A Year in Racing Factory

Nr. 9 Year 2010 MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY DALLARA FACTORY USA STEFANO DE PONTI, HEAD OF DALLARA OPERATIONS IN AMERICA, TELLS US ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE INDIANAPOLIS PROJECT: NEW CAR’S PRODUCTION, A WIDER HORIZON FOR THE BUSINESS AND A LOT OF FUN FOR THE FANS THANKS TO THE NEW DRIVING SIMULATOR A YEAR IN RACING FROM F3 TO THE WORLD SERIES RENAULT, FROM GP3 TO GP2, FROM INDYCAR TO INDY LIGHTS: 2010 HAS BEEN A TRIUMPHANT YEAR THAT CONFIRMS THE QUALITY OF BOTH THE DRIVERS AND THE DALLARA CARS AFTER THE FIRST STONE FOR THE NEW HEADQUARTERS WAS LAID LAST NOVEMBER IN SPEEDWAY, INDIANA, WORK BEGAN ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FACTORY, WHICH WILL BE OPERATIONAL BY NEXT AUGUST, A FEW YARDS FROM THE LEGENDARY 500 MILES TRACK. STEFANO DE PONTI, HEAD OF DALLARA OPERATIONS IN THE USA TELLS US WHAT THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE LIKE; HE REVEALS THE COMPANY’S AMERICAN PROJECTS AND EXPLAINS THE REASONS FACTORY USA FACTORY INDIANAPOLIS,FOR THE SUCCESS AND THE AFFECTION THAT DALLARA HAS RECEIVED ON THEDALLARA OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN - Stefano De Ponti, would you tell us attention. He made two speeches, about the USA had been in the company’s about the experience on the day the his experience as a driver and the plans for a long time. The impetus came first stone was laid for the new Dallara American competition, from Roger with the renewal of the contract to factory? Penske to Bobby Rahal, from provide the cars for the Indy Racing “It really was an experience. In Indianapolis to Sebring, and he really League, which will begin in 2012. The particular for me, living in the States, to connected with the Americans”. factory will be Dallara’s main project in see the engineers, Dallara, Pontemoli the USA, but not its only one. and Toso and his wife realising how - When did you decide to build a new We will be active much Dallara is loved and respected in factory, and what were the intentions? in America. It was an all American party, “The idea of expanding commercially but with a lot of warmth, and Dallara and technically in himself was very much the centre of 2 A DRIVING THE FUTURE other fields, even outside motorsport, racing. The idea is to expand the design level, aerodynamics, safety, not exporting the technology, know-how and collaboration, which in Europe we have necessarily to do with motorsport”. engineering experience that we have been involved in for some time, to the acquired in these decades of success in big American car manufacturers: at a - What is the next step and when will 3 FACTORY USA FACTORY the factory be officially opened? - What has been the key to establishing have a lot of experience in what they call Can you give us an idea of the cost Dallara in America? “moving marketing”, they manage all the involved? “I think the style, which reflects the marketing for the Indy Racing League, “After the laying of the first stone, the founder’s style. Dallara was humble when with most of the attention being on the “groundbreaking” as they call it in it arrived in the states, it was willing to public. For example, they manage the America, the demolition work to clear learn and open discussions, but also two-seater IRL, which is used by VIPs and the old buildings in the designated came strong in technical competence. It businesses for racing experiences, and area got underway. The unit will be was 1997, two years since Tony George also the trucks that they bring to the operational between the end of July had created the Indy Racing League after races that contain real museums, and the beginning August 2011. The the split with CART. Dallara, the engineer, allowing the spectators to learn and total cost is 12 million dollars, 7 of accepted the challenge, setting the experiment with the technology. In the which are for the building“. business up according to two main new building they will be busy with principles. The first was safety, essential marketing whilst we work on the - The American factory is more than just on circuits where it is quite common to construction and planning, sharing the an industry, it also a plan for social and race at over 200 miles an hour; the space and continuing with a logistical urban regeneration, can you tell us a bit second is the technical aspect, the tricks relationship as far as parts are about this important aspect? of the trade which were new to Dallara concerned”. “The factory is located in Speedway, on the oval tracks. Thanks to the work of a city that is about 3 miles from all the engineers, including Andrea Toso - How are the