IndyCar must handle change well in 2012

Coming on the heels of both Dario Franchitti’s masterfully triumphant championship run and a horribly tragic accident that claimed the life of one of IndyCar’s brightest stars, Dan Wheldon, the 2012 season looks to be a combination of unknowns and great potential. New cars, new faces and new venues will grab the early headlines.

Here are 10 important questions that will highlight the season:

1. What’s new for 2012?

What isn’t?

For the first time since 2006, IndyCar will have competing engine manufacturers as the cars change from normally aspirated V-8s to twin turbo-charged V6s powered by Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus.

The question is whether this will create a more level playing field among teams, at least in the early going. Team Penske, Andretti Autosport and KV Racing will field Chevrolets; Target Chip Ganassi Racing is continuing with Honda; and Dreyer and Reinbold, HVM and Bryan Herta Autosport have partnered with Lotus.

2. How will the new Dallara chassis be received?

Developed with input from a safety-first committee of former drivers, engineers, promoters and officials, Dallara began delivering the chassis — DW12 (the initials DW for Dan Wheldon) — en masse in mid-December.

Teams have been shaking them down sporadically during the offseason to mixed reviews.

Three-time defending champ Franchitti’s main concern is that IndyCar allow the teams generous leeway in adjusting and setting up the cars. He doesn’t want to see the series put everyone in too tight a box.

As his team owner Chip Ganassi said this offseason, “The new car is somewhat of a revolution. It might take a little extra time to get it right for everybody, not necessarily right for just one or two teams.’’

In light of Wheldon’s death, safety will be paramount, but the cars must be racy, too. The general consensus among those who have tested the cars is that they will be OK on the road courses but still need work on the oval package.

3. Can Franchitti be slowed?

Can anyone stop Dario Franchitti’s amazing and historic run of championships? In winning his fourth title — third consecutive — he has erased any doubt of his place among the sport’s very best. Now he’s trying to equal the record of four straight championships that Sebastien Bourdais set in the old Champ Car Series, also a mark for consecutive titles in any form of IndyCar racing. There’s no reason to expect Franchitti's primary competition to be any different than last year — Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon and Team Penske’s Will Power.

“I don’t think there’s any more pressure,’’ Franchitti said of his quest to four-peat. “I think you’ve got to keep the motivation up. When you’re going for that first championship, you’ve never won one, you’ve got that great motivation to do it, but no experience. The trick is now when you’re going for your second, third, fourth, fifth, whatever, is to use that experience and to keep the motivation.’’

4. How best to promote the sport?

It’s been a tough two-year tenure at the top for IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard — a “likable guy,” by all accounts, but a racing outsider who’s had steep challenges leading the series through multiple transitions. Some insiders wonder if his days are numbered, but IndyCar’s team owners and drivers continue to publicly voice support for him.

“Look at the things that have gone on since he came into the sport . . . " Ganassi said. “The guy, just about every time he comes up for air, he gets pushed back under the water again. The good news is I think Randy’s shown great ability to breathe underwater.’’

To Ganassi’s point, the job will continue to be a tall order in 2012, with the introduction of new cars, new power plants, a revamped schedule and the call to review and improve safety in light of Wheldon’s tragic accident.

Perhaps the best thing he could do is help make IndyCar racing as relevant as it is good. His challenge is to improve the television ratings and put people in the grandstands without having to grandstand or become too gimmicky.

The racing is incredible — close finishes, wheel-to-wheel excitement and rivalries that NASCAR fans would love to have.

5. Who leads race control?

Who will Bernard tap to succeed longtime official Brian Barnhart in race control?

Bernard has promised an announcement in the near future. Both Wally Dallenbach Jr. and longtime official Beaux Barfield have been leading candidates for the job.

Dallenbach would be a good fit considering his knowledge and familiarity of the sport as IndyCar’s Versus television commentator, along with his driving background. He also holds a distinguished pedigree in this department as his father, Wally Dallenbach Sr., was the highly respected chief steward of CART for more than 20 years.

