The NTT IndyCar Series will have teams fit a new version of the Aeroscreen safety device to their cars beginning this weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
The new polycarbonate screen and surrounding carbon fiber frame was revealed during the off season and was originally scheduled to make its debut at the IMS road course event in May.
Sufficient production numbers have allowed for all teams to take delivery of the new components earlier than anticipated, and all 27 cars will feature the new screen this weekend.
Although visually similar to the original screen, the new components are significantly updated.
The upgraded Aeroscreen is now 6mm thick, down from 9mm, and has been lightened from 18.8 pounds to a trim 14.5 pounds.
Combined with the new titanium halo structure that was introduced at the start of the season, the cars now feature 11 pounds less weight in a critical area of the chassis that sits high above the track.
Tino Belli, IndyCar’s director of aerodynamic development, outlined the changes to the new components, which include additional venting for driver comfort.
“One of the objectives of doing a 2.0 version was to save weight,” said Belli. “Then we’ve taken that opportunity to also make the styling nicer, improve the driver ventilation, and make the thinner polycarbonate as strong as the thicker polycarbonate.”
“When we did the version 1.0, we weren’t quite sure the exact field of vision the driver needed, so we maximized it. We realized this space here [at the top edge of the Aeroscreen] could be changed from polycarbonate to carbon fiber.
“That allowed us to sneak in a little bit of air underneath the top frame. There’s a little duct that drives the air down onto the driver’s chest, which is very important.”
Drivers have universally noted the extreme heat inside the cockpit since the Aeroscreen’s introduction in 2020, with the aerodynamic shape of the screen leading to stagnant air where the driver sits.
Some drivers have dismissed the higher temperatures as a standard obstacle that they, as athletes, should be able to overcome, but others have reported dangerous effects from the heat that has affected their performance while at race speeds.
Cockpit temperatures around street courses have been a particular concern, where speeds are lower and there is even less airflow across the driver’s body.
That may have played a role in the decision to implement the new parts earlier than planned, with drivers set to take on the Long Beach street course this weekend.
The new Aeroscreen was seen fitted to cars that participated in the hybrid powertrain test at the end of March, and the new parts were seemingly given a seal of approval from teams and drivers.
All road and street courses for the remainder of the season will feature the completed Aeroscreen upgrade, with the hybrid powertrain still set for introduction in June or July.
The first live session with the new screen will take place on Friday on the streets of Long Beach, and the race will begin at 3:30PM Eastern Time on Sunday, April 21.
