Alexander Rossi became the first driver to test the new IndyCar chassis, the IR-28, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on Saturday. Rossi, who drives for Ed Carpenter Racing, completed the initial shakedown of the vehicle one day before reigning champion Alex Palou was scheduled to take his turn.
Expected weight reduction compared to the current car
IndyCar officially unveiled the IR-28, a Dallara chassis scheduled to debut in the series in 2028. It is the first new car for the category since the DW12 debuted in 2012 and the first designed with the Aeroscreen and hybrid system in mind. The new machine will be accompanied by refreshed engines from Chevrolet and Honda.
It’s like Christmas morning. We’ve all been waiting for this for a long time.
Testing took place on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Intermittent sprinkles limited on-track time, but Rossi reported that the baseline was comfortable from the start. He noted that the only real issue encountered was replacing one sensor.
Rossi described the car as having incredible qualities and being a joy to drive. He stated that he was blown away when he first saw it and that pictures did not do it justice. According to Rossi, the preparation for the shakedown was impressive, and he could not recall a previous test going as smoothly.
Drivers react to design and performance
Other drivers also expressed enthusiasm for the new chassis. Marcus Ericsson of Andretti Global said he jumped in and quickly got the urge to take it for a spin. He praised the integration of the Aeroscreen with the rest of the chassis and aerodynamics, adding that he wished the series could adopt the car sooner than 2028.
The car looks beautiful, futuristic, and very impressive.
Will Power, Ericsson’s teammate, said he was excited to see what was inside the car. Tony Kanaan, the retired Arrow McLaren Team Principal, commented on the visual appeal of the vehicle. Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, who was used for the seat fit and initial sizing of the cockpit, said he liked the design a lot.
Alex Palou, the four-time and reigning IndyCar Series champion who drives for Chip Ganassi Racing, said seeing the car for the first time made him even more excited. His teammate Kyffin Simpson stated that the car had exceeded expectations. Drivers from other teams, including Jack Harvey of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Felix Rosenqvist of Meyer Shank Racing, also shared positive initial impressions.
