Chevrolet Coming To IndyCar Series Is Big
- Updated: November 16, 2010
Big. That is what Chevrolet coming into the IZOD IndyCar Series means. Chevrolet will build a new twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 racing engine powered by renewable E85 ethanol fuel starting in 2012.
When current IndyCar czar Randy Bernard came into his leadership role in February, many including me had a lot of questions. One media member told Bernard straight out, “You picked the worse time to take over this series.” Chilling but sobering words to the former leader of the Pro Bull Riding Tour.
Early last year the series seem to be dragging its feet and look as if to be hinting at pushing the new engine-chassis upgrade to 2013. Then Ben Bowlby and Bruce Ashmore turned the racing world’s attention to IndyCar with their startling Delta Wing project. The light went on at Georgetown Road, if a car has created more buzz in the motorsports than anything on track we need to push in that direction. With Bernard’s leadership the ICONIC (Innovative, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective) Advisory Committee was formed. Their task was reviewing, researching and making a recommendation to the sanctioning body on the next generation IZOD IndyCar Series engine and chassis.
Thus, Chevrolet is joining current IZOD IndyCar Series engine manufacturer Honda, who announced earlier this year they are also building a new V-6 power plant, designed by Honda Performance Development (HRD) for the series in 2012.
The hard work paid off as Bernard spent part of this summer lobbying Detroit-based GM to become the series’ second engine manufacturer.
“We are excited to have engine manufacturer competition again in the IZOD IndyCar Series, beginning in 2012,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, IndyCar. “Chevrolet brings a strong passion for racing, technology, relevance and innovation, which is a great fit for our new car platform. We are excited about the future of Indy car racing with the addition of Chevrolet as well as the continued involvement of our longtime engine supplier Honda.”
The new, purpose-built Chevy IZOD IndyCar Series (IICS) engine will be developed jointly by GM and Ilmor Engineering.
HRD has been solely providing engines to the IndyCar Series since 2006, after Chevrolet’s departure in 2005. However, even in ’05, Chevy’s involvement could be called nominal as they only provided engines to several teams and were in the midsts of their financial woes.
When the IndyCar Series went trolling for manufacturers to participate, Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo and Audi were mentioned as possible suitors. With Chevrolet coming aboard, you have an American company that has rebuilt itself after their near demise and will provide IndyCar with wider exposure. Also, not to mention the corporate means to have NASCAR stars to come over and participate in the Indianapolis 500.
“We are excited to have engine manufacturer competition again in the IZOD IndyCar Series, beginning in 2012,” said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. “Chevrolet brings a strong passion for racing, technology, relevance and innovation, which is a great fit for our new car platform. We are excited about the future of Indy car racing with the addition of Chevrolet as well as the continued involvement of our longtime engine supplier Honda.”
The new, purpose-built Chevy IZOD IndyCar Series engine will be developed jointly by GM and Ilmor Engineering.
“Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been a proving ground for manufacturers since Louis Chevrolet, our co-founder, first raced here in 1909,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “Our return to IndyCar as Chevrolet enters its centennial year is natural. At the same time this engine program will be a showcase for the efficient and powerful engine technologies that parallel new Chevrolet vehicles like the Camaro, all-new Cruze compact and Equinox crossover.”
GM is no stranger to the IndyCar Series or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as even when they were not participating in the IICS they had a presence at the Speedway during the month of May.
“Our vision is to design, build and sell the world’s best vehicles – and racing is one of the best ways to showcase what we can do,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations. “Re-entering Indy-style racing will help us take our advanced engine technology to the upper bounds of what’s possible. And it will also provide a dynamic training ground for engineers, who’ll transfer the technologies we develop for racing to the products we sell to our customers.
“GM has become a recognized leader in implementing direct-injection technology in both four-cylinder and V-6 engines by leveraging knowledge already gained from racing,” Stephens said. “Building on this foundation, our new partnership with Ilmor will give us even more opportunities to accelerate our engine technology. It will help our effort to continue to expand and improve the DI technology for street cars. Indy racing will also let us compete at the cutting-edge of key technologies like safety, aerodynamics, electronics and materials so we can make our vehicles even more efficient, safer, more innovative and, especially, more fun to drive.”
