2012 IndyCar Series season

The Izod IndyCar Series 2012 season was the 17th season of the American IndyCar Series and the 101st season in the American single-seater sports. It began on March 25 in St. Petersburg and ended on September 15 in Fontana.

  • 2.1 Changes to the drivers
  • 2.2 Amendments to the teams
  • 2.3 Changes during the season
  • 5.1 Points system
  • 5.2 Drivers' Championship
  • 5.3 Manufacturers' Championship

Rule Changes

Technical changes

As part of the ICONIC project came in 2012 with some changes in the IndyCar Series. ICONIC is an acronym and stands for " Innovative, Competitive, Open - Wheel, New, Industry - Relevant, Cost - Effective ," which translates something like " innovative, competitive, single-seater, new, industry -specific, cost -efficient " means.

For the 2012 season a new chassis was introduced, the existing chassis, which was introduced in 2003 under the name " IR 03" and since an aerodynamics update, 2005, the term " IR 05" was replaced. There were two different aero kits for road and oval courses. The chassis continued to be produced by the Italian manufacturer Dallara and cost 385 800 dollars. The new chassis is lighter than the previous model, which was actually designed only for oval courses. Originally it was planned that in addition to the aero kit from Dallara also which should be approved by other manufacturers. The launch has been postponed in August 2011 to the 2013 season.

The new chassis was first tested on a road course in early August 2011 in Lexington and on an oval course in Newton end of September 2011 by Dan Wheldon. After the fatal accident of Wheldon at the last race of the season 2011 Dallara decided the chassis to devote him and to call Dallara DW12.

On motor side there also were changes. The previous 3.5 -liter naturally aspirated V8 engine was replaced by a 2.2 -liter V6 turbo engine. In addition to the former sole supplier Honda Chevrolet and Lotus as engine manufacturer went into the IndyCar Series.

The new Honda engine came no longer in partnership with Ilmor, but were constructed by Honda Performance Development in California. For the development of the Chevrolet Motors General Motors and Ilmor Engineering were responsible. The engines were built in Michigan. The Lotus engines were produced by the British manufacturer Engine Developments, better known under the name Judd.

The manufacturer Chevrolet and Lotus put on a twin-turbo, while Honda was treading a different path with a simple turbo. All turbos were manufactured by the supplier Borg Warner.

The tires are delivered and continue to 2013 Bridgestone branded as Firestone.

Sporting changes

The former racing driver Beaux Barfield took over the race director Brian Barnhart out of IndyCar. Barfield was previously 2008-2011 Race Director of the American Le Mans Series. From 2003 to 2007 he was responsible for the race management of the Champ Car series. As Stewart's racing for the 2012 season, the former race car driver Arie Luyendyk and Johnny and Our Gary Barnard, a former racing Stewart the Champ Car series were announced.

For the race at the Iowa Speedway, the starting grid was determined not by a classical qualifying, but by three races over 30 laps each. After training, the fastest ten drivers identified the top ten starting positions in a race. The other drivers were divided according to odd and even positions and determined in a race starting positions 11-13-15 - 12-14-16 and ... - ...

The one season previously introduced double -file restarts, where the drivers drive side by side during a restart in two rows, were largely maintained. The exceptions were the races on the Super Speedway in Indianapolis and Fontana and the race at the Speedway in Fort Worth, where for security reasons single-file restarts have been performed.

Teams and Drivers

All teams used the chassis DW12 and aero kits from Dallara and a Firestone tire.

  • The last race of the season 2011 late Dan Wheldon had a contract with Andretti Autosport.

Changes in drivers

The following list contains all the drivers who participated in the IndyCar Series 2011 season and did not start in the 2012 season for the same team as in 2011.

