Today’s question: INDYCAR introduced Tuesday the IR-28 race car that will make its competition debut at the start of the 2028 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. What was the most striking aspect of the new car to you?

Curt Cavin: There is much to digest – and watch develop – with this new IR-28, and I’m eager to see a field of these cars in 2028. The bodywork behind the front wheels is designed to improve air flow, thus allowing trailing cars more maneuverability without being disadvantaged. The goal is to make this car upward of 100 pounds lighter, and that’s something the drivers will appreciate along with the rebalancing of the car’s overall weight. The additional cockpit space will benefit not only Graham Rahal but those drivers who prefer larger steering wheels, as Alexander Rossi does. (Elbow skin should be better for it, too.) From a visual standpoint, I like the sleek back half of the car. But most of all, I like that it’s a new car with a familiar feel. It looks like a modern Indy car.

Eric Smith: I like this new design. A lot. I believe INDYCAR SERIES machinery has a distinct identity, and it should stay that way. This car strikes a nice balance between preserving that DNA and introducing a futuristic look. What stands out most to me is the front end. The aeroscreen blends seamlessly into the chassis because the car was designed around it from the start, giving it a much more integrated appearance. The front wing, wheels and anti-interlocking extensions on the outer leading edges of the floor also caught my eye. Not only should those features help reduce tire-to-tire contact, but they also appear to improve airflow, which could lead to even better racing.

Paul Kelly: I'm the resident curmudgeon of the staff, but I really like the look of the IR-28. It's a sleek, modern machine that's unmistakably an INDYCAR SERIES car. I make no bones that the early 1990s is my favorite era of INDYCAR SERIES design, with the low, flat engine covers making the cars look like sleek land missiles. Now, I understand the engines and turbocharger design are different today (and in 2028) than in 1991, but I love how the engine cover drops more dramatically from the back of the roll hoop on the new car. It's a nod to the DNA of those fantastic-looking cars of the early 90s, which pleases me to no end.