IndyCar hybrid struggles spark supply scarcity
The steady spate of IndyCar hybrid failures this season has led to a shrinking supply of spare units for its teams.
Some teams have expressed private concerns about the matter, noting that if the current frequency of problems persists with motor generator units (MGU) made by Empel and the energy storage system (ESS) battery packs made from supercapacitors sourced from Skeleton, there could be a shortage of hybrids to outfit the entire field at the end of the season where six straight weekends of racing are scheduled.
Coming off of a Long Beach Grand Prix where multiple failures occurred between practice and the race, and more failures or component problems with items like coolant pumps were experienced at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, plus the recent Detroit Grand Prix, the rate of hybrid unit changeouts has led to a scarcity of ready units heading into this weekend’s oval race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Although it’s not the first time teams have been asked by the series and hybrid service provider Ilmor Engineering to make their spare units available to each other, it has been a busy week with the back-to-back events as one entrant was directed to give its spare to Chip Ganassi Racing to replace the malfunctioning unit in Scott Dixon’s car, which suffered some form of ESS issue at Detroit that ended his race.
After the race, as Alex Palou’s race-winning Ganassi car was disassembled and prepared for WWTR, an excessive wear issue was found with his MGU which led to a need for it to be replaced, so a different team was instructed to provide its spare hybrid so Palou’s car could be reassembled and sent to the event.
A weekend without hybrid failures would help the series and Ilmor to get its inventory rebuilt during the break between WWTR and Road America, which the series says is where its focus is placed once the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 is completed Sunday night.
“IndyCar constantly evaluates the supply and demand of the series’ hybrid power units,” IndyCar said in a statement provided to RACER. “On the heels of a record-breaking month of May and an event on the unique surface features of the streets of Detroit, the series has put a greater focus on inventory and have adjusted accordingly to assure a successful event this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway for teams and fans. From there, a two-week break before Road America will allow suppliers the time needed to ensure the spare quantity needed for the upcoming summer schedule and push towards the finish of the 2026 championship.”
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