Why can’t the DP01 be used by IndyCar?

The American made Panoz DP01 Champ Cars are now in Europe running in the Superleague series. Instead of blowing money on the new IndyCar chassis that has diabolical handling and is the ugliest race car ever built, IndyCar should have had Elan produce an updated version of this car

A reader writes, Dear AR1.com, With all the concern in regards to looks, appeal, performance and additional costs of the new IndyCar, a question needs to be raised as unpopular as it may seem: where are all the Champ Car Panoz DP01s? how quickly would it be to adapt the new engines to this chassis to create the performance parameters desired? Just a thought. Larry Mayor

Dear Larry, Unfortunately most are over in Europe running in the Superleague Series with a screaming 750 HP V12 nestled behind the driver. Most agree it's a beautiful car and let's not forget that it went around Laguna Seca faster than a Toyota F1 car. Some probably remain in mothballs here.

Ironically that car was designed and built right here in the USA by Elan technologies instead what IndyCar did – they had a foreign company (Dallara – Italy) design and build the new IndyCar, sending money and jobs abroad. This from a company that says it wants more American participation. Mark C.