Dallara Issues Urgent Bulletin Following Serious Crash at Detroit Grand Prix
Detroit, MI — In response to a serious incident during the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, Dallara, the manufacturer of the DW12 chassis utilized by all IndyCar teams, has released a technical bulletin instructing teams to inspect the mounting brackets associated with the chassis. This comes in the wake of Louis Foster’s crash while driving the No. 45 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.
During Sunday’s race on the 1.6-mile circuit, Foster experienced a catastrophic failure of the right-front suspension at speeds approaching 180 mph. The failure caused the suspension component to collapse inward, leading to a collision with the barriers and, subsequently, with Felix Rosenqvist’s No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing Honda. Foster’s vehicle was destroyed, marking the second chassis loss for RLL since April, following Takuma Sato’s incident during an Indy Open Test.
While Foster emerged unscathed, Rosenqvist suffered a knee injury but was subsequently cleared to race after medical evaluation. Repairs for Rosenqvist’s chassis are expected to exceed $250,000.
The problematic brackets in question are integral to the DW12’s suspension system, featuring captured K nuts for swift adjustments. The failure occurred at the lower right-front leg of the inner bracket, which detached from the outer structure, precipitating the suspension collapse.
Teams employ these brackets for efficient tuning of suspension geometry, allowing rapid modifications with minimal labor. Although teams may opt for alternate bracket designs, doing so would significantly slow down the adjustment process.
Crew chiefs have reported varying responses; some teams are replacing the inner brackets entirely, while others will inspect and reuse brackets that pass safety checks. The incident underscores the critical nature of structural integrity in high-speed racing environments, prompting immediate attention from all teams involved in the series.