exchanges between Indianapolis downtown. himself, they arrived at being the best. Varano and Indianapolis going, in It is a city that dates back to the And with that came the respect of the particular from an engineer’s point of beginning of the twentieth century, it Americans who are pragmatic on the view? grew around the circuit that in 2011 track and in business, but who are “The intention is to create a Masters will celebrate 100 year of the 500 miles. particularly interested in results”. course, together with the University of The actual speedway is about 450 yards Indiana and Italian Universities, where from the new factory, in the historic - Who are the people you worked with in Dallara will train the American engineers centre that hosted a number of the USA, and how did the collaboration of the future. The reason Perdue companies, such as Riley & Scott, which come about? University in Indiana, is interested in constructed cars in the thirties that they “Dallara USA does not currently exist. We this, is so they do not have go abroad to could then test on the track. work together in a joint venture with Indy find motorsport engineers in the field of Today it is an area of redevelopment, Racing Experience, which is how we are and they thought it appropriate to work and the Dallara factory is at the centre represented in the distribution of our with Dallara. There will be students who of this project”. parts in IndyCar and IndyLights. They come to visit for the varying periods of 4 time in Verano, and Italian engineers tyres, simulating refuelling in a graphics, available to the spectators”. who will spend time at Indianapolis. It is mechanic’s overalls. Furthermore there a project that is very much in Gian Paolo will be the chance to ride in a two-seater - Can Dallara become an example of Dallara’s heart”. on the Speedway: in the USA you can put Italian entrepreneurship that knows how a number plate on a racing car, making to expand thanks to the strength of its - What is going to be the route for the it “street legal”. Finally, it is going to be ideas and projects? visitor to Dallara at Indianapolis? possible to visit the more technical areas, “Italy should learn from the USA: the “There will be two areas for the fans. the workshop where the cars are openness with regards to ideas, the Upon entering the Dallara area they will designed, assembled, and where we also passion and the willingness to invest. In be shown and explained how are racing construct some spare parts. There are America there is enormous support for car is born, they will walk down a path also plans for a restaurant”. those who come from abroad, it there is with video displays and it is our the quality; the proof is in the great intention that the enthusiast will have - What role will the new simulator play, appreciation Dallara has had in the USA. leant how to plan and manage a car, and how similar will it be to that which In the United Stated you don’t get ahead from materials to the design of the is about to be unveiled at Varano? by knowing the right person, or having parts. A virtual museum that can be “A smaller version of the simulator friends in high places, you need to be understood by people, even if they are that has just been unveiled will be taken good at what you do. If you demonstrate not engineers. In the second area to the Indianapolis factory, to be used by competence and the fans will be given the the engineers and the team. Then we reliability, you will chance to experiment in will have other simulators, with simpler be rewarded”. the pit-stop, changing software but highly refined 5 A YEAR IN RACING Edited by Alessandro Santini IndyCar A great battle between championships that hinged on a high level technical fight FRANCHITTI between the top teams. In a historic Indy- Car season, which saw the announcement of the next generation of cars for 2012, the competition on the track highlighted the STAYS quality of the cars and drivers, giving both fans and professionals a memorable year. The two drivers involved in a final race duel, Will Power and Dario Franchitti were racing at their absolute limits; but in the ON TOP end the versatility of the Scottish driver from the Ganassi team won out once again. The Dallara IR105 has reached its penultimate year; winning races and pro- ving the quality that has already turned Italian constructor into a monopoly. This year, once again the quality of the IndyCa- r’s technical package has been confirmed in the fastest championship in the world, adapting to the different types of track, from the fast oval circuits to those that take place on the roads.

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