P1racenews AI automatic summary:
IndyCar has delayed the introduction of its hybrid unit again, from the start of the 2024 season until after the Indianapolis 500 in May later next year
IndyCar has once again delayed the introduction of its hybrid unit, pushing it back from the start of the 2024 season to after the Indianapolis 500 in May of that year. Testing of the re-worked hybrid unit, which utilizes a super-capacitor to minimize the need for excessive batteries, began in August. However, multiple issues during testing, supply chain problems, and difficulties in producing enough units quickly have put immense strain on the project. The units are now expected to launch after the Indy 500, potentially during the second half of the season, with the Mid Ohio race in July being a likely target. The delay is the latest in a series of setbacks in IndyCar’s pursuit of hybrid technology, which initially pushed back the introduction of a new engine from 2021 to 2022, and then to 2023 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. IndyCar remains committed to introducing hybrid technology in the near future and expects that the weight-saving measures implemented, such as a new aeroscreen, lighter gearbox, and revised storage for the hybrid unit, may lead to record-breaking lap times in early 2024.
