INDYCAR’s Hybrid System Could Be a Factor at Indy
Photo: Chris Owens/Penske Entertainment
By Dennis Krause
Since it’s introduction nearly one year ago, the NTT INDYCAR Series’ hybrid system hasn’t proved to be much of a factor in determining winners and losers. That could all change in the lead-up to and running of the 109th Indianapolis 500 Presented by Gainbridge.
This week’s two-day open test on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval gave an interesting preview as to what may unfold in both qualifying and the race.
The hybrid system, developing jointly by Chevrolet and Honda, which can generate an extra 60 bhp also adds an additional 100-pounds to a nearly 1,800-pound racer - a not insignificant weight increase. It was something that was noticed by all 34 drivers at the speedway in near ideal conditions in which teams were able to test with both normal boost in race trim as well as increased boost for qualifying.
Last year’s pole sitter, Scott McLaughlin, picked up where he left off a year ago, posting the fastest qualifying boost speed of 232.686 miles an hour in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet.
“It was a good read with a heavier car. The biggest thing that has changed now is the heaviness of the car,” commented McLaughlin. “It's very different. It feels weird. Not weird, but just feels different to usual.
“To do that and be able to have an extra session at high boost rather than throwing it out on Fast Friday, who knows there could be rain on Fast Friday. You never know here. It's nice to come out here in reasonable conditions, not too much wind, have a feel for it, get an introduction to what it’s going to be like.
“The car is certainly different with the extra weight and whatnot,” McLaughlin continued. “I think speaking to a lot of the drivers, I think we all concur the same thoughts: it's different.
“It's fine, fun to get used to and understand it. I feel like I really honed in on a lot of things at a low intensity level just to feel out the car and see where we're at. Qualifying is going to be proper in terms of just what you need to do on the lap and thinking about what the car’s doing, the degradation of the tires with the heavier car. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
“I think as well, if we have a hot day for the 500, it's going to be pretty fun. Yeah, just trying to get comfortable with the race car. Hopefully we're good.”
Photo: James Black/Penske Entertainment
Three-time and two-time reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou was fastest in race trim in Thursday afternoon’s session, turning a lap at 223.993 in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. He, too, has a better understanding of how the hybrid system will impact qualifying and the race.
“I think qualifying, it's going to be very interesting. I think we've seen a lot of people doing very different stuff. We still don't know what's best. I think we need to analyze and see what the drivers from our team have done differently one to the other and see what’s fastest.
“You can do many different stuff. There's crazy ways to do in qualifying. I think it's going to depend a lot on the conditions, like if it's very windy or not.
“Then for the race, it's actually a big boost. It just gives you enough that you're in the lead, maybe you can keep it on the lead for one lap, then obviously you need to recharge. Probably you get passed then.
“It's good enough that you can pass. You can pass when you're fourth to third or fifth to fourth, when the tires are good. Then when you have no tires, it's pretty tough.”
Palou, the current championship leader, believes the additional weight of the hybrid system will lead to drivers making more mistakes, allowing for more passing and position changes.
“It's tough. I would say that the weight makes it tougher to drive, which then I think it's not easier to pass with the weight that we have. But it's tougher to drive, it's a lot easier to see people doing mistakes.
“I think in the past two or three years, it was super easy that if you were comfortable with your car, you just stay there, don't go 100%, wait for the car in front to do a mistake, then you go.
“Now, even if you are comfortable and you have a really good car, it's very easy to do a mistake, which then creates a gap for the guy behind to get a chance.
“I don't think the weight helps, but I think the weight helps because it's so difficult, that creates opportunities.
“We will have to see again when everybody is on the same tires. I think we will see more mistakes than now. Now when you don't have tires, you just get passed and you cannot really do anything. It's a test, so you really don’t want to defend crazy either.
“Yeah, I think it will be interesting. It will be fun.”
Photo: Paul Hurley/Penske Entertainment
Current championship runner-up Kyle Kirkwood was third fastest in Thursday’s afternoon session in his No. 27 Andretti Global Honda. Although seventh fastest in qualifying trim in the morning, Kirkwood was pleased with his speed.
“Yeah, we were actually extremely happy. We feel like we actually missed on gears because it was faster than we anticipated, which is a positive thing. We were anticipating it being quite a bit slower because you can only use it once, you're not going to regen anywhere in a quallie sim. If anything, it's hurting your speed with the added weight.
“We expected it to be a bit slower,” admitted Kirkwood. “That actually wasn't the case. We were in pretty decent times, speeds, compared to last year. Not so bad, I would say.
“It doesn't feel anything crazy. I just say with the added weight, people are going to be a lot more scared to trim to the level they have in the past. I think last year guys were minus seven (degrees), minus seven and a half I think Palou was at one point two years ago when he got the pole. I don't see that you'll have those kind of numbers that we had in the past trim-wise.”
How far might teams go in trimming their cars out for qualifying compared to previous years?
“That’s the question, right? We’ve always gotten to a point, everybody has, that you get to a trim level that is not very efficient, when the wing starts going negative. You saw guys put it in the wall today. That's just because it's hard to drive now.
“Quallie sims at the level we did now compared to last year were much, much harder. It was not the same quallie performance we would have had in previous years.
“The weight is definitely playing a factor in that. I imagine people will be tempted to, right, because it will be more of a gain efficiency-wise. Yeah, it's more sketchy, for sure.”
Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or Motorsports Minute + on Facebook.