INDYCAR Announces IR-28 Chassis to Debut in 2028

EDDIE KALEGI - STAFF WRITER

Initial rendering and design of the IR-28. Photo Credit: INDYCAR Communications (July 28, 2026)

After 16 years of the Dallara DW12, the NTT INDYCAR Series will make a long-anticipated pivot to a new chassis.

The series announced Tuesday morning that the new IR-28 will debut in 2028, described in the release as a chassis that is "faster, lighter, and built to break records."

"With initial testing to begin this week, there is still plenty of work to do before 2028," INDYCAR president Doug Boles explained. "But we are well on our way to showcasing a new era of INDYCAR, which will include enhanced wheel-to-wheel competition, track records, standards in raceability, and new benchmarks in safety."

The new vehicle, also designed by Dallara like its predecessor, will be powered by a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine, with a maximum capacity of 760 horsepower. The IR-28's hybrid system will be similar to the current design that debuted at Mid-Ohio in 2024, as INDYCAR has opted to avoid an emphasis on battery power and recharging like Formula One's new regulations that have faced intense scrutiny.

The IR-28 will feature several enhancements from the DW12, including a sleeker and more improved aeroscreen, a new front and rear wing design with an oval variation that significantly increases downforce, and new anti-roll bars that can be adjusted by drivers to suit their liking, while also improving driver safety.

The IR-28 also boasts a new suspension system. The Custom AXIS Inertance Control system expands tuning options for the springs and other elements, doing so while simultaneously increasing setup flexibility and decreasing overhead costs.

Most notably, despite the expansive enhancements and changes, the IR-28 will weigh approximately 100 pounds less than the DW12. According to the release, the lighter chassis and its "more favorable power-to-weight ratio enhances raceability to allow drivers to push harder and deliver even more competitve racing and wheel-to-wheel action."

“Seeing the car for the first time made me even more excited about where INDYCAR is going," four-time NTT INDYCAR Series champion Alex Palou said. "The design is super cool and feels like a proper next step for the series while still looking like an INDYCAR SERIES car. I think the fans are going to love it, and as a driver I cannot wait to get behind the wheel. The most important thing is that we keep the close, fun racing that makes INDYCAR special, and from what I’ve seen, we’re heading in a really good direction.”