PPG has announced that its ballistic, canopy-like windscreen, a key component of the NTT Indycar Series’ Aeroscreen, will make its official debut in the Firestone Grand Prix in Florida on 15 March.
The Aeroscreen was developed by Red Bull Advanced Technologies and tested multiple times since its first on-track assessment in October 2019 and is Indycar’s latest safety innovation to reduce the risk of driver injury from flying debris or other objects striking the cockpit area.
“I don’t think any stone has been left unturned, but we will continue to fine-tune it,” said Jay Frye, Indycar president. “The Aeroscreen is an industry-changing, total driver safety solution.”
The Aeroscreen uses a PPG polycarbonate-laminated ballistic windscreen that is attached to a titanium frame, which is able to be entirely assembled and fitted on or removed from an NTT Indycar Series car in less than 15 minutes.
The windscreen includes an interior anti-reflective coating, an anti-fogging device and up to eight exterior tear-offs that can be removed during pit stops if the screen gets dirty. It weighs about 7.8 kg and can withstand an object at just under 1 kg striking it at over 350 km/h. The titanium frame weighs 12.6 kg and can withstand 15.4 tonnes of force.
“As an innovative industry leader in aerospace transparencies, PPG is proud to play an important role in ensuring cockpit protection for drivers throughout the NTT Indycar Series season,” said Brent Wright, PPG Global Director, Aerospace Transparencies.