Dallara's
LMP began life as the Chrysler LMP. Chrysler had suddenly became
serious after 2000's somewhat lackluster first year with the Reynard.
The Dallara LMP was already on the drawing board, and when Chrysler swooped
in, Dallara offered it to them. Le Mans 2001 was a much better year
for Chrysler, and a very good showing for the Dallara's debut (4th overall).
But for whatever reason, Chrysler's mood changed, and the winter of 2001
saw the Chrysler LMP program go away. Dallara's reward was to be
able to offer the chassis up to privateers.
At Le Mans 2002, Team Oreca, working in conjunction with Dallara, forged ahead and developed the chassis, creating many minor alterations in hopes of bringing the fight to Audi. While the cars were close in qualifying, the Dallara simply could not match the Audi's race pace out of the need to keep its Judd V10 alive for 24 hours.
2003 was essentially a off year for the Dallara chassis. But in 2004, Rollcentre Racing purchased Oreca's Dallara LMPs and raced the cars at Sebring, the Le Mans Endurance Series, and Le Mans.
In 2005 Rollcentre continued to fly the Dallara banner even installing a 3.0 liter twin turbo Nissan engine in one of their chassis.
The
rather generic rendering that was released early in 2001, in retrospect,
bares a vague resemblance to what was finally unveiled. 
