[DOF_power]

Engine rules set for 2011 overhaul


By Andrew van de Burgt and Steven English


The IndyCar Series plans to introduce new engine regulations for the 2011 season, with environmental pressures likely to influence any changes.
Potential specifications of the new power plants will be discussed in a round table forum in June, which will include IndyCar officials and teams, and senior figures in the US car industry.

If fuel economy and other environmental constraints are to influence the regulations it will almost certainly mean the end of V8 engines, which have been used since 1997. A smaller capacity four or six-cylinder turbocharged unit is considered the most logical move.

IRL competitions president Brian Barnhart said: "We're targeting senior level automotive executives to come to Indianapolis and collectively determine the options and vision for the IndyCar Series' next generation."

IndyCar's sole engine supplier, Honda, has committed to the series through these changes, until 2014, but is calling for more manufacturers to join the championship.

Honda has been the only engine supplier in the series since Toyota quit at the end of 2005 and it wants competition.
IndyCar boss Tony George would also welcome an engine rivalry in the series.

"Racing is about competition," he said. "It's always had competition and, while it can be successful without it, we think it works better with it because it attracts new players to the series."

[Racer Duck]

I guess 10,000 rpm alcohol-burners aren't en-vogue anymore....

here come the diesels!!! (bio-diesels, that is.)

[DOF_power]

They could use another type of ethanol that is corn based.
Diesels work pretty well in sportcar-endurance racing (Le Mans/LMS/ALMS). At Le Mans this past weekend the broke the lap record and produced the closest race I think since 1969.

[Racer Duck]

oh no! not corn based - that'll drive up the cost of gas in the bread-belt (they've been using ethanol-laced gasoline for 20+ years) .. though a few farmers will get rich(er) from it...

I hadn't heard how Le Mans turned out (was gone all weekend - no internet, no TV). Sounds like it was a good event.

[clutch]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I hadn't heard how Le Mans turned out (was gone all weekend - no internet, no TV). Sounds like it was a good event.

Audi winning the A grade...too bad for Villeneuve and teammate, they came second

Oh, btw RD, its good to have you back

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by clutch

Audi winning the A grade...too bad for Villeneuve and teammate, they came second

Oh, btw RD, its good to have you back

Thanks clutch. It feels good to be back .. I'm not 100% yet, but working at it .. now if I just didn't get distracted so much by GTG...

Guess I'll go rummage around tomorrow and see what stories I can find on Le Mans.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

oh no! not corn based - that'll drive up the cost of gas in the bread-belt (they've been using ethanol-laced gasoline for 20+ years) .. though a few farmers will get rich(er) from it...

I hadn't heard how Le Mans turned out (was gone all weekend - no internet, no TV). Sounds like it was a good event.

I meant to say ISN'T.
Typo, my bad.
Food based ethanol is quite bad.

[Racer Duck]

Yesterday Brian Barnhart, President of Competition for IndyCar Series, and other IndyCar officials met with nine manufacturers and six engine builders in Indianapolis to discuss potential changes for 2011.

The series has run with only one engine, Honda, since 2006, and Barnhart would prefer more competition between engine builders.

“We’re probably looking at going to three, maybe four. That would probably be the ultimate situation,” Barnhart said. “We’re running 26 or 27 full-time cars now, and I think it would be a challenge for a 26-car field to support five manufacturers. But I don’t think we’ll limit it.”

Series officials also have not yet announced what the engine specifications will be, and Barnhart acknowledged there was debate over the number of cylinders cars should have and whether they should use turbocharged or normally aspirated engines.

“We’d be thrilled if we could take a couple of more interested parties the distance,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL’s commercial division. “But we need to make a decision this fall to stick to our stated goal of 2011.”

Barnhart plans to keep all options on the table before holding a second meeting with manufacturers that are interested in joining the league.

But how far will the series go in making changes?

