Honda returning to CART!?

[Dov]

What if Honda badge's one of CART's Cosworth engines in 2004? That will give Ford and Honda time to figure out the engine rules for 2005.

[Shaggy_SoCal]

First off, its up to CART to figure out what they want to do with the engines. Ford and Honda can offer input but CART needs to make the decision.

Highly unlikely that Ford would let Honda in on its nice little engine deal.

Besides, would you hand over your propriatary engine and technology to a potential competitor who has in the past beaten you on the track?

[KC]

I don't necessarily agree that CART jerked Honda around as I think they were all engaged is screwing each other over. Honda and Toyota escalated the arms race and when CART tried to take steps to slow it down they both got mad and started to threaten to quit. Strangely enough Honda was adamant that they were never going to be interested in producing NA engines to the IRL formula and then thats what they did. Granted CART did not handle the issue in a correct manner either, but sooner or later they have to put their foot down and establish a set of rules that don't raise costs out of sight.

[racer69]

Isn't there an exclusive deal with Ford until the end of 2004?

Honda has a 3 year contract to badge engines in the IRL.

[Fogelhund]

Originally posted by racer69
Isn't there an exclusive deal with Ford until the end of 2004?

Honda has a 3 year contract to badge engines in the IRL.

Yes

and

If Honda ceases development, how many teams will run Honda? Having engines to badge, doesn't necessarily mean actually running cars.

[gttouring]

but badged engines mean sponsor dollars. who would run free money?

[Tim Northcutt]

The Honda IRL engine was developed with Ilmor....

Toyota's engines are TRD engines built and refined in California, with some additional tweaks and input from Penske's engine shops...

Honda has won some races this year, as has the Cosworth with Panther Racing....

It doesn't matter to me whether any of the suppliers go back with CART or not....either way, it's open-wheeled champ car racing in either series and I love them both for what they offer in competition and racing action...

[indycool]

Well, dov, it's the silly season in general and sorry, but I don't believe Spicoli is always right, nor, I'm sure, does Spicoli believe that I am. C'wagon is a CART-hates-IRL site at which some realities are absent, so I don't put a lot of stock into what gets said over there. The Honda thing? Honda is committed for three years to the IRL. Ford has a multiyear commitment to CART. If anything's going to change or happen differently, it won't be for '04.

[Dov]

Blah Blah Blah......WHATEVER, indycool!

[Snrub]

Dirt Fan what do you think the current engines are? Detuned with rebuilds every 1000miles. (I thought it was actually 1500, but Macdaddy probably has a better memory than I do)

I don't know how legit this Honda story is, but that doesn't really matter, we're just discussing stuff. Regarding the current contracts, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought CART's contract was somewhat flexible if other manufacturers want to get involved. As for Honda's contract with the IRL, why couldn't they build engines for BOTH series. CART would cost them far less because the R&D is done and the period between rebuilds. For them it would likely have a good payoff for the costs involved.

[crazytrain]

I think Hondo can stay the hell away from CART, especially after the **** they pulled in F1 with JV in Suzuka. Stay away......STAY AWAY!!!!!!! They "tried" to destroy our series!