– We have waited a long time, now they are here: The first images of the future IndyCar car. We are talking about the Dallara IR-28, which will be used by all IndyCar teams starting with the season after next (2028).
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On Tuesday, IndyCar presented on the one hand the aero configuration for road courses and short ovals, i.e. for permanent road courses, temporary street circuits, and all ovals that are not superspeedways (images 1 and 3). On the other hand, the aero configuration for superspeedways, of which the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the only one on the current calendar, was also shown (images 2 and 4).
Visually, the Dallara IR-28 somewhat resembles the ChampCar era, but especially in the configuration for road courses and short ovals, it features significantly bulkier front and rear wings. Additionally, both aero configurations have large air guide elements in front of the sidepods.
Regarding the powertrain, the current 2.2-liter twin-turbo engines from Chevrolet and Honda will be replaced in the 2028 season, the debut year of the Dallara IR-28, by 2.4-liter engines. These will also be twin-turbo engines and are expected to be more powerful than the current units due to the larger displacement. And: The new engines will be complemented by a hybrid component, which in turn is supposed to be more powerful than the one used since mid-2024.
The IR-28 replaces the Dallara DW12, which has been in use since 2012. The DW12 was originally called IR-12 and was presented as the successor to the IR-05. Test driver for the then revolutionary car was Dan Wheldon, who tragically died during the last race of the IR-05 (2011 season finale in Las Vegas). In memory of Wheldon, Dallara changed the designation for the IR-12 to DW12.
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Since then, the Dallara DW12 has undergone several upgrades. From 2015 to 2017, the two engine manufacturers Chevrolet and Honda each ran their own aero kit. Since 2018, there has been (again) a unified aerodynamics package. The next upgrade came in the 2020 season with the addition of the cockpit protection Aeroscreen. And the latest upgrade was the addition of the hybrid component to the powertrain in the middle of the 2024 season.
The IR-28, in which the cockpit protection Aeroscreen is integrated directly into the concept from the start, unlike the current car, is intended to be not only more powerful but also lighter and safer than the current car. The ongoing 2026 IndyCar season already marks the 15th year of use for the Dallara DW12. The upcoming 2027 season will be the 16th and final year in which this chassis will be seen.
The IR-28, shown for the first time on Tuesday in the form of renderings, will make its race debut at the 2028 IndyCar season opener. However, the first test runs are expected to take place in just a few days. The tracks chosen for the first tests are Indianapolis (both road course and oval) and Sebring. Further tracks are expected to be added during the test program, which will extend into 2027.
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