Barnhart said the IRL, which was founded primarily to race on American ovals, reduce costs and elevate the profile of young, American drivers, was willing to consider just about anything.

“We’ve been more willing to discuss that (turbochargers) than we had been in the past,” he said. “Obviously, the devil will be in the details. But there was a lot more commonality among us than disagreement. We’re going to go in it with an open mind and listen to their ideas.”

Source: Yahoo

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Barnhart said the IRL, which was founded primarily to race on American ovals, reduce costs and elevate the profile of young, American drivers, was willing to consider just about anything.

Uh, Barny. May I offer something to consider? How about going back to the original concepts which you state above? You are beginning to look more and more like the old CART Series every time the IRL discusses making a change.

Trust me. Your original concept for the IRL was a winner.

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Uh, Barny. May I offer something to consider? How about going back to the original concepts which you state above? You are beginning to look more and more like the old CART Series every time the IRL discusses making a change.

Trust me. Your original concept for the IRL was a winner.

Agreed. But it seems that part of the deal for the merger, at least for this year, was to honor some of the commitments that CART had made.

Does anyone know if that extends into next year as well?

I don't mind a road race, or one street race, but I also would like to mostly see ovals!

The one course I really enjoyed watching that CART ran was that airfield!

The location escapes me right now!!
As far as motors go, I don't care what they run, as long as they continue to have (mostly) close finishes.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Uh, Barny. May I offer something to consider? How about going back to the original concepts which you state above? You are beginning to look more and more like the old CART Series every time the IRL discusses making a change.

Trust me. Your original concept for the IRL was a winner.

A winner ?!
How by being insignificant ?!

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Agreed. But it seems that part of the deal for the merger, at least for this year, was to honor some of the commitments that CART had made.

Does anyone know if that extends into next year as well?

I don't mind a road race, or one street race, but I also would like to mostly see ovals!

The one course I really enjoyed watching that CART ran was that airfield!

The location escapes me right now!!
As far as motors go, I don't care what they run, as long as they continue to have (mostly) close finishes.

There've been several airports which have held races over the years. Since I didn't follow Cart much, I'm not sure where they ran. However, there was an airport at Meadowlands and another at Cleveland that had races, but don't know if any were Cart or ALMS or what...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by DOF_power

A winner ?!
How by being insignificant ?!

Let's see... I made my statement using the six year longevity of the IRL as a base.

Maybe, back in 1955 some writer might have written, "NASCAR has averaged less than 9000 attendees at its races since its inception in 1949. No one in the media cares about the series. NASCAR is very obviously insignificant and will never amount to anything. It's just a type of sport that will never catch on. Obviously the sport of the next Century will be bowling!

I believe that TG's idea was a winner. The merging with the CART faction has brought more names into the sport but eventually it will lose the interest of the American public the way CART did.

It took a long time for CART to destroy major league open wheel racing in this country. It would have taken a long time for IRL to bring it back. TG pandered to the whine and brie crowd and will realize a jump in the short term but it will bite him on his butt in the long term.

[DOF_power]

CART destroyed what ?!
It was highly popular till the split then it was a competition of 2 loser series.
The fact that hurt open wheeled racing the most was NASCAR's money/purses/prizes for the drivers.
That's not to say the disintegration of the ladder system didn't play its part.
Drivers go where the money and exposure is; Stewart, Gordon and many other should have been Indy drivers but their not.
American open wheel racing begun losing when NASCAR open it's purses and said "come and get it boys".

[DOF_power]

From what I've read.

...
The subjects:

-- Turbocharged versus normally aspirated engines: Reading between the lines, it sounded as if potential suppliers prefer turbos.

--Engine size: Barnhart said V6s, V8s and V12s were discussed.

--Fuel usage: The IRL currently uses ethanol.

Barnhart added that it was clear that the unification of U.S.-based open-wheel racing drove attendance at the meeting. He also estimated that a 26-car field could support only three or four builders, perhaps five.

"But we won't limit it," he said.