IndyCar confirms lighter, more powerful Dallara chassis plans for 2028 season

IndyCar gave an official status update on its next-generation chassis prior to qualifying in Wisconsin, sharing details on the car that’s planned to be lighter — with a more powerful engine — after sharing the updates in a private meeting with team owners on Saturday.

“The time has come for a new NTT IndyCar Series chassis," IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles said 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 completely new car.”

The next IndyCar chassis is currently slated for a 2028 launch, with on-track testing set to begin in early 2026. Plans include between 85 to 100 pounds of weight reduction (led by a 25-pound decrease from the gearbox) and a step up in displacement to a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 internal combustion engine — along with continued evolution of the hybrid unit first introduced in 2024. In comparison, the current IndyCar series regulations require a 2.2-liter, V-6 twin-turbocharged engine. 

Confirmed suppliers are no surprise. Dallara will produce the chassis, continuing a relationship that dates back to 1997 and has been exclusive since 2008. Xtrac will produce transmissions - an exclusive role it’s had since 2000. PFC will supply brakes. 

No engine suppliers were announced in Saturday’s release. Chevrolet and Honda are the current OEMs, but have deals that end after 2026.

The release continues: “We are pleased by what our engineers and Dallara have collaboratively designed and believe it will appeal to the fans and paddock while also upholding our standards of safety and enhancing IndyCar’s on-track competition well into the future.”

IndyCar noted three areas targeted with the new car: competition, powertrain development and safety.

Noted in the release were aims for a hybrid unit with longer deployment and more horsepower gain, along with a more ergonomic driver cockpit to improve seating position, an integrated aeroscreen and a new roll hoop. The series plans to unveil renderings and more information at a later date. 

The current car has been in use since 2012, with adaptations made over time to accommodate modern implementations such as the aeroscreen and hybrid unit.