The Panoz DP01 Champ Car finally made its debut in front of the racing community at an exclusive unveiling ahead of this weekend's San Jose Grand Prix, and received a rapturous welcome from all concerned. source: crash.net / champcarworldseries.com The DP01, the first American-built chassis to compete in the series since Swift in 2000, will replace Lola as the car of choice for the Champ Car teams, and features the latest in aerodynamic technology designed to provide better handling in traffic and closer racing with more passing opportunities. "Aerodynamically, we have broken away from various existing Champ Car features, which have been a product of the existing regulations," Elan Motorsports chief designer Simon Marshall said in a statement to accompany the launch, "We have to create the downforce in a sensible manner that is not as set-up critical, and which is less affected by traffic turbulent wakes. [Chief aerodynamicist] Nick [Alcock] has produced a superb underbody for this car, and an awesome looking topside which should keep the fans [and drivers] excited." The design team set out to create a car that represented the latest in technology, but which still featured the silhouette recognisable to Champ Car fans. The final product incorporates a number of changes to the original car, with a paddleshift gearchange and change of seat angle designed to improve driver safety upping the technological ante inside the cockpit, and various wing improvements aiming to provide the desired aero requirements. "One of the key design elements for us was that it look like a Champ Car, and we were able to maintain the look," said series technical director Scot Elkins, "There's a lot of F1 elements to it, but it still looks like a Champ Car. The exposed roll hoop, the slope of the engine cover, low to the ground - it's a look that the fans will recognise as a Champ Car." More than 20,000 man hours went into the design and construction of the new chassis, which is designed to be faster, lighter and safer than the current Lola. The chassis is more than 100 pounds beneath the weight than the current car, but features a number of safety innovations, including a collapsible fuel cell, that will provide even more protection to the drivers.
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