IndyCar, a popular open-wheel racing series in the US, will officially introduce hybrid racing cars to its events starting in 2022.
The hybrid racing cars will be equipped with a hybrid powertrain with 900 hp, which is based on the components developed by Honda and Chevrolet.
The racing car’s drivers will be able to start the hybrid racing car inside the cockpit directly, rather than relying on the traditional method of using an electric starter to activate the engine outside the car. This will not only help the drivers to cut the restarting time during the race but also lower the risks for the drivers and crew. With the hybrid system, the proceeding of the race will be speeded up.
According to Jay Frye, the president of IndyCar, the introduction of a hybrid powertrain will be an exciting moment for IndyCar races. To provide a clear and stable norm for the engine manufacturers and racing teams, IndyCar will introduce a new set of engine rules from 2022 through 2027.
The decision by IndyCar to introduce hybrid cars has received largely favorable responses from racing drivers like Josef Newsgarden, who expressed his support for change on Twitter.
(Collaborative media: TechNews, first photo courtesy of syliphoto via Flickr CC BY 2.0)