Dallara DW12

The Dallara DW12 (formally named the Dallara IR-12) is an open-wheel formula racing car developed and produced by Italian manufacturer Dallara for use by the teams in the IndyCar Series. The DW12 was first used in the 2012 IndyCar Series season, replacing the nine-year-old Dallara IR-05 chassis. It is to be replaced by the planned Dallara IR-28, whose arrival has been pushed from 2027 to 2028 by engine-production delays, supply chain delays and financial problems.

Under a deal negotiated by the IndyCar organization, each chassis costs $349,000. Since 2015, Honda and Chevrolet have offered alternatives to the Dallara aerodynamic kit. No IndyCar chassis has been used for a longer period of time.

The DW12 added safety features such as a partial enclosure around the rear wheels and a redesigned front section intended to prevent single-seater crashes such as the one that killed Dan Wheldon, the chassis' test driver and namesake. Wheldon was killed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2011, the final race of the previous IR-05. The nomenclature recalls that of the old Formula One team Ligier, whose cars were labeled JSxx after French F1 driver Jo Schlesser, who died in the 1968 French Grand Prix.

In 2010, the Indy Racing League began to forge its ICONIC Plan (Innovative, Competitive, Open-wheel, New, Industry-relevant, Cost-effective). The ICONIC committee was composed of experts and executives from racing and technical fields: Randy Bernard (IndyCar CEO), William R. Looney III (military), Brian Barnhart (IndyCar), Gil de Ferran (retired Indy 500 champion), Tony Purnell (motorsport), Eddie Gossage (Texas Motor Speedway), Neil Ressler, Tony Cotman (NZR Track Consulting), and Rick Long (motorsport). That year, IndyCar accepted proposals for a new chassis from BAT Engineering, Dallara, DeltaWing, Lola, and Swift. On July 14, 2010, organizers announced that they had accepted the Dallara proposal.

The ICONIC plan was implemented in the 2012 season. The cars used through 2011—a 2003/2007-model Dallara IR-05s with naturally aspirated V8 engines (required since 1997)—were retired.

Under the ICONIC regulations, all teams compete with a core rolling chassis, called the "IndyCar Safety Cell". Teams outfit the chassis with body work, referred to as "Aero Kits": front and rear wings, sidepods, and engine cowlings. Any manufacturer may market an Aero Kit, but must offer it to all teams under a price ceiling. Purnell invited car manufacturers and other companies such as Lockheed Martin and GE to develop kits.

The IndyCar Safety Cell was capped at a price of $349,000 and are assembled at a new Dallara facility in Speedway, Indiana. Aero Kits are capped at $70,000. Teams may buy a complete Dallara safety cell/aero kit for a discount.

On May 12, 2011, Dallara unveiled the first concept cars: one apiece in oval and road course Aero Kit configuration.