Barfield has valuable experience, having worked as a steward for Champ Car in the mid-2000s. He’s currently the American Le Mans Series competition director and well-known, well-liked and respected throughout the industry.

(Editor update, Jan. 2: IndyCar answers this question, reportedly hires Barfield for role.)

6. What will be done about safety?

Just as NASCAR faced intense scrutiny in 2001 after the death of seven-time champ Dale Earnhardt, IndyCar finds itself being held accountable for safety improvements in light of Dan Wheldon’s fatal accident in the last race of the 2011 season.

A post-crash investigation called Wheldon’s accident the result of a “perfect storm” of tragic events — not due to any one cause. But while saying IndyCar is committed to improving safety in general, the sanctioning body has offered no specific recommendations since the accident for tracks or cars. The new chassis was designed with safety upgrades; ironically, its chief test driver during development was Wheldon.

Bernard has held multiple meetings with drivers, team owners, engineers and track operators to gather input and suggestions.

“IndyCar has always worked very hard on safety,’’ Franchitti said. “I think Dan’s accident was a catalyst for a renewal of that effort. . . . I’m happy with what I see and with the effort everybody’s putting in, the fact that the drivers have very much been included in that.’’

7. Can Penske return to top?

Will this be the year that Team Penske reclaims its championship mojo? For the past two years, Will Power has single-handedly carried the banner of the most successful team in IndyCar history — losing out to Franchitti in the championship in the past two season finales while winning a series best 11 races and 16 poles since 2010.

After proving himself the class of the field for the past two years, can Power finally close the deal in 2012?

His teammate, three-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, is certainly motivated after suffering through the worst season in his 11-year tenure at Penske — finishing 11th in the championship.

It marked the first time Castroneves did not win a race since being at Penske and the first time he didn’t at least claim a pole position since 2001.

Similarly, Ryan Briscoe endured his worst season (sixth in points) since being hired by Penske in 2008. He’s finished among the top five in the championship and won at least one race in his first three years with Penske but was shut out in wins and poles in 2011. His Team Penske Chevrolet switches from No. 6 to No. 2 — so already the numbers are looking up.

8. Who takes the spotlight?

With Danica Patrick’s departure to NASCAR, who will be the new face of the series? Most agree that the late Wheldon, who had secured a full-time ride for 2012, would have willingly and most competently taken on the task of series frontman.

Even though Danica wasn’t winning, she provided star power to the series and IndyCar still needs that spotlight.

Beyond championship drivers Franchitti, Power and Dixon there are many marketable, spotlight-ready personalities — including talented young Americans such as Graham Rahal, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti. The series needs to broaden its reach and utilize series sponsor IZOD’s vast promotional and marketing resources to get the word out there.

9. How well will Andretti perform?

Will Andretti Autosport be championship caliber again, and can Marco Andretti take it to the next level?

While the team consistently visits the winner’s circle, it hasn’t really proved itself ready to run at the big trophy in years.

During the mid-2000s the Andretti team was unstoppable, collecting race wins and championships (Dario Franchitti in 2007, Dan Wheldon in 2005 and Tony Kanaan in 2004). But it’s been a tough go lately, and as of the new year, the four-car team — which would have included Wheldon replacing Patrick — has only two drivers lined up for 2012.

Third-generation driver Marco Andretti won a race last year for his dad but has yet to prove himself a week-in, week-out threat. Yet.

Meanwhile, teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay, who has won in each of the past two seasons, is being mentioned as a championship contender in 2012.

10. How much will road courses impact season?

Will the new road- and street course-heavy schedule alienate the longtime, loyal fan base?

Bernard has said this year’s tilt to 11 street/road courses and only four ovals is temporary as the series works through scheduling issues and sanctioning agreements.

Bernard has noted that the attendance and television ratings lag at the oval events — the Indianapolis 500 notwithstanding.

There are rumors that the 1-mile Phoenix oval might reappear, and there have been talks with the famed Watkins Glen International road course.

A 16th race will be announced “at a later date,” according to Bernard, who promised on an Indianapolis radio station last month that “we’ll take a small step back and in 2013 you’ll see it more thought out and planned.’’