Drivers who have changed their team:

  • Ana Beatriz: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing → ​​Andretti Autosport
  • Townsend Bell: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing → ​​Sam Schmidt Motorsports
  • Sebastien Bourdais: Dale Coyne Racing → ​​Lotus Dragon Racing
  • Ed Carpenter: Sarah Fisher Racing → ​​Ed Carpenter Racing
  • Mike Conway Andretti Autosport AJ Foyt Enterprises →
  • Wade Cunningham: Sam Schmidt Motorsports AJ Foyt Enterprises →
  • James Hinchcliffe: Newman / Haas Racing → ​​Andretti Autosport
  • Bruno Junqueira: AJ Foyt Enterprises → Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
  • Simon Pagenaud: HVM Racing → ​​Hamilton Schmidt Motorsports
  • Giorgio Pantano: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing
  • Takuma Satō: KV Racing Technology - Lotus Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing →
  • Sebastian Saavedra Conquest Racing → ​​Andretti Autosport
  • Oriol Servia Newman / Haas Racing → ​​Dreyer & Reinbold Racing
  • Justin Wilson: Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Dale Coyne Racing →

Drivers who enter or return to the IndyCar Series:

  • Jean Alesi: break → Lotus - FP Journe - Fan Force United
  • Rubens Barrichello: Formula 1 (AT & T Williams) → KV Racing Technology
  • Bryan Clauson: Indy Lights ( Sam Schmidt Motorsports ) → Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing
  • Michel Jourdain Jr.: Rahal Letterman Lanigan out →
  • Katherine Legge: break → Lotus Dragon Racing
  • Josef Newgarden: Indy Lights ( Sam Schmidt Motorsports ) → Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

Drivers who have left the IndyCar Series:

  • Bertrand Baguette: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing → ​​WEC (OAK Racing)
  • Patrick Carpentier → End of career
  • Raphael Matos: AFS Racing → ​​American Le Mans Series (Performance Tech Motorsports )
  • Vitor Meira AJ Foyt Enterprises → Stock Car Brasil ( Officer ProGP )
  • João Paulo de Oliveira: Conquest Racing → ​​Formula Nippon (Team Impul )
  • Danica Patrick: Andretti Autosport → NASCAR Nationwide Series ( JR Motorsports )
  • Martin Plowman: Sam Schmidt Motorsports → American Le Mans Series ( Conquest Endurance )
  • Scott Speed ​​: Dragon Racing → ​​NASCAR Sprint Cup (Hamilton Means Racing)
  • Dan Wheldon died during the 2011 season

Drivers who do not have a contract for a race seat in 2012:

Completed * 2011 only individual race.

Changes the teams

  • Sarah Fisher Racing takes on this season as Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. The team was responding to the fact that the businessman Willis Hartman is joined as a shareholder of the team.
  • Davey Hamilton took over shares in Sam Schmidt Motorsports, the team of Sam Schmidt. The team entered 2012 as the Schmidt- Hamilton Motorsports on.
  • In early December, 2011, Newman / Haas Racing announced for the 2012 season, no longer in the IndyCar Series to compete. " The economic climate enables Newman / Haas Racing is currently no longer participate in Formula racing ," explained owner Carl Haas step. Newman / Haas was founded in 1983 by Carl Haas and actor Paul Newman and entered since at the top level of the U.S. single-seater Sports: By 2007, in the Champ Car series, since 2008 in the IndyCar Series. Newman / Haas Racing won eight championships: 1984 with Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti in 1991, Nigel Mansell in 1993, 2002 with Cristiano da Matta and 2004-2007 four times in a row with Sébastien Bourdais. Newman / Haas Racing 107 race decided for themselves. Since the death of Newman in 2008, the team had to deal with budget problems. According to media reports, the 2011 season was funded by the Haas family, who hoped with good performance on a financially strong sponsor. Although the team in 2011 with Oriol Servia finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship and Rookie of the Year James Hinchcliffe was, the team was not able to find a sponsor. In early April, the team 's one-time return to the Indianapolis 500 known. However, it did not come to this commitment, as the team in late April withdrew his message to the race. According to the team, the preparation time was too short.
  • The longtime IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter increases with his own team, Ed Carpenter Racing, included in the IndyCar Series. The team belongs Carpenter and his stepfather Tony George, the former head of the IndyCar Series. George has appeared between 2005 and 2009 with the team Vision Racing in the racing series. The team receives financial support from the U.S. professional golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, which occurs with his vodka brand Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka as a sponsor. The team partners with Walker Racing and its team manager Derrick Walker. The team will be located at the seat of Walker Racing and operated by Walker Racing.
  • MSR Indy planned 2012 -seater sports to debut. When Michael Shank Racing, the team competed in the Grand-Am series and has achieved successes there. In addition to Michael Shank The Ballad of AJ Allmendinger and the businessman Brian Bailey are involved in the project. The team finally stepped up to but not.
  • Fan Force United entered the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in the IndyCar Series. The team was joined for the 2012 season in the Indy Lights. The commitment was given relatively short notice before the Indianapolis 500, as Lotus needed a race team for Jean Alesi and Newman / Haas Racing was the end of April withdrawn his message. A co-owner of Fan Force United is the former IRL driver Tyce Carlson.

