INDIANAPOLIS -- The Champ Car World Series will introduce a
new smaller, sleeker and safer car for 2007.
New Champ Car president Steve Johnson said Tuesday that the
Panoz DP01 racers, built by Elan Motorsports. Technologies, will be
equipped with beefed-up 775-horsepower Ford-Cosworth turbocharged
engines.
The Panoz will look similar to the Lolas and Reynards used in
the series in recent years, but the new cars will be smaller in
both length and width and weigh 165 pounds less than the current
cars.
"This combination benefits Champ Car not only by providing a
strong package for our current teams, but also by giving
prospective teams an opportunity to be competitive right away,"
Johnson said.
He said technology designed into the DP01 incorporates new
aerodynamic features that make the car better suited to the urban
street circuits that dot the Champ Car circuit, which also includes
road courses and ovals. The changes are intended to allow more
passing because smaller wings and bigger tunnels will create less
turbulence for cars in traffic.
Another a e area
around the driver's head and seat back, and increased leg padding.
The design also incorporates a collapsible steering column, new
side intrusion panels and a two-stage nose crush and rear crash
structure for oval events.
Johnson said the 2007 package also is designed to reduce
operating costs for the teams. A new rolling chassis will cost
approximately 35 percent less than the current car, while the cost
of spare parts is expected to be about 50 percent lower.