Four-time IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon thinks that the series and Formula One are heading in a different direction with cockpit protection and that a screen based design is more likely.
Research into cockpit protection was made a priority after fatal accidents in both F1 and IndyCar in 2014 and 2015. F1 has focused on the halo device as their solution, but Dixon doesn’t think that will be the case for IndyCar.
“I think IndyCar, from the stuff I’ve seen, is going in a different direction, probably more of a screen implementation with some pretty trick materials,” the 36-year-old said in an interview with Motorsport.
“I think 2018 is kind of the goal right now, and they were talking about possibly running simulations at the end of ’17 to see how it works. I know that they’re gearing up to try.”
He previously said in an interview with the outlet last year that they would have problems with the halo device on oval courses, saying that the hoop would block their view in turns.
While 2018 might be a target for cockpit protection in the series, Dixon warns that they shouldn’t rush the development of their solution.
“Something that’s going to push a pretty large safety item forward has to be managed quite well and understood fully before it can just be thrown out there.”
