IndyCar’s aeroscreen or Formula 1’s halo?

Since the aeroscreen and the halo are now a part of motorsports, let’s look into who made the better choice: IndyCar with the aeroscreen or Formula 1 with the halo.

Let’s just get this out there now. if you’re like me, you would prefer IndyCar to not have the aeroscreen and Formula 1 to not have the halo. Good, glad that is now out in the open. Sadly, we don’t make the regulations. So we’re stuck with them.

Of course, the reasons are obvious why the aeroscreen and halo were sanctioned. And they are completely understandable. But they are also still very easy to dislike. A large factor into why single-seater racing is so popular is because the viewers can see the drivers at work, a specialty you don’t often get with other forms of car racing.

To some, these new additions to the cars make them feel like they are watching a closed cockpit series in an open cockpit series, which is a massive no-no. That feeling can take away a form of enjoyment from watching. Luckily though, it doesn’t seem to affect the way the drivers are able to race. Trust me: if the racing was affected, the exit door would become very popular.

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The closed cockpit scenario is more noticeable in IndyCar with the aeroscreen than it is in Formula 1 with the halo. Major issue number one with the aeroscreen is the fact that the drivers are invisible. Of course, they really aren’t, but from an outside view of the new cars driving, they are out of sight.

Reflection is a big reason why, but that doesn’t help the fact that the drivers are in their own room, so to speak, when in the cars. All that is missing is a sliding railing to each side of the cockpit and an extension over the top of the aeroscreen, and there you have it: it becomes a fighter jet cockpit rather then a racing cockpit.

The only time the IndyCar drivers are visible is when the on-board cameras are being shown. You know, the camera that makes it feel like you are basically sitting on the driver looking into their souls. That view, for a time, was great. But now, all you can see is the driver’s helmet.

If a viewer wants to see what sponsors Alexander Rossi has on the front of his helmet, this camera is perfect — perfect because now you see the multiple tubes the driver has going into the helmet, as the camera is higher, but little steering movement.

Of course, to every negative there is a positive. Due to the sheer size of the aeroscreen, the hole that is now punched in the air allows for greater slipstream, which is a big win in IndyCar.

The final laps of the Indianapolis 500 will now be even more exciting, as you can be multiple car lengths behind but effectively driving into an airless portal. This specific effect is very minimal from the halo, which is a good step for Formula 1.

Formula 1 drivers already have enough help when it comes to the slipstream effect, including higher engine modes, battery modes and even DRS. They don’t need an even larger hole being punched in the air, and thankfully the halo doesn’t do that to the level that the new aeroscreen does.

Another positive for the halo is that although the view is also restricted, the drivers are still somewhat visible, which instantly puts the halo in the winning bracket.

Like most things in life, the halo also doesn’t float everyone’s boat. If we’re being honest, it initially looked like the integral structure of a flip flop. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that Formula 1 cars shouldn’t have that. But as the years have gone by with the halo, the teams have been able to mold their cars around it, and with the correct coloring to match the cars, the eyes can get used to it.

Fast forward two seasons with the halo, and despite what some like to say, it is not noticeable. The eye trains itself to get used to it being on the cars and now the driver is a lot easier to see. In fact, these modern era Formula 1 cars would look strange without the halo. Shameful, isn’t it?

But this is something that is going to be extremely difficult with the aeroscreen. Despite how many races pass with the aeroscreen, its large radius will always make it look like something has parked on top of the car at over 200 miles per hour.

Now it is time for a negative point regarding both Formula 1 and IndyCar. The aeroscreen and halo are both added weight. Weight is something that has become an increasing problem in Formula 1 for the past couple of seasons, and the cars seem to be getting heavier and heavier.

In other words, it is going in the opposite direction of where it should be going, turning left when it should be turning right. Even though the weight of the machines is not as big of a problem in IndyCar, any added weight is always going affect the cars in a way.

Most of the time, that way is negative. But with these attachments being enforced on the cars for the foreseeable future and in order for them to serve their purpose, they have to be heavy. Otherwise, their protection efforts would prove to be fruitless while coming in contact with a stray tire or piece of flying debris.

However, all of this could be proven wrong, like most things in life. My views on the halo were similar when it was rolled out on the cars in 2018, and it didn’t take long for those views to change.