Mercedes eyes CART return

[Snrub]

Just occured to me, remember how before we got the spec engine how Rover was fairly serious about getting into CART? Anyone remember who owns Rover? (that's right)

[Dov]

Who's Rover and who owns them??

[GTRMagic]

Rover owns Rover Cars, or should I say a venture capital arm of a merchant bank owns Rover...

Ford bought Land Rover before BMW got out of Rover Cars, so maybe this is where there is confusion

[JonesF1]

Originally posted by kdr
wasn't the cart mercedes engine, like the f1 engine - designed and built by ilmor?

although i think mercedes stick a three pointed star badge on it...

Ilmor is also making the F1 Honda engine. After Paul Morgan died it all went downhill which is why both engines did so poorly in 2002. Mercedes had no choice but to buy the company and now things are looking better. They'd be competitive if they came back.

[Snrub]

Rover is owned by BMW. BMW sold the the range rover line to Ford but retained the Mini. Perhaps this is where the claimed interest from F1 manufacturers for a 3.0L V10 comes from?

[kmchow]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
As I keep saying, there's nothing to lose yet. All CART has for '05 is a box full of maybes.

I think the temporary spec engine deal with Cosworth was a great idea. Just a year or two ago, we were talking about CART disappearing. Now were talking about the future. Worst case scenario--CART will extend it's contract with Cosworth! Best case, run downgraded F1 engines from MB, Toyota,etc...

[BootsOntheSide]

I agree with you chow, apart from one detail - Toyota. We don't want them in CART ever again. They did their level best to destroy the series, as well as WRC. Companies such as Mercedes, Ford, Renault, Audi, even Honda, would be welcome. But not Toyota, and their 'win at all costs, and if we don't like the rules, force a change' mentality.

[BSchneiderFan]

BMW does not own Rover. Rover, in so far as it still exists, is independent as MG-Rover, owned (I believe) by a company called Phoenix. BMW produces the Mini as a stand-alone brand. MG, of course, were going to join CART this year before the decision to go with spec. Cossies.

[Snrub]

Ah you're right, I didn't realize that.
"British venture capital group Alchemy Partners has taken over most of the rest of Rover's operations..." "Alchemy has said that it will end mass production of Rover vehicles and instead produce a new "MG" sports car for a specialist car market"

"BMW is to retain the popular Mini model, but production will be transferred to its Cowley plant, along with the Rover 75."

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/apr2000/bmw-a01.shtml

Another link refers to "Phoenix Consortium", so that must be the same thing as Alchemy.

[JohnSSC]

And while we are talking Mercedes, remember the team that brought them into CART the first time was Penske. Wonder if the Captain is planning a triumphnat return?

[tanalised]

hopefully not. I wouldn't mind seeing de Ferran return, Castroneves has swallowed the IRL hook,line and sinker and sod Roger.

[EBTM]

Here are some news (very old, but still can show somehow the future of Ilmor).

According to the release, by 2005 Ilmor will be fully owned by Daimler Chrysler. In the mean time, I found that Roger Penke has (or had) some interests in the company...

Will that change the scenario for entering CART or not? I really don't know.




****
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/index.../t20920c_e.htm
****

Stuttgart, Germany, September 20, 2002


DaimlerChrysler Acquires Majority Holding in Formula1 Engine Builder Ilmor Engineering Ltd.

Raising the holding from 25 to 55 percent and step-by-step take-over of all shares by 2005
Hans-Ulrich Maik (53) takes up position of Managing Director
Prof. Jürgen Hubbert: "This majority holding will strengthen the Mercedes-Benz influence on Formula 1 engine development"

DaimlerChrysler AG announced that it will acquire an additional 30 percent holding in Ilmor Engineering Ltd. (Brixworth / Northamptonshire, Great Britain). DaimlerChrysler will thus raise its holding from its original 25 to 55 percent and will be the owner of a majority holding effective 31 October 2002. Mario Illien, Liz Morgan, the widow of company co-founder Paul Morgan, and Roger Penske will each hold 15 percent. The parties agreed not to disclose the price of the acquisition which is not material in respect of DaimlerChrysler's financial position.

A step-by-step take-over of the remaining shares by DaimlerChrysler by the year 2005 was agreed. DaimlerChrysler also disclosed that Ilmor Engineering Ltd., since 1993 responsible for the design, development and production of Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 engines in coordination with Mercedes-Benz, will operate under the name Mercedes-Ilmor and will also incorporate the technical motor sport development team in Stuttgart. Managing Director will be Hans-Ulrich Maik (53), who was successful when responsible for the production of the Mercedes-Benz engines and for the international power train activities for many years. Mario Illien will remain as Technical Director.
****

[evo]

Maybe Ilmor will make an engine with Chysler's name on it?

[billiaml]

Since Dodge already supplies motors for a certain CART feeder series, this would probably be a good fit -- badged as Chrysler or Dodge.

Penske, eh? His NASCAR teams drive Dodges, so you may have a point there, JohnSSC. Interesting.

[JohnSSC]

Thank you billiam!

The Captain is never without a plan and rarely is caught napping. Daimler-Chrysler could be his ticket back. However we feel about him the name "Penske" would be important to have in CART's list of team owners.

[kmchow]

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
But not Toyota, and their 'win at all costs, and if we don't like the rules, force a change' mentality.

Both Toyota and Nissan tried, but they couldn't win LeMans 24 hours!

[kmchow]

Originally posted by billiaml
Penske, eh? His NASCAR teams drive Dodges, so you may have a point there, JohnSSC. Interesting.

There's a rumor about him being courted by Toyota to race their Solara/Camry in '05? Or was it Penske trying to court Toyota? Or would Penske run both Dodges AND Toyota??

[billiaml]

Originally posted by kmchow
There's a rumor about him being courted by Toyota to race their Solara/Camry in '05? Or was it Penske trying to court Toyota? Or would Penske run both Dodges AND Toyota??

Since he runs Dodge in NASCAR & Toyota in IRL, it could probably go either way -- probably whoever gives him the best deal, I would suspect.

I do find it interesting that, since switching from Ford to Dodge, the Harley-Davidson logo seems to have disappeared from the hood of Rusty Wallace's car. Coincidence? Since Ford & H-D have been having a joined 100th anniversary celebration (Ford has a limited edition Harley-Davidson F-150 available), I doubt it.