Last week IndyCar announced that its much-anticipated hybrid power system would not be ready in time for the 2024 season opener in St. Petersburg.
Citing a need for more time to complete development of the system, but not laying out exactly what was preventing a full rollout by March, the series made the difficult decision in order to ensure that all teams could properly test the final product before being asked to run a race with it fitted to their cars.
As of now, only a handful of the largest teams have been part of the testing. And though the tests have been secretive, it appears those that have helped with development also see the need for the delay.
Chip Ganassi discussed his thoughts on the delay, and stated that the decision to push back introduction of the hybrid system is the right one given its current state.
“It’s interesting, it takes a lot of things to come together to make an announcement that you’re going to go hybrid,” said the experienced team owner. “It’s equally difficult to announce it’s going to be delayed.
“It’s unfortunate, no question. But it’s probably the right decision. Knowing all I know, and from what I understand, it was probably the right decision to make.
“Sure, it’s not our first choice. I wouldn’t say it’s the optimal thing to do, to delay it, but it was the right thing to do with everything I know.”
With Ganassi’s crew and drivers assisting with on track testing from the very beginning, he is more aware than most of what the lingering issues are and if they would present any problems during a race weekend.
It is thought there are still critical reliability concerns with a portion of the system, but team owners and series officials agreeing that a further delay is appropriate is the only public commentary offered to date.
Ganassi went on to explain that bringing the system in halfway through the year isn’t a bad thing in his book, despite the odd situation of having only a portion of a championship season featuring the major power unit innovation.
“Having said that, if they bring it in halfway through the season, I don’t think it’s as big a deal as people would think,” Ganassi continued. “In the test that we’ve done with the hybrid, the teams are going to find it very easy to transmit over to that program when the time comes. I don’t see that as a big thing.
“We want to make sure it’s ready, when it’s ready for prime time, then bring it along, but not too soon to discourage the type of great racing we have right now. I don’t think we want to do anything to impede that.
“Our on-track product is very, very good right now. More passes, more on-track passes than any open-wheel series in the world I think right now. I think that speaks for itself in terms of IndyCar.
“We don’t want to mess that up or we don’t want to mess up the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, which is the Indianapolis 500. I think if the hybrid comes along sometime after that, it will be fine.”
Chip Ganassi Racing plans to run five full time entries next season, more than any other team on the grid.
The first race of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series season is scheduled for March 10, with the hybrid components not coming until sometime after the Indianapolis 500 on May 26.
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