However, the presentation was delayed and finally binned, as Walker was told that many owners didn’t want to spend money on new cars. He was willing to modify the timeline to introduce the cars in 2020, but it wasn't long after being spurned that he decided to walk.

Nonetheless, he remains a fan of U.S. open-wheel racing and elected to share his presentation with Motorsport.com. Walker still believes the XIC project or something very akin to it, needs to be implemented for the series to become more popular, more successful and more relevant.

In this writer's opinion, Walker is a visionary but also a realist; he's someone with common sense and an idea of how to fulfill ambition in a logical and practical manner. Relieving him of some his other duties in order to manage this major project would have been a smarter move than merely accepting his resignation.

See if you agree. We look forward to reading your comments.

U.S. OPEN-WHEEL RACING – THE FUTURE

Planning for the future is now. The decision to build the next generation open wheel car needs to allow at least two year lead time before entering competition.

The goal would be to continue to improve the quality of our racing and push the borders of innovation and safety within our limitations.

The Concept

All new car design with periodic development and minimal obsolescence (XIC)

Advanced fan and driver safety

Planned eight year competitive life span (with updates)

Cost containment with continuation of component availability

Standard car platform with limited optional aero components

Limited team development with approval

Third-party development, two years after car launch

Grandfather the DW12 for one year (if required)

The essentials are: Appearance • Safety • Affordability • Technology • Raceability • Adaptability • Availability • Performance

Appearance

A futuristic and timeless design

An easily identifiable unique Indy car design

Designed as an Indianapolis 500 car that is adaptable for road and street courses

Optional components to provide a variety of shapes and performance choices – supplied with the standard car

Third-party aero development permitted after two seasons

Exhaust design options permitted for sound variations

Safety improvements

Advanced driver cell – next breakthrough in safety

Improvements in component retention

Frontal cockpit design to improve driver protection

Advanced side impact driver protection

Further reduction in lift issues

Eliminate steering wheel whiplash effect

Affordability

Complete car price of $450,000. Supplied in super speedway configuration with road and street course conversion parts and optional components

Permitted third-party aero components manufactured by approved supplier(s) costing no more than 120 percent of the parts they replace

All development components cannot cost more than the component that it replaces

Technology

Innovative driver cockpit information display

Greater fan connectivity of vehicle performance

Driver rear-view camera display – no mirrors

Side draft awareness system as standard equipment

Drag reduction by limited moveable body components

Integrated fan car position display system

Wheel inserts for super speedways with tire development

Series control unit (car and engine data/management)

Raceability

Reduction in draft turbulence and further avoidance of pack racing tendency

Less reliance on downforce generated from aero foils

Large reduction in the maximum downforce level

Robust body design manufactured with fewer parts to reduce yellow flags and permit close wheel-to-wheel competition

Increase the engine power to downforce ratio

Adaptability

An adaptable design with easily-adjustable performance levels and a variety of component options for a wider range of tuning

Third-party development can use or modify any approved component for the avoidance of unnecessary obsolescence

All original components and optional parts shall remain current during the lifespan of the car

An adaptable design that can accept future engine/power unit configurations

Availability

Car components, regardless of manufacturer or function, shall be required to be made available to all competitors

Component design information and technical data shall be required to be made available to all competitors

Component development by third-party designs shall only be manufactured by approved suppliers

Power units permitted to compete must be available to all competitors without exception

Performance

Big overall car weight reduction

Optimum weight distribution options

Engine power output increased by 10 percent

Underbody development with reduced wing dependency

Increased vehicle acceleration

Overall drag reduction by limited movable aerodynamic surfaces and/or openings

Standard platform

Standard car platform utilizes common components from the registered manufacturers/suppliers:

Transmission/driveline (5-speed) / Gearchange system / Power steering / Brakes and dampers / Wheelbearing assemblies / Fuel cell / Refueling system / Dashboard electronics and wiring

Conversion parts for road and street configurations to be included with the standard car

Optional components

Standard car platform is supplied with the “Optional Components”

For example: Front end-fences and strakes / Wheelbase / Rockers / Sidepod and radiators / Speedway rear pods / Wheel inserts / Engine cover / Brake ducting

Third-party components

Third-party component development through an open-source process in year two after the new car introduction

Creation of a practical system to manage component change

Entities submit designs for approval through an open-source process. Once approved, components would be supplied only by approved manufacturers

All car design information is shared and is price-controlled

Pricing

STANDARD CAR PLATFORM (2018): $350,000

Oval car with road/street conversion parts

OPTIONAL CHANGE PARTS: $100,000

Aero and suspension body components

All components remain current for the life of the car

All optional parts and future third-party development components must be interchangeable with the standard car platform

A percentage of all car and component sales will be set aside for a safety development fund

(To re-emphasize - Third-party components shall come through an open-source system and would not exceed 120 percent of the original part price)

Process

Committee of six members (three IndyCar Series, three advisors)

Sub-committee involvement when required

Dedicated purchasing and sales person

Quarterly team owner update meetings, monthly update reports

Timelines and deadline action plan

Contracted with manufacturers and suppliers

Timeline

(These below were in an ideal world. The diagram at the top of this story illustrates a modified version, with the timeline leading to the XIC being delayed until 2020.)

December 2015 - Complete the business plan and agreements

January 2016 - Design and manufacture begins

June 2016 - Design, manufacture and prototype testing

January 2017 - Testing and manufacture

Fall 2017 - Teams get cars to go testing

February 2018 - Introduce for competition

Car manufacturer

Long-term agreement with manufacturer of the car platform and the optional components

IP – shared ownership rights

All technical information to be available to all competitors

Pricing stability with commissions safety fund

Third-party manufacturing and an open-source system

Only approved manufacturers of development components

Engines

V6 turbocharged engine continues until 2020

10 percebt horsepower increase, with current cubic capacity engines or less

Increased maximum rev level

Power overtake ability and no driver-adjustable fuel mixture

Standing start launch capable and on-board starters

Full season entry capped engine lease

Permit the introduction of energy recovery technology

Alternative power solutions

By 2019 consideration would be given for a special class featuring energy recovery and alternative power sources into competition by 2020-2023

Performance regulations for the special class category that accommodates for alternative power units, adapted into the current car platform

Creation of a green energy championship

Limited approved alternate fuels and gearbox drive systems for the special class in competition

Component pricing and availability terms regulated

Series