Future of Champ Car unveiled in San Jose.

The Panoz DP01 Champ Car finally made its debut in front of the racing community at an exclusive unveiling ahead of this weekend's San Jose Grand Prix, and received a rapturous welcome from all concerned.

The DP01, the first American-built chassis to compete in the series since Swift in 2000, will replace Lola as the car of choice for the Champ Car teams, and features the latest in aerodynamic technology designed to provide better handling in traffic and closer racing with more passing opportunities.

"Aerodynamically, we have broken away from various existing Champ Car features, which have been a product of the existing regulations," Elan Motorsports chief designer Simon Marshall said in a statement to accompany the launch, "We have to create the downforce in a sensible manner that is not as set-up critical, and which is less affected by traffic turbulent wakes. [Chief aerodynamicist] Nick [Alcock] has produced a superb underbody for this car, and an awesome looking topside which should keep the fans [and drivers] excited."

The design team set out to create a car that represented the latest in technology, but which still featured the silhouette recognisable to Champ Car fans. The final product incorporates a number of changes to the original car, with a paddleshift gearchange and change of seat angle designed to improve driver safety upping the technological ante inside the cockpit, and various wing improvements aiming to provide the desired aero requirements.

"One of the key design elements for us was that it look like a Champ Car, and we were able to maintain the look," said series technical director Scot Elkins, "There's a lot of F1 elements to it, but it still looks like a Champ Car. The exposed roll hoop, the slope of the engine cover, low to the ground - it's a look that the fans will recognise as a Champ Car."

More than 20,000 man hours went into the design and construction of the new chassis, which is designed to be faster, lighter and safer than the current Lola. The chassis is more than 100 pounds beneath the weight than the current car, but features a number of safety innovations, including a collapsible fuel cell, that will provide even more protection to the drivers.

The DP01 also features such improvements as the addition of an on-board starter, which is designed to lessen caution periods for stalled cars, while the semi-automatic paddleshift system is tied into the throttle system of the turbocharged Ford-Cosworth engine, allowing drivers to downshift without lifting off the throttle - something that is not possible in the current car.

The 'sharkfin' look in the rear of the car aids downforce, benefiting from a change in the air induction system designed into the DP01. The sidepod radiator inlet allows air to flow completely through the sidepod, providing the airflow that makes the sharkfin more effective.

"It creates downforce without the penalty of drag," Elkins explained, "The air would get all bottled up in the current design. We like the feature and feel that it will really help the car."

But while given the chance to create a world-class car from the ground up, Elan and Champ Car also tasked themselves with building a chassis that provided more affordable entry into the series. The cost savings has already attracted new interest, and Elan insists that it will be ready to handle the demand.

"The 2007 car was designed with three objectives in mind," Champ Car co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven confirmed, "First, to increase the excitement for the fans by allowing closer racing and more overtaking. Second, to level the playing field for all teams, which will also increase fan excitement. Third, to make a dramatic decrease in the costs for the teams thereby allowing new teams to join the series. This car achieves all three objectives."