The longstanding use of magnesium wheels could change in 2026 or 2027.
The metal, which has been a common choice for decades in IndyCar due to its lightweight property, is becoming increasingly hard to acquire from vendors who are capable of doing the large castings required to create the specialized racing wheels.
As a results of the scarcity, RACER has learned the NTT IndyCar Series is in talks with its teams to make a switch to aluminum wheels after next season, which is a more common material that is readily cast or forged in high volumes.
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Unique to IndyCar, teams have amassed vast stockpiles of magnesium ‘aero’ wheels that feature a large lip on the front wheels that assist in smoothing airflow as it moves across the surface of the wheels and onto the back of the cars. Many of those magnesium aero wheels have been in use for quite some time, and also suffer from age-related corrosion, which take them out of competition.
O.Z. Racing, which has served as the most popular vendor for magnesium IndyCar aero wheels, is understood to be in discussions with the series to manufacture wheels in the same size — essentially identical to the magnesium units — in aluminum, and if it’s approved, a wholesale changeover could be required.
RACER understands the final specs for the aluminum wheels have not been set, but achieving a similar weight to the magnesium wheels is said to be a priority, and due to the use of a less exotic metal, costs would come down with each set.
At present, new magnesium wheels cost $1650 apiece — front or rear — and $6600 for a complete set. In moving to aluminum, a price reduction in the range of $750 or more for each set is possible.
On average with the 27 full-time IndyCar entries, teams start each season with 10-12 sets per car (40-48 wheels), and as crashes happen and wheels are destroyed, most teams ensure they maintain at least 10 sets per car to complete the year.