Changes during the season

Against the Indianapolis 500, the fifth race of the season to Dragon Racing, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport separated from their engine suppliers Lotus. Dreyer & Reinbold Racing finally closed in early May a strategic partnership with Panther Racing and took their second lease agreement for a Chevrolet. Bryan Herta Autosport switched to Honda. Dragon Racing closed during the week of training for the Indianapolis 500 from a contract with Chevrolet. IndyCar responded to these changes and introduced a new system whereby a team during the season the engine manufacturer may only change with a special permit.

Race Calendar

The race calendar in 2012 was originally to be published at the season finale in 2011 and according to statements by series boss Randy Bernard include initially 17 or 18 events. However, a subsequent announcement was announced prior to the event. After the fatal accident of Dan Wheldon at the season finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the official announcement has been moved further back, because studies were taking place to the accident. Beginning of December 2011 finally gave the IndyCar Series announced to cancel the race on the fast oval in Las Vegas in 2012.

The title sponsor Izod were at least 16 events guaranteed. On December 22, 2011, including the race calendar for the 2012 season with 15 events has been published. On 10 February, the IndyCar Series announced to host the 16th event at the Milwaukee Mile.

The IndyCar Series in 2012 returned back to Detroit and entered again on the Raceway at Belle Isle. Recently an IndyCar race took place there, 2008. Also returning to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, where the IndyCar Series took the last time in 2005.

The Streets of Qingdao, Qingdao, the IndyCar Series should be a race in the People's Republic of China will deliver for the first time. However, the race organizers said the race in mid-June. IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said in this context that the status of the scheduled season finale in Fontana is not fixed by contract and the season finale could also take place after this race. About two weeks after the cancellation IndyCar announced that the race schedule is reduced to 15 races as possible replacement events provided no long -term perspective. Title sponsor Izod agreed to the reduction of the racing calendar.

Three races were held on a permanent race track, five races on ovals and seven races on temporary tracks.

  • Explanation: O: oval course, T: temporary race track ( street circuit, airfield circuit ), P: permanent race track

Race Reports

Session 1: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

  • Route type: temporary race track ( street circuit )

The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in the Streets of St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States took place on 25 March 2012 and went over a distance of 100 laps of 2.897 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 289.682 km.

Will Power won the start, but fell strategy conditionally after eleven rounds back into midfield and not make it back to the top. His teammate Hélio Castroneves finally won the race ahead of Scott Dixon and Ryan Hunter -Reay.

It was the first victory with a Chevrolet engine since returning from the manufacturer about this race.

2nd Event: Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama

  • Route type: permanent race track

The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama, United States took place on 1 April 2012 and went over a distance of 90 laps of 3.701 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 333.134 km.

Will Power won the race from seventh on the grid of starting ahead of Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves. Dixon was the most laps in the lead.

