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Here’s what this piece covers:
- The long wait for IndyCar’s next chassis
- The new IR-28 and what changes with it
- How the design aims to improve racing
- The updated engine and hybrid package
- Driver reaction and the busy stretch ahead
IndyCar is finally turning the page on a car that has been around for way too long, and the next generation is already locked in for 2028. The new IR-28 chassis was unveiled with a clear mission: keep the soul of IndyCar intact while giving the series a sharper, faster, more modern machine. That matters because the current DW12 has been the backbone of the field since 2012, which is a serious run in a sport that lives on speed and constant evolution.
The basic look still screams IndyCar, and that is exactly the point. Fans do not want something that feels random or disconnected from the sport they know, but they also do not want a car that feels frozen in time. The IR-28 walks that line by keeping the familiar open-wheel identity while pushing the design forward in a way that feels overdue rather than gimmicky.
One of the biggest changes is the focus on the newer hardware already built into the sport, including the Aeroscreen and hybrid powertrains. The car is expected to come in about 100 pounds lighter than its predecessor, which should help with handling and overall responsiveness. That kind of weight drop is not just a number on paper. It can change how a car feels in traffic, through corners, and on the kinds of tracks where precision decides everything.
The aero package also gets a major rethink, with new front and rear wings designed for both superspeedways and road or street courses. That is a big deal because IndyCar has always had to juggle wildly different track types without turning the racing into a parade. The goal here is closer competition, and if the new design delivers on that promise, the series could be looking at better battles all over the calendar.
The bodywork is also doing more than just looking sleek. It gives engine manufacturers more room to show off their branding, and it opens up more sponsorship space across the car. That may sound like a side note, but in motorsports, the business side helps keep the whole machine running, and the more room there is for partners, the more attractive the package becomes.
Under the new formula, Honda and Chevrolet stay in the mix as engine suppliers, which keeps some continuity in place. The new setup will use 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engines that can make up to 760 horsepower, and that should give the series plenty of punch. IndyCar is also moving to a new hybrid system built around a battery-based Energy Storage System with far more capacity than what is used now, so the performance blend is getting a serious upgrade.
That future-facing shift has already earned praise from the drivers, including reigning four-time champion Alex Palou. He said, “Seeing the car for the first time made me even more excited about where IndyCar is going,” and added, “The design is super cool and feels like a proper next step for the series while still looking like an IndyCar Series car.” That kind of reaction matters because the people behind the wheel know immediately whether a car looks like progress or just a fancy redraw.
Even with all the buzz around 2028, the current season still has plenty left on the clock, and the schedule is packed. The series heads to Portland International Raceway on August 9, then moves to the Streets of Markham, Ontario on August 16, before the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC on August 23. After that comes a doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile on August 29 and 30, and the year wraps up at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on September 6.
That stretch gives teams and drivers plenty to focus on while the sport quietly builds toward its next major leap. The new car may be years away from hitting the track, but the conversations it sparked are already doing their job, pulling attention toward what IndyCar wants to become next. For a series that has spent more than a decade with the same core package, that kind of momentum feels like a breath of fresh air.
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