Panoz DP01

Panoz DP01
Category	Champ Car World Series
Constructor	Panoz/Elan Technologies
Designer(s)	Simon Marshall & Nick Alcock
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon Fiber monocoque
Length	190 in
Width	78 in
Wheelbase	123 in
Engine	Cosworth XFE 2,650 cc (162 cu in) V8 Turbocharged Mid-engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	7-speed semi-automatic sequential w/paddle-shift
Fuel	Methanol
Lubricants	Roshfrans
Tyres	Bridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrants	all 2007 Champ Car teams
Notable drivers	all 2007 Champ Car drivers
Debut	2007 Vegas Grand Prix,; Las Vegas, Nevada

The Panoz DP01 is an open-wheel race car that was produced by Élan Motorsport Technologies at Braselton, Georgia, United States. It was developed for use in the 2007 Champ Car World Series season, replacing the aging de facto-spec Lola chassis. The DP01 was introduced to the world at the 2006 Grand Prix of San Jose on July 28, 2006. Due to the February 2008 sale of Champ Car to the Indy Racing League, which uses its own spec equipment, the car is not currently used in a professional racing series in the United States. The final race for the car was the 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Development concepts

The Panoz DP01 was developed to be safer, and less aero-dependent while racing closely with other cars than previously existing Champ Cars. At a weight of 1460 pounds, the DP-01 was 105 pounds lighter than the outgoing Lola and approximately 9 inches shorter. It featured a 950-horsepower Cosworth XFE 2.65-liter turbocharged V8. The DP01 could go from 0-60 mph in 2.2 seconds, 0-100 mph in 4.2 seconds, and had an approximate top speed of 240 mph.^[2]

The Panoz had numerous changes from the previous Lola car, including more downforce from the underbody. Approximately 60% of the car's 5,500 lb (2,500 kg) of downforce at 200 mph (320 km/h) came from the bottom of the car. This was done by directing the air in a way so as to create additional downforce on the car, thereby effectively sucking it to the racetrack. This put less dependency on the front and rear wings in the event of a failure at high speed.

Another major change from the previous car was the raised nose, which was moved farther above the front wing and directing more air to the underbody aerodynamics. The raised nose also created a safer environment for the driver in the event of a head-on collision with a wall or another car.^[3] The driver sat more upright than in the Lola chassis, to reduce the chances of back injuries, and to better accommodate the use of the HANS device.

Champ Car intended to lower the purchasing cost of the chassis and spare parts to ease the financial pressure on the teams, who had to purchase a brand new car and were not able to reuse their existing chassis. Whereas the outgoing Lola chassis cost approximately US $450k, the DP-01 cost US $295k. Spare parts were also priced at about 30 percent cheaper, with a gearbox costing US $45k rather than US $110k and the price of a complete nose assembly was set at US $16k rather than US $33k.^[4]

Unveiling

The DP01 was officially unveiled to the public at the Champ Car Grand Prix of Road America on September 24, 2006. Brazilian Roberto Moreno piloted the DP01 at the unveiling, putting down a few demonstration laps shortly before the feature Champ Car race that day.

Panoz DP01, original livery
Panoz DP01 with Cosworth XFE engine
Roberto Moreno, driver of the unveiling laps

Debut

The first Champ Car open test of the DP01 took place January 23 to January 25, 2007, at Sebring International Raceway. The second open test occurred on February 12 and 13 at MSR Houston. The third and last open test before the season took place March 9 and 10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The Panoz DP01's race debut was at the Vegas Grand Prix on April 8, 2007. Team Australia's Will Power won the inaugural pole and the first race with the DP01.

Final Champ Car DP01 race

In February 2008, the sale of Champ Car to the Indy Racing League (IRL) was consummated. Since the IRL used its own spec formula based around a chassis made by Italian manufacturer Dallara, the DP01 was retired from championship racing after approximately one year of racing service. The 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach held in April 2008 served as a "Champ Car finale", and the DP01s were used by all participants.

Current status

The Panoz DP01 is no longer being manufactured. However, Elan Motorsports Technologies did use the car as somewhat of a model for the Panoz DP09 chassis for the Superleague Formula series that houses a naturally aspirated Menard 4.2 V12 engine.

DP01s owned by most Champ Car teams were sold to privateers in the United States and elsewhere. Two examples of the cars in use during 2010 were in the BOSS GP Series, where the chassis was campaigned by Henk de Boer and by Peter Milavec.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Former Atlantic Championship president Ben Johnston also owned multiple DP01s, which he intended to be raced in a new multi-class open-wheel racing series called GreenPrixUSA.^[8] However, the series was delayed due to track and possible engine issues.^[9] As of 2016, Johnston was forced to liquidate his racing assets due to divorce.

Complete IndyCar Series results

(key)

Year	Entrants	Engines	Drivers	No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
2008	Dale Coyne Racing	Cosworth XFE V8 t			HMS	STP	MOT	LBH	KAN	INDY	MIL	TXS	IOW	RIR	WGL	NSH	MDO	EDM	KTY	SNM	DET	CHI	SRF¹
			Bruno Junqueira	18				12
			Mario Moraes	19				20
	Forsythe/Pettit Racing		Paul Tracy	3				11
			Franck Montagny	7				2
			David Martínez	37				8
	HVM Racing		E. J. Viso	33				9
			Nelson Philippe	4				15
			Roberto Moreno	14				17
	Rocketsports Racing		Antônio Pizzonia	9				16
	Rocketsports Racing		Juho Annala	10				18
	KV Racing Technology		Oriol Servià	5				5
			Will Power	8				1*
			Jimmy Vasser	12				10
	Walker Racing		Alex Tagliani	15				7
	Pacific Coast Motorsports		Alex Figge	29				14
	Pacific Coast Motorsports		Mario Domínguez	96				3