On-track testing of the 2015 Chevrolet Aero Kit. All photos from www.indycar.com

Last week Chevrolet introduced its new road course/short oval aero kit design at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) during the Verizon IndyCar Series media day. New front wing elements, sculpted side pods, and a new rear wing distinguish the new aero kit from the previous race car.

Road/Street car renderings between the Dallara IC-12 and the 2015 Chevrolet aero kit.

According to sources at Chevrolet, the new speedway configuration aero kit for high speed ovals will be introduced ahead of its competitive debut at the Indianapolis 500 in May.

“This is an important milestone in Chevrolet’s involvement in IndyCar racing,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors US vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “We focused on developing an aerodynamic package that delivers an balanced combination of downforce and drag, along with integrated engine performance. It’s a total performance package.”

“This new aero kit provides Chevrolet drivers the capability to enter and exit corners faster, while maintaining high speeds on the straights,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet IndyCar program manager.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) illustration for the 2015 Chevrolet IndyCar aero kit.

Development of Chevrolet’s new IndyCar aero kit consisted of nine key phases:

• Conduct baseline analysis of the “DW12” racecar aerodynamics
• Establish clear design goals for the new aero kit, which include making the most of downforce, drag, and engine performance
• Develop design concepts using computer-aided design (CAD)
• Analyze structural properties using finite element analysis (FEA)
• Simulate aerodynamic properties using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• Produce test parts using rapid prototyping processes such as 3D printing
• Conduct testing of a 50-percent scale model in a rolling–road wind tunnel
• Conduct testing of a full-scale racecar in a rolling-road wind tunnel
• Conduct track testing of prototype aero kit on select race tracks including: Homestead-Miami Speedway, Circuit of The Americas, Texas Motor Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway.

“We took a clean-sheet approach to the aero kit, delivering an optimized and efficient design that should really give our Chevrolet teams an edge,” said Berube.

Chevrolet engineers work on the 2015 Chevrolet aero kit 50% scale model.

The road course configuration’s changes over the 2014 DW12 aero package are easily identified by major components, including:

• A front wing that features new pedestal-mounted “front uppers” toward the outer edges
• New sculpted “wheel wedges” in front of the rear tires
• An engine cover and side pods that have more compact shapes achieved through a revised turbocharger and exhaust system layout
• New larger rear-bumper pods
• A multi-element upper rear wing along with louvered end plates.

The new Chevrolet aero kit will make its competitive debut on March 29 at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida.