It is official, Turbos back in Indy Car

[rush1]

THe following I think is pretty big news. Hopefully they can now get other manufacturers involved in the IRL starting in 2012.


Looking for some technical diversity in the Izod IndyCar series? Wait until the 2012 season. Officials announced new engine rules that not only focus on improving fuel economy, but may also allow an array of manufacturers to become involved with the series.

Presently, power in each and every IndyCar racer comes courtesy of a 3.5-liter V-8 developed and manufactured by Honda. Come 2012, cars will use engines sourced from several different companies, although they must conform to some basic specifications. At this point, the preliminary spec sheet calls for an engine that is turbocharged, capable of running on ethanol, has a maximum displacement of 2.4 liters, and no more than six cylinders.

In racing, those regulations are anything but stringent. IndyCar’s idea was to inspire companies to develop various engine designs to aim for the perfect balance of fuel economy and power. Fuel economy will be a critical factory, as IndyCar plans on ultimately regulating power output. Although no firm rules have been set, it’s believed output will be restricted between 550 and 700 horsepower, depending on the track.

“We will continue to evaluate rules that will keep a level playing field across the board with the various engines that could enter our sport,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for IndyCar.

“For example, we could see a V-6 competing against an inline-four at all Izod IndyCar series events in the future. We will require reference engines as a benchmark in performance while looking at sonic air restrictors, fuel flow restrictions, and more as key criteria for competition.”

Although a chassis supplier has not yet been set for the 2012 car, this instills any interested manufacturer with a greater challenge, as they will need to design and build a chassis capable of housing any number of engine configurations.

Source: IndyCar

[JagtechOhio]

The formula is great. The questions are:

Will another manufacturer or engine builder make the investment to complete against the Honda V6? It's an RSVP invitation, not a done deal.

Why not allow engines which fit within the stated parameters to compete now?

Why regulate the current Honda V8 out of existance after 2011? The requirement for establishing equivilancy of different engine platforms has been acknowledged by the IRL. Why not enable low budget teams to continue using their current package beyond 2011, until engine and chassis upgrades are within their budgets?

There is already another thread in progress on this topic, you might want to join in the discussion there.

[gttouring]

so it is up to 2.4 liters and a max of 6 cylinders.
does the angle of the opposed cylinders matter? can it be straight?
so a global racing engine from the big manufacturers can get in there and race no problem, and if a team want to shell out for a billet crank and modify the motor to be 2.4 liters its up to them..
this could be win win.
although the max capacity seems to be production size based- what is this 155CuIn?
bump it to 2.5 liters like the old old Indy formula and we have a tie in and a comparo to technology growing and creating more efficiency and power
must it be turbine supercharged? or gear/ belt driven as an option? superchargers on the street could be awesome with that whine. i suppose a turbo is more efficient and relevant so this is where they'd go.
one turbo or max number specified?
I have read all sort of press releases and none of these questions have really been answered or details pertaining to have not been addressed- or they don't know

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by rush1

THe following I think is pretty big news. Hopefully they can now get other manufacturers involved in the IRL starting in 2012.

“We will continue to evaluate rules that will keep a level playing field across the board with the various engines that could enter our sport,” said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and racing operations for IndyCar.

Same spec. crap only different pile.

[JagtechOhio]

Bob, there isn't any real reason so far to suggest you are wrong. Honda V6 relaces Honda V8, period.

One of the chassis makers doesn't have plans for a semi-stressed 4 cylinder anyway. If they are selected, it will be stressed V6 only. That eliminates an awful lot of potential players, who haven't done anything more than interviews.

Same old IRL, lots of talk about the future and no specific plans to expect one. Time for them to and get to work.

[bjohnsonsmith]

This is good now fingers crossed on sorting a new chassis out and getting that right.

[rush1]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Bob, there isn't any real reason so far to suggest you are wrong. Honda V6 relaces Honda V8, period.

One of the chassis makers doesn't have plans for a semi-stressed 4 cylinder anyway. If they are selected, it will be stressed V6 only. That eliminates an awful lot of potential players, who haven't done anything more than interviews.

Same old IRL, lots of talk about the future and no specific plans to expect one. Time for them to and get to work.

I like that the long term planning seems to be focused on getting other engine manufacturers into the IRL. If manufacturers other than Honda are involved it will be a success. If we are stuck with one player than this is all for nothing.

Picking a radical design for the new chassis is the way forward. It will garner the most amount of press and thus interest - something other car companies will notice.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by rush1

Picking a radical design for the new chassis is the way forward. It will garner the most amount of press and thus interest - something other car companies will notice.

The only thing is if it's too radical it could have the opposite effect.

[JagtechOhio]

Rush, agreed on the engines 100%. Now it depends on manufacturers and builders accepting the invitation and making the investment. And how regulations for availability and equivalency are written.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by JagtechOhio

Bob, there isn't any real reason so far to suggest you are wrong. Honda V6 relaces Honda V8, period.

One of the chassis makers doesn't have plans for a semi-stressed 4 cylinder anyway. If they are selected, it will be stressed V6 only. That eliminates an awful lot of potential players, who haven't done anything more than interviews.

Same old IRL, lots of talk about the future and no specific plans to expect one. Time for them to and get to work.

Next year is the one hundredth year since the first race and it will be, not quasi-mimic of the first with many makes (I wonder, if the rules were variety open, and a LARGE anniversary purse were offered, how many one-offs might have tried to make a name in that one race) but a glorified SCCA spec. formula race.
That annoys me to an extreme degree that the anniversary will be a joke at best.

[JagtechOhio]

No joke in your post. All truth.