Indycar News & Rumors.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I thought it was so more American drivers from sprint car backgrounds could race in Indycar

Partly. Tony George also wanted the IRL to be less costly, using cheaper chassis and normally aspirated engines, as well as racing only on ovals.

[S griffin]

Yes, I’ve heard that before too

[broadrun96]

In news that will stun absolutely no one, Steinbrenner/Harding racing will use Hondas for O'Ward and Herta. Only makes sense since they are a partner team with Andretti and the grumblings over a potential Andretti team using Chevy engines got quite loud after Sonoma. But also shows why a McLaren/Andretti tie-up was going to be tough, Honda already has 14 full season engine packages and likely more than the 17-18 at Indy that was raised as their maximum comfortable number a couple times last season.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

In news that will stun absolutely no one, Steinbrenner/Harding racing will use Hondas for O'Ward and Herta. Only makes sense since they are a partner team with Andretti and the grumblings over a potential Andretti team using Chevy engines got quite loud after Sonoma. But also shows why a McLaren/Andretti tie-up was going to be tough, Honda already has 14 full season engine packages and likely more than the 17-18 at Indy that was raised as their maximum comfortable number a couple times last season.

HPD supplied 19 entries for this year's 500, when capacity was originally for 18 cars.

[broadrun96]

And I recall multiple reports from Honda they would NOT be doing that again last year and it took management stepping in and extra cash to make even 19 work. HPD was not happy with being pressured in to more than they wanted to supply.

[bjohnsonsmith]

IndyCar staying with E85 through 2020.

https://racer.com/2018/12/07/indycar...-through-2020/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

IndyCar staying with E85 through 2020.

https://racer.com/2018/12/07/indycar...-through-2020/

To be honest i don't know of a single person that cares about what fuel a series uses.

[jimclark]

x2

[broadrun96]

Well it's partially important as an announcement as it was debated returning to the old methanol fuels to get closer to 1000hp. That seemed to be more a dream than reality but it was considered and the engine builders both said no thanks guys, that's almost a full redesign. So announcing they are sticking with EITHER closed the speculation for now.

[BudLightJaguar]

Originally Posted by joeb

To be honest i don't know of a single person that cares about what fuel a series uses.

As long as they use fuel of some type. Not batteries

[bjohnsonsmith]

Fuel may not be the most exciting aspect of motorsport but it's certainly at the heart of it. No fuel, no motorsport, unless you want to go electric like FE, or use a rubber band.

The problem with methanol, as opposed to E85, is that as it is an alcohol it evaporates quickly, attacks aluminum and offers virtually no engine lubrication unlike gasoline.

Race engine blocks are made from aluminum and there is a chemical reaction that occurs between the aluminum and methanol, which causes scaling so the aluminum needs to be anodized. I would think this is why Chevy and Honda wanted to stick with E85.

[GTRMagic]

Is Speedway Fuels somehow related to Sunoco?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Is Speedway Fuels somehow related to Sunoco?

They are a separate entity. Speedway Fuels are owned by Speedway LLC, a convenience store chain, who in turn are owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Is Speedway Fuels somehow related to Sunoco?

New tender was offered for fuel mix, hence why options were brought up in discussions with engine builders and teams regarding the future. Think the ideas where about how to build horsepower without big changes. Sounds like they settled on staying the same for now which isn't a bad thing with car. Spend the time improving the car on super speedways with the aero instead

[bjohnsonsmith]

There's a new engine spec, as from 2021, so it makes sense to keep the current engine spec as is until then.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Fuel may not be the most exciting aspect of motorsport but it's certainly at the heart of it. No fuel, no motorsport, unless you want to go electric like FE, or use a rubber band.

The problem with methanol, as opposed to E85, is that as it is an alcohol it evaporates quickly, attacks aluminum and offers virtually no engine lubrication unlike gasoline.

Race engine blocks are made from aluminum and there is a chemical reaction that occurs between the aluminum and methanol, which causes scaling so the aluminum needs to be anodized. I would think this is why Chevy and Honda wanted to stick with E85.

