The longstanding use of magnesium wheels might change in 2026 or 2027.
The steel, which has been a typical alternative for many years in IndyCar because of its light-weight property, is turning into more and more onerous to accumulate from distributors who’re able to doing the massive castings required to create the specialised racing wheels.
As a outcomes of the shortage, RACER has discovered the NTT IndyCar Sequence is in talks with its groups to make a change to aluminum wheels after subsequent season, which is a extra frequent materials that’s readily solid or cast in excessive volumes.
Distinctive to IndyCar, groups have amassed huge stockpiles of magnesium ‘aero’ wheels that characteristic a big lip on the entrance wheels that help in smoothing airflow because it strikes throughout the floor of the wheels and onto the again of the automobiles. A lot of these magnesium aero wheels have been in use for fairly a while, and likewise undergo from age-related corrosion, which take them out of competitors.
O.Z. Racing, which has served as the most well-liked vendor for magnesium IndyCar aero wheels, is known to be in discussions with the collection to fabricate wheels in the identical measurement — basically equivalent to the magnesium models — in aluminum, and if it’s authorized, a wholesale changeover could possibly be required.
RACER understands the ultimate specs for the aluminum wheels haven’t been set, however attaining an identical weight to the magnesium wheels is claimed to be a precedence, and because of the usage of a much less unique steel, prices would come down with every set.
At current, new magnesium wheels price $1650 apiece — entrance or rear — and $6600 for an entire set. In transferring to aluminum, a worth discount within the vary of $750 or extra for every set is feasible.
On common with the 27 full-time IndyCar entries, groups begin every season with 10-12 units per automobile (40-48 wheels), and as crashes occur and wheels are destroyed, most groups guarantee they preserve a minimum of 10 units per automobile to finish the yr.
