Anatomy of an Indy car

Click the image above to access a high-res car anatomy image.
1. Front tire
2. Center spine
3. Anti-roll bar adjusters
4. Refueling adapter
5. Headrest structure
6. Oil cooler
7. Fuel vent
8. Roll hoop
9. Air jack fitting
10. Turbo inlet
11. Oil scavenge tower
12. Rear anti-roll bar assembly
13. Rear damper/spring assembly
14. Transmission/gearbox
15. Rear wing
16. Front wing
17. Front brake disc
18. Brake master cylinder
19. Front spring/damper unit
20. Front air jack
21. Engine Control Unit
22. Water radiator
23. Molded seat
24. Impact lights
25. Exhaust system
26. Turbocharger
27. Rear brake disc
28. Rear attenuator
29. Rear tire
FRONT WING: The front wing (16) works in conjunction with the rear wing to create aerodynamic downforce
and balance between the front and the rear of the car. There are two configurations with the 2018 universal
aerodynamic bodywork kits: one for speedways and the other for road/street courses and short ovals. There
are multiple component options that teams can utilize to improve handling.
REAR WING: The rear wing (15) works in conjunction with the front wing to create aerodynamic downforce
and balance between the front and the rear of the car. There are two configurations: speedway and road/
street course and short oval.
CHASSIS: The central part of the car, including the driver’s compartment. The chassis is constructed of
carbon fiber and other composite materials. As the frame of the car, the chassis houses the center spine
(2), anti-roll bar adjusters (3), the refueling adaptor (4), headrest structure (5), fuel vent (7), roll hoop (8),
air jack fitting (9), turbo inlet (10), brake master cylinder (18), front spring/damper unit (19), front air jack
(20), molded seat (23) and impact lights (24).
SIDEPOD: Also included in the chassis is the sidepod, the bodywork on the side of the car covering the oil
cooler (6), engine control unit (21) and water radiator (22). The sidepod and its components aid in engine
cooling, car aerodynamics and driver protection in case of a side impact.
FUEL CELL: The fuel cell is made of rubber and is covered with a Kevlar-fitted blanket for extra protection
in side impacts. It holds 18.5 gallons of Speedway E85.
GEARBOX/BELLHOUSING: There is an assisted gear shift system utilizing paddle shifting. Paddles are
located on the back of the steering wheel, with the right paddle moving up gears and the left paddle moving
down gears. The bellhousing connects the gearbox to the engine. Key components of the gearbox bellhousing
include rear anti-roll bar assembly (12), rear damper/spring assembly (13) and transmission (14).
ENGINE: Chevrolet and Honda supply 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 engines with
approximately 550-700 horsepower for the diverse schedule – from street/road courses to short ovals to
superspeedways. The engine houses the oil tower (11), the exhaust system (25) and the turbochargers (26).
TIRES: Firestone Firehawk racing radials are mounted on 15-inch rims with front tires (1) approximately 11
inches wide and rear tires (29) approximately 15 inches wide. The weight of a car at speed is approximately
four times the static weight, so the tire sidewalls have to be strong enough to handle the stress, yet thin
enough to dissipate heat. Surface contact with the track for each tire at any time is about the size of a
credit card.
FRONT/REAR SUSPENSION: The front and rear suspension attach the wheels to the chassis. It is designed
to withstand all the braking and acceleration loads in addition to vertical loads. The suspension includes the
front brake disc (17) and rear brake disc (27).