IndyCar Announces Next-generation Chassis for 2028 Launch, Focusing on Speed, Safety & Competition
West Allis, WI – June 21, 2025 – IndyCar today unveiled details of its highly anticipated next-generation chassis, slated for debut in the 2028 NTT IndyCar Series season. The announcement, made prior to qualifying in Wisconsin, signals a critically importent evolution for the series, building upon the success of the current DW12 chassis while prioritizing increased performance, enhanced safety, and thrilling on-track competition.
“The time has come for a new NTT IndyCar Series chassis,” stated IndyCar President J. Douglas boles in a press release. “The DW12 served the series so well, as it provided a combination of phenomenal, wheel-to-wheel racing and critical enhancements to safety. But recent significant updates to the car – from the aeroscreen to the hybrid power unit – have helped advance the need for a entirely new car.”
Key Features of the Next-Gen IndyCar Chassis:
Weight Reduction: The new chassis is targeted to be 85-100 pounds lighter than its predecessor, with a significant 25-pound reduction coming from the gearbox.
Increased Engine Displacement: A move to a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 internal combustion engine will provide a boost in power, up from the current 2.2-liter configuration. advancement of the hybrid unit, first introduced in 2024, will continue, aiming for longer deployment and increased horsepower.
Proven Partnerships: Dallara will continue its long-standing partnership with IndyCar, producing the chassis – a relationship dating back to 1997 and exclusive since 2008.Xtrac will remain the exclusive supplier of transmissions, a role held as 2000, and PFC will continue to provide brakes. Engine Supplier Future: While Chevrolet and honda are the current engine suppliers, their contracts expire after 2026, leaving the door open for potential new manufacturers.
Focus Areas:
IndyCar highlighted three core areas driving the development of the new chassis: competition, powertrain development, and safety. The series aims to create a car that not only delivers exhilarating racing but also provides a platform for innovation in hybrid technology and maintains the highest standards of driver protection.
On-track testing of the next-generation chassis is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a full launch planned for the 2028 season.
