Making History - Swift's Vision

As chassis designers release images and information about their proposals for the 2012 IndyCar formula it generates discussions among fans. Those I have heard from are largely underwhelmed. This is not to discredit the engineering effort and sincerety of the vendors - Swift, Lola, Dallara and the Delta Wing project - or the Indy Racing League. Overwhelmingly I hear that the issue is not which vendor has the most stylish concept, but that no matter how appealing it is having everyone use the same thing is less than exciting. The image that appears below is from the Swift proposal.
 
No shock, people want variety. They want a sense of competition not just between drivers but also equipment. It may be that the automobile has reached such a late stage of maturity that it is naive to think that distinctly different designs can co-exist or that the cost structure of the sport is such that more than one vendor can play and find the economy of scale to enjoy profitability. Solutions to these challenges are not easy. Complaining about decisions is. Either way, what is needed is an offering that excites and attracts an audience.