Lola reveals details of 2012 Indycar

Along with Dallara, Swift and DeltaWing, former Champ Car builder Lola is in contention for the deal to create the new generation Indycar, which will replace the ageing Dallara-Honda spec package after next season.

The Lola concept is visually less radical than the three rival contenders, but the company is still confident that its car can provide extremely close racing without the type of dramatic change in appearance seen on the DeltaWing design in particular.

"Focusing on the rear under-body of the Lola Indycar, designers have found a cost effective and simple breakthrough to ensure that there is a minimum wake for following car," said a Lola statement.

"This means that drafting and slipstreaming will be in the drivers own hands rather than that of the aerodynamics itself."

The design features two options for body style to create variety in the field, but the packages will be performance matched to prevent either having a speed advantage.

One of the most striking elements of Lola's proposal is that its chassis and nosebox would also be used for the Indy Lights feeder category, with an upgrade kit available to help Lights teams step up into IndyCar.

"This will in essence mean that Indy Lights teams will be able to graduate more cost effectively to the IZOD IndyCar Series and teams will find it more commercially attractive to enter cars in each series and to entice new entries into competition," said Lola's statement.

"In addition, the ease of changing the car specifications from one series to the other will ensure high quality and full entries for the Indy 500."

Lola executive chairman Martin Birrane added: "For Lola it is imperative that fans enjoy the cars and a great racing spectacle at trackside and on TV. Lola have endeavoured to capture the great spirit and heritage of IndyCar racing in its thorough commercial and engineering studies."