IndyCar plans to test cockpit shield “before the end of this year”

While Formula 1 plans to introduce the Halo device on cars from the start of next season, IndyCar will be going in the ‘windshield’ direction for its extra cockpit protection device. A significant part of the reasoning for that is a halo’s interference with vision for drivers on ovals.

Frye told Motorsport.com: “Plans are still moving forward, and we’ve been doing a lot of things behind the scenes. You can do a lot of initial testing without actually having the device on a car on track, but we’re hoping to have something on track this fall.

“The most difficult part is the ovals because of sightlines as you’re looking up and ahead around a banked track.

Having the airbox deleted from the 2018 car removed took some potential aerodynamic questions out of the equation, because it meant we didn’t have to worry about how the shield might interrupt flow through to the engine.

“But still, we’ll run a car and do a direct comparison – with and without the shield – to see how it might affect the car’s behavior.”

Frye said that IndyCar’s technical team was aiming to use a single device that could be used on both road/street courses and ovals.

“You either have to have a piece that works on all our different track, or you have to have multiple applications,” he said. “Obviously the optimal thing would be to have a device that worked everywhere so that’s what we’ve been trying to go for. Ultimately, the big thing will be to get driver input.

“Then we’ll look at how it is when stuff gets on the shield – how it affects vision, how well does it come off.”

Asked if he expected the shield to be used in IndyCar races in 2018, Frye replied: “It’s debatable right now. We’ve got to get this thing right, and we’re not going to do anything until it’s right.

“We’re working hard but the timeline is dictated by our progress rather than the other way around. The goal is to get it on the car this fall and that will decide what and when our next step is.”