3rd Course: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

  • Route type: temporary race track ( street circuit )

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on the Long Beach Grand Prix Circuit, Long Beach, California, United States took place on April 15, 2012, and went over a distance of 85 laps of 3.167 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 269.211 km.

For this race a new scheme for the entire course was full of yellow flags, called Full -Course Caution introduced. So far, the pit lane was blocked at every Full -Course Caution and released only after all the pilots were lined up behind the safety car. Since this Grand Prix pit lane will remain open in the future for all races on non- ovals on Full -Course Cautions without emergency situation. For emergency situations, the previous rule still applies.

Will Power won the race ahead of Simon Pagenaud and James Hinchcliffe. In the final phase Power, who had put on a two-stop strategy documents, and Pagenaud, who stopped three times, close together. It was the first podium placement in the IndyCar Series for Pagenaud and Hinchcliffe.

4 Event: Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle

  • Route type: temporary race track ( street circuit )

The Itaipava São Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle on the São Paulo Street Circuit, Sao Paulo, Brazil took place on 29 April 2012 and went over a distance of 75 laps of 4.081 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 306.097 km.

Will Power led the race for 63 laps and posted his third win in a row ( both on the track, as well as in the season ). Ryan Hunter -Reay was second ahead of Takuma Satō, who reached his first podium placement in the IndyCar Series.

5 Event: 96th Indianapolis 500

  • Route type: oval track (Super Speedway )

The 96th Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States took place on 27 May 2012, and went over a distance of 200 laps of 4.023 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 804.672 km.

In qualifying for the Indianapolis 500, Ryan Briscoe won the day and scored the pole position in front of the two Andretti - pilot James Hinchcliffe and Ryan Hunter -Reay. Since only 33 pilots took part in the qualification, failed not a pilot at this.

After a duel fought out to the lead in the initial phase Briscoe and Hunter -Reay, Andretti finally took the lead and was in the first half of the race a total of 59 laps in the lead, which made him the rider with the most laps led.

While many had completed leading laps mid-race Takuma Satō and Scott Dixon, it came in the final phase to the internal Ganassi duel between Dixon and Dario Franchitti for the lead. With two laps to Franchitti took over the lead. In the final round Satō tried to overtake him, but he lost control of his vehicle while and slammed into the wall.

Franchitti finally won the race under yellow ahead of his teammate Dixon and Tony Kanaan. It was Franchittis third victory at the Indianapolis 500 after 2007 and 2010. He thus became the first Europeans, who won this race three times.

6 Event: Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

  • Route type: temporary race track ( street circuit )

The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix at the Raceway at Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan, United States took place on 3 June 2012 and went over a distance of 60 laps of 3.331 km, which corresponds to a total distance of 199.881 km.

In qualifying, scored with Scott Dixon for the first time no Penske pilot the pole position. Dixon sat down narrowly against Will Power.

In the race, Dixon kept the lead at the start before Power. The two sat on them from on top. In fourth place was EJ Viso, who in the 28th round was staying several pilots behind him until his pit stop.

In the 39th round James Hinchcliffe crashed into the barriers. The trigger for this was be -solving track surface. The race was continued first neutralized with yellow and finally stopped in the 45th round with the red flag. The defective track surface was removed and replaced with new. After a two-hour break, the race was restarted and reduced the distance from 90 to 60 rounds.

Dixon kept the lead again and achieved a start - to-finish victory over his teammate Dario Franchitti and Simon Pagenaud. It was Dixon's first win of the season and the first time since the introduction of several engine manufacturers, that the first three pilots all used the same engine.

Ratings

Points system

The points were awarded according to the following scheme:

In addition, there was an additional point for pole position and two additional points for the driver who has led the most laps the race.

For the qualifying session for the Indianapolis 500, the points were awarded as follows:

Drivers' championship

Manufacturers' Championship

In the Manufacturers' Championship, the points were awarded according to the scheme 9-6-4. It was one of the best ranking in each of the respective manufacturer. All other results were not included in this classification.

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