The Latest Engine Rumor

[GP Racer]

Just saw Robin Miller - I know, I know, its Miller - on Windtunnel say that GM is staying in the IRL! He got this info from Eddie Cheever and Chip Ganassi, two guys who would have alot of interest in getting rid of those Toyota boat anchors disguised as engines, and getting into Chevies.

Chevy did some heavy advertising during the race to, which struck me as odd for a manufacturer on the way out.

Maybe this was what caused the delay in the expected engine announcement?

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by GP Racer

Maybe this was what caused the delay in the expected engine announcement?

Or perhaps GM has heard something during those discussions that they liked, and decided to stick around?

In any case, while encouraging news, I think I'll wait with cheering until I see something more official, so to speak...

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

In any case, while encouraging news, I think I'll wait with cheering until I see something more official, so to speak...

More official than Robin Miller!? It doesn't get more official than that!

[nsxr]

why dont they run versions of USAC engines. Ford, Chevy and I think Dodge and Toyota compete. Run something that connects them to there past. Plus with all the tuners and builders they wont run out of engines. Maybe pull a few of those development drivers away from NASCAR hey just a thought

[marcus]

I'd prefer them to go back to a stock block series to get more manufacturers invloved.

but what the heck do i know ??/

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by GP Racer

More official than Robin Miller!? It doesn't get more official than that!

Stock blocks all the way, by the way.

[macdaddy]

From an article on Speed, discussing rumours:

Penske looking into buying the controlling interest in Ilmor Engineering to build his own motor when Toyota bails?

[jock25]

I thought Ilmor got swallowed up by Mercedes-Benz following their involvement in the Chevy/Merc CART engines and Merc's entry into F1?

What have I missed?

[GP Racer]

The whole engine situation is getting very confusing!

I mean if Chevy does stay, wouldn't that make it more difficult for Toyota to pull the plug on their IndyCar program? And doesn't the fact that this Indy 500 was so successful, also make the decision to leave that much harder? So much is still up in the air, but the IRL will have to make a decision soon.

[macdaddy]

I also thought that Ilmor was swallowed up, but by GM (Chevy) and not Mercedes (Chrysler).

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I thought Chrysler had Ilmor on it's books, afterall doesn't McLaren guy Martin Whitmarsh (or someone equally highup) head up the management there? Then again if they don't own the entire stake it's a different story.

[jock25]

I was sure that Mario Illien (the "Il" of "Ilmor") was heavily involved in the McLaren-Mercedes team on the engine side and the company, when Illien's business partner (the "Mor" of Ilmor) died, was sold off to Mercedes-Benz.

Can anyone with a better memory correct me if I am wrong or fill in the blanks?

If I am correct I would have thought it very expensive for Penske to retrieve Ilmor, and that it might prove extremely difficult if the original engine specialist company has been well and truly absorbed by a larger manufacturer.

[macdaddy]

...But that's what I get for thinking. Not my strongest subject!

It is now known as "Mercedes-Ilmor", and this blurb is found on their website:

Welcome to Mercedes-Ilmor Ltd, designers and manufacturers of high performance engines. Mercedes-Ilmor design and manufacture Formula 1 racing engines for Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz first became a partner in 1993 when DailmerChrysler became a 25 percent equal shareholder along with the founding members, Paul Morgan, Mario Illien and Roger Penske.

More history can be found here.

[brightline]

Doesn't Ilmor currently build the Honda motors? I thought Toyota was the only engine manufacturer to build their IRL engine from the ground up (Honda was made by Ilmor and Chevy now made by Cosworth).

This is all confusing.

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by GP Racer

The whole engine situation is getting very confusing!

I mean if Chevy does stay, wouldn't that make it more difficult for Toyota to pull the plug on their IndyCar program? And doesn't the fact that this Indy 500 was so successful, also make the decision to leave that much harder? So much is still up in the air, but the IRL will have to make a decision soon.

If you want to add even more to the engine mix, don't forget the speculations (which I personally think is to be taken with a truckload of salt though) suggesting NASCAR is putting pressure on Toyota to stick around in IndyCar. Why? Because NASCAR/ISC doesn't want IndyCar to disappear from its tracks.

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

If you want to add even more to the engine mix, don't forget the speculations (which I personally think is to be taken with a truckload of salt though) suggesting NASCAR is putting pressure on Toyota to stick around in IndyCar. Why? Because NASCAR/ISC doesn't want IndyCar to disappear from its tracks.

That's interesting, and plausible to. The IRL does add alot of revenue to these tracks, and is one of the 3 or 4 big races of the year for most of them, so they do have an interest in keeping this series up and running.

I'm guessing the announcement for the 07 engine program could be coming any day now, because they said they wanted to wait for Indy to be over...

[Tim Northcutt]

I believe it will happen closer to...or maybe even at Texas...why not make a big splash with the motorsports media there who are covering the event???

[macdaddy]

Maybe Penske would badge them as Dodges or Chryslers? Sponsored by Mopar after the tobacco is phased-out? Doesn't Chrysler also own Lamborghini now? (Although that wouldn't fit the mold of an American-based series).

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by macdaddy

Maybe Penske would badge them as Dodges or Chryslers? Sponsored by Mopar after the tobacco is phased-out? Doesn't Chrysler also own Lamborghini now? (Although that wouldn't fit the mold of an American-based series).

Roger runs Dodge engines now in NASCAR...that isn't so far-fetched....

[GP Racer]

Originally Posted by macdaddy

Maybe Penske would badge them as Dodges or Chryslers? Sponsored by Mopar after the tobacco is phased-out? Doesn't Chrysler also own Lamborghini now? (Although that wouldn't fit the mold of an American-based series).

Actually, Audi owns Lamborghini.

So hard to keep up with all these aquisitions...

[marcus]

I didnt know Audi owned Lamborghini ?

when did this happen ?

[rustyfan]

Originally Posted by marcus

I didnt know Audi owned Lamborghini ?

when did this happen ?

Audi bought Lamborghini in June, 1998.

[jock25]

I think the engine announcement will be delayed well beyond Texas. If the IRL are seriously being pushed by Honda (and potentially Toyota as well) to move to common or at least similar specs with CC I do not believe they could have come to a conclusion already.

I doubt the engine suppliers (especially Honda) would be concerned by a delayed decision for a few more months - I would imagine they wish to seize this opportunity and push for unification.

Then again, I suppose if they propose engine regs to run to the end of 2007 only there would be scope to plan with CC for unification for the 2008 season with common specs.

[gttouring]

well i have grown to like the 3.0 litre rule so far, it is a throw back to old formula 1 days, now if it can be 3 litre anything that would be cool. but simply boost pressurecan be used to control HP and speeds much easier than sheer size. if they all adopt a 2.5 or 3.0 turbo rule and regulate boost by randomly distributed Blow off valves or as they say popoffvalves, we can keep boost on a V8 or V6 or I4 of flat whatever, at reasonable levels 1.5 bar? on speedways and they shouldn't make more than 600 hp, safe speed and great sounds, and low cost and no explosions, if the boost is low and the engines do not rev past 14000 than as the XFE (a brilliant motor) than there will be good safe and fast racing on the cheap.
saves lots of work on the high rev research side of things, and the rebuild....

[drdisque]

the pop off valves were inconsistent on superspeedways and a nightmare at tracks where there's alot of testing like Indy. A system of open innovation with only a few rules would make racing even more expensive and contract-dependent than it is today. Rules like that are best suited for a series like F1, not the IRL who is trying to have 28-30 cars out every week and 40 cars at indy.