I wasn't trying to be an a** with my previous post. I do understand how important fuel can be to running an engine. I just thought it was a boring press release to say that the series was keeping things the same.

But now seeing all the other posts, it makes sense that the series did make an announcement about it.

And I'm already itching for some racing and we have months to go!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wasn't trying to be an a** with my previous post. I do understand how important fuel can be to running an engine. I just thought it was a boring press release to say that the series was keeping things the same.

But now seeing all the other posts, it makes sense that the series did make an announcement about it.

And I'm already itching for some racing and we have months to go!

That's fine.

St. Pete is on March 10, so roughly 3 more months. However, no news about the series' new sponsor.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wasn't trying to be an a** with my previous post. I do understand how important fuel can be to running an engine. I just thought it was a boring press release to say that the series was keeping things the same.

But now seeing all the other posts, it makes sense that the series did make an announcement about it.

And I'm already itching for some racing and we have months to go!

If it wasn't a comment like that we'd think you'd been hacked good sir.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wasn't trying to be an a** with my previous post. I do understand how important fuel can be to running an engine. I just thought it was a boring press release to say that the series was keeping things the same.

But now seeing all the other posts, it makes sense that the series did make an announcement about it.

As a fan, not an engine builder, with or without the other posts, I still don't give a rats behind what fuel they use....CART succeeded on methanol...I just wanna see 'em race. Everybody using the same fuel (as in no BoPing)? I'm happy to see them go, whatever it is.
'Wonderful announcement.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by jimclark

As a fan, not an engine builder, with or without the other posts, I still don't give a rats behind what fuel they use....CART succeeded on methanol...I just wanna see 'em race. Everybody using the same fuel (as in no BoPing)? I'm happy to see them go, whatever it is.
'Wonderful announcement.

It is good to see a new brand in the sport. Now had that brand also taken a title sponsorship of a race or something... could have generated some more interest

[bjohnsonsmith]

CART did succeeded on methanol but the switch from gasoline was due to the multiple car crash, on the second lap of the 1964 Indy 500, in which Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald died. Their cars exploded and the subsequent fire, produced a cloud of black smoke, blocking the view of the track for oncoming cars and drivers.

[NaBUru38]

In the early 1960s, cars would do just one pitstop, therefore they would carry many more gallons that the current 18.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

In the early 1960s, cars would do just one pitstop, therefore they would carry many more gallons that the current 18.

That's incorrect. For example in the 1963 Indy 500, race winner Parnelli Jones made 3 stops, on lap 62, lap 125 and lap 160.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

CART did succeeded on methanol but the switch from gasoline was due to the multiple car crash, on the second lap of the 1964 Indy 500, in which Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald died. Their cars exploded and the subsequent fire, produced a cloud of black smoke, blocking the view of the track for oncoming cars and drivers.

'Not being educated, but that's neither here nor there. 'Has nothing to do with my point that most fans don't give a crap would fuel is being used; 'not why they do.

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That's incorrect. For example in the 1963 Indy 500, race winner Parnelli Jones made 3 stops, on lap 62, lap 125 and lap 160.

Not incorrect. Back when the cars carried 80 gallons ('could be mistaken on exact amount) there were one-stoppers. Fer instance, your same race example, Jimmy and Dan were doing a one-stopper.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by jimclark

'Not being educated, but that's neither here nor there. 'Has nothing to do with my point that most fans don't give a crap would fuel is being used; 'not why they do.

It was a follow on from your point about CART succeeding with methanol, so in that context it is very much here or there. If most fans don't give a crap about what fuel is used, that's fine but there are plenty of fans who do.

Originally Posted by jimclark

Not incorrect. Back when the cars carried 80 gallons ('could be mistaken on exact amount) there were one-stoppers. Fer instance, your same race example, Jimmy and Dan were doing a one-stopper.

Not entirely correct or incorrect then, as per the Parnelli Jones example and I'm sure there are plenty more.