Photo: Will Power at the IMS hybrid test.

Today’s news about Indycar’s delaying the new hybrid component was not a complete shock. Statements from Jay Frye and Mark Miles left a lot of doubt that the system would be up and running by the St. Pete opening round.

News trickled out slowly this morning. First came word that the December test in which all teams would have a chance to test the new configuration was cancelled. Miles still insisted that the series would be ready to debut on opening weekend, and that there was no Plan B.

Then early this afternoon Indycar posted a slick PR release announcing that they are working on the hybrid component, and it will debut when it’s ready, sometime in the second half of the season. The second half of the season begins at Mid Ohio July 7.

Indycar press release:

Development of INDYCAR Hybrid Unit Sees Significant Steps in Preparation for 2024 

It appears the issue is the supply chain, although I suspect there are still problems with consistency and reliability of the unit. It seemed to be working well at the oval test at IMS in October, and the drivers seemed intrigued by the potential of the new tool in their toolbox.

No matter how this situation is spun, it is not a good look for Indycar. Fans are eager for something new. My preference would have been a new car. The series has very stale optics- a 12 year old car and engine formula; little change in race weekend formats, for example. While hybrid technology is intriguing and could change the racing strategy, it is not something that a fan can see.

A postponement is probably the correct call. Indycar must get this right. The first half of the season would likely see a lot of mechanical issues, which the series would not want at Thermal or the Indianapolis 500.

I think the call to wait is fine, but it doesn’t go far enough. We have waited this long, and Indycar already lags F1, WEC, and IMSA in introducing a hybrid unit. What is the harm in waiting until 2025?

The release said teams will be testing through the first half of the year. Not every team has the units, and there is no timeline for them to get them. Once the season begins, there are not many times for testing. There is one week after St. Pete, three weeks after the Thermal VIP event, and one week after Barber, which teams might want for Indianapolis preparation. Competiton takes up five consecutive weekends beginning in May.

Another factor to consider is competitive balance. Four teams-Team Penske, Arrow McLaren, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Andretti Global – have done all the testing. The other six teams do not have any chance at getting in the mileage that those four have had during 2024.

The second half of next season could see races with higher than normal attrition and could affect the championship down the stretch. The end of the schedule is oval heavy, and I am still not sure how a hybrid works on an oval.

The six teams who have yet to run the new power units could have a potentially decent season ruined by the mid-year introduction of new rules. The NBA doesn’t make baskets from behind the arc worth four points after the All-Star break.

The positive in today’s events is that Indycar realized that their hard St. Pete deadline was not attainable, and they adjusted. I think they need to adjust even more, and let’s wait until 2025 at St. Pete to introduce the hybrids.