Honda's IRL contract?

[bil588]

Where can I find out the details of Honda's IRL contract? When does it run out?

[drdisque]

I believe it runs through '09

[bil588]

I guess I should have googled it.

What will the IRL do after 2009? Cosworth wouldn't sell them an engine. Does Judd have an engine for them?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Honda+IRL+2009

[kingfloopy]

Is Honda actually going to leave after 2009? There seems to be plenty of time to figure out what is going to happen between now and then.

I was wondering when the chassis spec is going to change. I know they've decided to continue through this season, but it look like next season they are probably going to do the same. At least I haven't heard of any plans for a new chassis.

J.D.

[D.R.T.]

I remember an article regarding some chassis to coincide with the 100th Indy 500.

[drdisque]

Honda is paying for a design study to develop a new chassis that the teams can modify and fiddle with that will bring variety back to the league, yet each team will still have the same Honda engine. If they intended to leave they wouldn't be paying for this study.

Also, there's numerous engine builders capable of producing IndyCar engines (Judd, AER, Zytek, Speedway Motors, Menard)

[kingfloopy]

Originally Posted by drdisque

Honda is paying for a design study to develop a new chassis that the teams can modify and fiddle with that will bring variety back to the league, yet each team will still have the same Honda engine. If they intended to leave they wouldn't be paying for this study.

Also, there's numerous engine builders capable of producing IndyCar engines (Judd, AER, Zytek, Speedway Motors, Menard)

That sounds like really good news for the future of the IRL in terms of engine/chassis supply and for competition if the teams can do some of their own chassis manipulation. Here's hoping it all works out.

J.D.

[bil588]

Originally Posted by drdisque

Honda is paying for a design study to develop a new chassis that the teams can modify and fiddle with that will bring variety back to the league, yet each team will still have the same Honda engine. If they intended to leave they wouldn't be paying for this study.

Also, there's numerous engine builders capable of producing IndyCar engines (Judd, AER, Zytek, Speedway Motors, Menard)

but hasn't HPD entered the ALMS to show its capabilities?

how would the average fan tell the difference between two very similar chassis?

[drdisque]

One of the goals of the design study is that the avid, but not diehard, fan would be able to tell the difference.

Casual fans have never been able to tell the difference between cars, nor have they really cared.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by drdisque

Honda is paying for a design study to develop a new chassis that the teams can modify and fiddle with that will bring variety back to the league, yet each team will still have the same Honda engine. If they intended to leave they wouldn't be paying for this study.

True but then also Honda made it pretty clear when they took over sole supplier that they needed/desired a competing engine manufacturer. Time will tell.