An Indy car is a specific type of open-wheel, open-cockpit racing vehicle designed to compete in the IndyCar Series, the premier level of American open-wheel racing. These are not production-based cars but highly specialized single-seater machines built for extreme speed and performance on a variety of tracks, including ovals, road courses, and street circuits. The term is most famously associated with the Indianapolis 500, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The modern IndyCar chassis is supplied by Italian manufacturer Dallara, specifically the "Dallara IR18" model used by all teams, which creates a competitive, cost-controlled environment. The cars are powered by hypowertrains developed by manufacturers like Honda and Chevrolet. These are not pure internal combustion engines; they utilize a 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired with an Energy Recovery System (ERS) that harvests energy from braking, similar to technology in Formula 1. This system provides a temporary power boost to the driver.
A key differentiator from other racing series like Formula 1 is the variety in the racing calendar. Indy cars are built to be versatile. The setup and downforce configuration for a high-speed oval like Indianapolis are drastically different from a technical street circuit like Long Beach. This requires a unique blend of engineering and driver skill.
| Feature | Specification | Comparison Context |
|---|
| Top Speed (Oval) | 235-240 mph (378-386 km/h) | Significantly faster than F1 on ovals due to low-downforce setups. |
| 0-60 mph Acceleration | Approximately 3.0 seconds | Comparable to the fastest supercars. |
| Power Output | 550-700 horsepower (with push-to-pass boost) | Lower peak power than F1, but racing is often closer. |
| Primary Chassis Supplier | Dallara (IR-18) | Standardized chassis for all teams, unlike F1's constructor competition. |
| Engine Displacement | 2.2L Twin-Turbo V6 + Hybrid (ERS) | Smaller displacement than historical Indy cars but with hybrid technology. |
| Weight (Minimum) | 1,590 lbs (721 kg) without driver | Lighter than a Formula 1 car. |
| Race Series | NTT IndyCar Series | The premier North American open-wheel series. |
| Most Famous Race | Indianapolis 500 | Often called "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." |
Owning or driving an Indy car is not something for the public; they are purebred race cars. The term is sometimes incorrectly used as a catch-all for any open-wheel car, but it correctly refers to the machines that compete for the IndyCar championship.
