IR-28: The striking chassis people are calling "Batman's new toy”
On the 28th of July 2026, IndyCar unveiled their latest secret in the form of a red and white glistening livery which was marked with nothing aside from the number 28. A brief trailer was narrated by Matt Damon as the previous generations of Indycar played across the screen. IndyCar has famously been referred to as “the fastest racing on earth” due to its natural speed among ovals where the cars are able to sit comfortably at a consistent 200mph. The last time IndyCar introduced a brand-new chassis was in 2012 with the Dallara DW12, which was named after the late Dan Wheldon. Although the car has received many aerodynamic and safety developments since then, the American-based series had yet to release something new on the asphalt. Until now.
The current specs on the DW12 consist of a carbon fiber monocoque chassis which has a 2.2 litre twin-turbo V6 hybrid engine with a 6-speed sequential transmission. The IR-28 specs sit differently, with a 2.4 litre twin-turbocharged V6 Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) capable of producing 760 horsepower (which will now be able to be viewed via a transparent engine cover window) as compared to the DW12 which only produced up to 650 horsepower. The new chassis also weighs 20 pounds lighter than the DW12 as well as new additions to the wings, not only making it more generally aerodynamic, but also allowing the drivers to optimise being able to overtake on track, essentially making for more exciting racing.
The IR-28 with these new aerodynamic and technical improvements are statistically set to break track records that have stood since as far back as 1996. Cars can follow each other more closely on track, and more tightly through the corners. This next generation car is set to provide greater energy storage considering that the cars are still based on a low-voltage hybrid power unit, and greater torque which greatly enhances performance of the car. The car showcases a slimmer design compared to the width of the DW12 while featuring a wider cockpit, and more modern design. An enhanced airflow and cooling system have also been added ensuring that the drivers are more comfortable during races. Especially considering the high temperatures that they face continuously through the season as the series primarily races in America.
The IR-28 is now the strongest it has ever been. After reviewing previous data and incident analysis, this chassis is built to withstand greater impact, notably on the structure surrounding the cockpit, including a natural tendency for the car to remain grounded during incidents that would usually cause the car to become airborne, proving that the safety of drivers is prioritised. The IR-28 will run sustainably as IndyCar continues to use 100% renewable race fuel powered by Shell. This also includes sustainable tires, incorporated from a drought-tolerable desert shrub, and the requirement that all official race transporters run on renewable diesel.
The new competitor will enter the IndyCar scene starting from 2028 onwards.