The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series was the 23rd season of the Verizon IndyCar Series and the 107th official championship season of American open wheel racing. All teams used a spec Dallara DW12 (IR18) chassis with Honda or Chevrolet power units with respective aero kits,  and Firestone tires. The DW12 in IR18 specification feature an all-new universal bodywork, inspired by CART’s 1990s and 2000s cars, but still keep the Dallara DW12 (named in 2012 after Dan Wheldon) chassis base. This new chassis configuration is dubbed the IR18 (Indycar Racing, 2018), and will be used until at least 2022. For the first time since the 1996 Indy Racing League and 2007 Champ Car seasons respectively, cars will have a roll hoop without an airbox.

In 2018, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports extended James Hinchcliffe’s contract for the fourth consecutive year, as well as signed fellow Canadian Robert Wickens to drive the second car. The major sponsors of SPM were Arrow Electronics and Lucas Oil companies.  Hinchcliffe’s Dallara was painted gold-black with Arrow as main sponsor, while car of Wickens was red-black with Lucas main logo. Wickens, IndyCar rookie, was 29 years old and had an experience in F3, F2 and touring car racing. Before moving to IndyCar series he spent six seasons (2012 – 2017) in DTM winning 6 races. The Canadian was very impressive in his first year in the series. He took the first podium in his second race  – at Phoenix, then he was 3rd in Indianapolis Grand Prix, and was awarded Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors after leading two laps and finishing ninth during the race. Further in July he finished the 85-lap Honda Indy Toronto race in third place and later in the month, Wickens again finished second at Mid-Ohio only to Rossi this time. Wickens had climbed up to 6th place in the standings before 500 mile race at Pocono. Sadly, during the 2018 ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway Wickens  suffered a horrific crash, that left him a paraplegic. Robert is still recovering from injury and despite the positive dynamics has not yet returned to racing.

SeasonSeriesEvent
2018Verizon IndyCar Series
Driver No.Entrant
Robert Wickens6Schmidt Peterson Motorsports
ChassisEngineCar Name
Dallara DW12 (IR18)HondaLucas Oil / Arrow
Scale ManufacturerCollection
1:64Greenlight
Cat. No.QualityRarity
10826