Honda and CART

[KC]

Honda Performance Development's Robert Clarke had this to say concerning Honda's future with CART.

Clarke addressed Honda's abrupt announcement of its departure from the CART FedEx series, made last September. "Our involvement in North American motorsports is still not clear. Since September, we have found a variety of options to keep HPD occupied and Honda involved in racing of one type or another. I was out at Fontana yesterday," he admitted, "looking around. It was a fact-gathering mission to discuss our various options in the coming years.

"We were painfully blunt with our announcement last year and, while Honda is pleased with CART's organizational changes and will give every benefit of doubt, we must remind everyone that trust is something easily lost and hard to regain," Clarke said. "We will look, listen and watch what happens in the FedEx series.

It looks like Honda is not 100% sure they are leaving since the new management team has taken over. I am sure that Pook is working hard to pull Honda back into the fold. Since CART has not yet released their new engine rules, it makes me think that the NA powerplant may not be set in stone yet.

[Emfa]

"Once bitten, twice shy"? I expect that they will be moving ahead very cautiously.

[Speedworx]

Could this lead to Honda changing its mind?