder global engine that pumped out hundreds of pounds of torque in a flashy new body went out the window. Along with it, some say, went the future of IndyCar. Because for all the upgrades in engineering and styling the Delta Wing provides, the overriding factor which caused the big teams of IndyCar to side with it was the one that will win out every time:

Money.

Basically, one Delta Wing would cost less than the current -- or future -- Dallara chassis. So, a car that was many times more expensive, less innovative and, frankly, unpopular with most IndyCar fans won out against a design that was revolutionary, more innovative and many times cheaper to make.

If it doesn't make sense to you, just think how much "cents" it must make to the teams shelling out the dollars.

So the reasoning is that since they're spending the money in IndyCar with a Dallara chassis that costs too much and is not giving them the return on investment they'd like -- and seeing that it quite possibly could save them scads money to cut their losses with the IRL and start a totally fresh series -- the bigger teams with the kind of capital and connections to do such a thing may do just that; create a new series with a radical new non-spec open wheel car in a market where the fans are dying for something not spec and the sponsors are looking for the "next big thing".

All things being equal, it could be the solution for all involved -- All except IndyCar.

But the real test comes in 2011. That article predicted that if IndyCar didn't rectify their mistake and allow the Delta Wing chassis into the series, fans should expect a new Delta Wing open wheel series begun by disgruntled owners. To avoid that, though, would mean IndyCar having to admit they made the wrong move.

But, honestly; how many times has the IRL done that in its long history?