1997 Dallara IR7

Dallara has supplied the cars for Indycar since 1997 and since 2006, Dallara has been the only supplier for this open-wheel car American Championship. In 2008, Indycar, initially called the Indy Racing League (IRL), integrated the CART-Champ Car into a single championship called the Indy Car Series, to which Dallara is the sole supplier.

The first car built by Dallara for the series was called the IR7 and was replaced the following year by the IR8. The IR01 was introduced in 2000, followed in 2003 by the Dallara IR03/05, and continued until 2011.

For 1997, along with the introduction of the IR7, naturally aspirated V8 engines served as a replacement for the previous turbocharged engines. The engines offered approximately 700 horsepower at 10,500 RPM and clothed with a carbon fiber body shell.

The 1997 Indy Racing League season began on August 18th of 1996 and continued through October 11th of 1997, consisting of ten races. The Indianapolis 500 was won by Arie Luyendyk while Tony Stewart won the championship. Many of the teams raced with the Dallara IR7 with many equipped with Oldsmobile engines. Other racing chassis included the Lola T92, Lola T94, Lola T95, G Force GF01, Reynard 94I, Reynard 95, Reynard 95I, and Riley & Scott Mk V.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2021