Turbocharged engines on IndyCar horizon

[Schwartz Fan]

Turbocharged engines on IndyCar horizon
By MIKE HARRIS, AP Auto Racing Writer


SONOMA, Calif. (AP)—Now that there is one American open-wheel series, officials of the IRL’s IndyCar Series are turning their attention to the future.

One that is very likely to include turbocharged engines.

A second round-table for engine manufacturers is scheduled Sept. 16-17 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. At the first meeting in June, the consensus was that turbochargers should be part of the new package when IndyCar unveils a new engine-car combination for the 2011 season.

CART, which later became Champ Car and was absorbed into IndyCar at the start of this season, ending a difficult and bitter 12-year rivalry, ran with turbocharged engines. IndyCar’s formula was and is normally aspired V-8 engines.

Series points leader Scott Dixon likes the idea of adding turbochargers, which means more power.


“Any driver always says they want more power, man,” Dixon said Saturday at Infineon Raceway.

Honda currently provides all the engines for IndyCar, but close to a dozen potential engine suppliers joined Honda at the first Indy round-table, and most of them are expected to return for the second meeting.

“We’ve been there before,” said Honda spokesman Dan Layton, referring to the turbocharged engines the company ran in CART. “They’re quiet and adjustable. That’s perfect at a place like this, where you can adjust horsepower. Mainly, though, we want competition. Whatever it takes to get them in is OK with us.”

IndyCar already races with 100 percent ethanol fuel. And, with so much attention on the ecology these days, the future could include hybrid engines.

“I know they’re talking about hybrids and you could do that as well,” Dixon said. “I know you carry around sort of a smaller engine and it works for like two minutes of the race. There’s definitely different ways of doing it, but the turbo would be the easiest option.”

Another big question is whether the new engines will have six or eight cylinders. But, for Dixon, the main thing is adding that turbocharger.

“Everybody’s been down that road,” he said. “The engine manufacturers have been down that road. But, for me, I think the car definitely needs more power. It’s an underpowered car at the moment. And we’re talking 650 (horsepower) and, in (CART and Champ Car), you were close to 1,000. That’s a big difference.”

IRL officials said they would like to keep engine power from going above 750 horsepower.

If all goes as planned, specifications for the new engines will be finalized by December. That would give the manufacturers that choose to be in the series two years to get the engines from the drawing board to the racetrack.

“That’s the right time for a possible new car and new engine,” said Keith Wiggins, owner of IndyCar’s HVM Racing. “They are making the right decision because you have to go where the manufacturers are going. Racing has always been about high-end technology and development for the manufacturers, so you have to know where the future is going.

“A small, turbo engine is better for the environment and for performance. A turbo is a perfect engine because you can regulate the power and that’s great for what we do in our series, running different ovals and road courses. It all makes good sense and will be good for all teams, including HVM Racing.”


Turbocharged engines on IndyCar horizon - IRL - Yahoo! Sports