The Chevrolet IZOD IndyCar Series power plant will have an aluminum block and cylinder heads, and will be a fully stressed chassis member supporting the gearbox and rear suspension. Technical details and specifications will be released at a later date.
“We want to take this opportunity to welcome Chevrolet back to the IZOD IndyCar Series,” said Erik Berkman, president, Honda Performance Development. “Although we are certainly proud of HPD’s numerous accomplishments during our tenure as single engine supplier to the Series – including an active and unprecedented streak of five consecutive Indianapolis 500s completed without an engine failure – we have repeatedly and unequivocally expressed our desire for engine competition within the Series, dating even from our first days of sole supply, in 2006.
“We look forward to renewing our relationship with Chevrolet as competitors on the race track and giving the fans of open-wheel racing a spirited and challenging rivalry.”
The IZOD IndyCar Series announced in June that that its next generation of engines would be more powerful and efficient than the current formula — along with being relevant to the public and automobile industry.
The IndyCar press release mentioned that the 2012 platform allows manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders and 2.4-liter displacement. The engines will be turbo charged producing between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes. All engines will run on E85 with additional details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.
It is rumored that GM is currently working out details with the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team for the 2012 season. Ganassi recently decided to stay with Chevrolet after being pursued by Ford for his NASCAR team. No other IndyCar teams have been rumored with Chevrolet at this time. However, Panther Racing has had relationship in the past and with their ties to the National Guard, would be a no-brainer. John Barnes of CEO Panther remarked, “Firstly, I think this is a very special day for the IZOD IndyCar Series, and obviously we’re very happy that our old friends from Chevrolet and General Motors will be returning to open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500 beginning in 2012. GM is a major part of Panther Racing’s history, and they were instrumental in helping us achieve our two IndyCar championships and all 15 of our IndyCar race victories. Those of us involved in this series have been saying for over a year now that there is a lot of positive momentum in the IZOD IndyCar Series, and Chevrolet’s announcement today only reinforces the strength and direction of our sport.”
Peter DeLorenzo of Autoextremist.com broke this story last week. Peter is a Detroit insider and when I first read the story considered it on the mark. I thought it was bad taste that one Indianapolis IndyCar print media member wouldn’t even credit Peter in his story.
There have been whispers from some in Indianapolis that FIAT is working on a distribution agreement with Chrysler to sell some of their line in the United States. To promote this, some have suggested they will sign with Cosworth to produce an Indy car engine badged as Alfa, joining Honda and Chevrolet.
This is a boom for IndyCar’s silly season, wondering who is going to join, not if and how they are going to fill fields as in season’s past.
IndyCar Media contributed to this story
Steve Zautke, a Milwaukee, WI native, was raised in the sport of auto racing. His father, Bill, was a movie photographer that shot racing footage at tracks such as the Milwaukee Mile and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 1960’s and 1970’s Steve’s first professional job in racing was as an Emergency Medical Technician at tracks such as Angell Park and Hales Corners Speedway (1988-1991). Steve has also worked for the Milwaukee Mile as videographer, in media relations and historian (1993-2011). Steve also has worked as a reporter for Racing Information Systems (RIS) and has written features for ‘Vintage Oval Racing’ and ‘Victory Lane’ magazines. Most recently, Steve has written a book on Road America for Arcadia Publishing. ( http://www.amazon.com/Road-America-Nascar-Library-Collection/dp/1467111457 ) Steve co-hosts “Sparky’s Final Inspection” a motorsports-based radio show with hosts, Steve “Sparky” Fifer and “NASCAR Girl” Summer Santana on Sports Radio 1250AM in Milwaukee and is also available on the internet at www.Sportradio1250.com. A member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Induction Committee, Steve follows all types of racing from the dirt tracks to Formula One.
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