Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers may be despatched to mailbag@racer.com. We love listening to your feedback and opinions, however letters that embody a query usually tend to be revealed. Questions acquired after 3pm ET every Monday might be saved for the next week.
Q: Did you see this announcement about Honda’s new racing engine? Any thought the place this engine might be used? Any likelihood that is for a brand new Liberty Media collection in North America, and people are the engine rules?
William Mazeo
MARSHALL PRUETT: I did. A cool hot-rodded Honda Civic and Acura RDX motor. I’d put my cash on the little 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder being adopted as the brand new Indy NXT motor, changing the AER-built Mazda 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder mill that went reside in 2015 and has gone unbadged lately after Mazda exited junior open-wheel racing.
The Honda-to-NXT angle has been pitched many instances and rejected, but when Honda Racing Company U.S. decides to remain in IndyCar after its contract is up following 2026, I’m guessing this transfer — one that will be a optimistic revenue generator for the model — can be a part of a brand new contract. I say that as a result of if I used to be negotiating with Penske Leisure to proceed, that’s the hand I’d play to get motor gross sales and motor assist offers included with Penske’s NXT collection.
As for a Liberty Media collection that doesn’t exist and has no rules, I’m feeling like the brand new 300-600hp engines would even be a fantastic candidate for such issues, however these issues must first turn out to be actual.
Q: I noticed the story about how Lola desires to step up its enlargement after getting back from chapter. Curiously, it’s collaborating with Yamaha in Method E and their purpose appears to be electrification, hydrogen and sustainable fuels and supplies.
This is probably not an ideal match, however with electrification (with hybrid engines in IndyCar) and maybe a risk of sustainable gas as a future objective, IndyCar ought to courtroom Lola and, as an extension, Yamaha as an engine provider for IndyCar. This leads IndyCar right into a state of affairs the place as soon as once more a number of chassis may be in play, and we’ve got the third engine provider that IndyCar desperately wants to steer the collection into future.
Some in IndyCar circles may scoff at Yamaha as an engine provider, however they’ve a protracted historical past of supplying engines in F1 with groups like Tyrell and few others up to now 30-40 years.
I hope you possibly can cross alongside to IndyCar so the suitable folks can maybe discover this as an choice.
Shyam
MP: IndyCar reads the Mailbag every week, so the passing alongside occurs by itself. The proprietor of Lola is all types of superior and has an enormous ardour for the model and its historical past, together with IndyCar, which was the centerpiece for Lola’s world achievements for many years. Sadly, there’s no anticipation of IndyCar wanting anyplace past its official chassis companions at Dallara to create the subsequent automotive, or the automotive after that.
And who wouldn’t like to have Yamaha concerned? Good throwback livery to contemplate as nicely, for my late buddy and hero Dan Gurney.
Gurney’s AAR Lotus-Ford had Yamaha assist at Indy in 1965. It might definitely make for a cooler throwback livery than, say, a 1997 Arrows. Dave Friedman/Motorsport Photos
Q: I simply learn that Roger Penske felt that this was one among his crew’s finest seasons ever. Contemplating that crew Penske acquired caught dishonest in three collection, isn’t it a bit boastful of Penske to say how good 2024 was? Is he that unaware of what dishonest is? To be truthful, I’m not a Roger fan in any respect.
Paul, Indianapolis, IN
MP: Pretend information, Paul, faux information.
Q: For the upcoming Thermal IndyCar take a look at, and offseason exams normally, how do groups resolve which chassis to make use of, i.e.; oldest road/highway course tub? Highest mileage chassis?
Do the engine suppliers ship groups engines upfront to allow them to arrive with a completely accomplished race automotive? And does the mileage gathered throughout a take a look at depend in direction of common season engine guidelines?
Do the groups present up with totally liveried race vehicles, i.e.; main present sponsor wrap? And have they got numbers and the present take a look at drivers names on them? As I’m guessing the chassis are stripped clear following season’s finish.
Tom Harader, Florence, OR
MP: Groups are inclined to take their finest vehicles, not their most worn vehicles, since they’re looking for the very best high quality of information. As soon as groups return house from the ultimate race, all vehicles are torn down and complete rebuilds happen. If a crew has a used automotive from the Sept. 15 race at Nashville Superspeedway sitting untouched at present, they suck.
Sure, groups obtain engines at their outlets earlier than races and exams to allow them to construct full vehicles in managed environments. Because the final season is over and the brand new season hasn’t began because it’s nonetheless 2024, there aren’t any mileage guidelines affiliated with 2024 or 2025. That can change as soon as we get into 2025 when the calendar begins for the brand new season.
On the final block of questions, there’s a lot of “how lengthy is a chunk of string?” gadgets. It varies per crew. Some sure, some no.
Q: I at all times thought IndyCar can be higher with two chassis: one for highway programs/quick ovals, one other one for superspeedways. So I’ve been questioning… Is that doable to realize now? They’d design one for highway programs, as gentle as it may be. And hold the DW12 or no matter it’s referred to as now for the high-speed ovals. After all that will imply no hybrids on these tracks then (if the subsequent automotive is made with that in thoughts). Give it a brand new aero, and go racing.
William Mazeo
MP: It’s the right situation for if and when IndyCar turns into considerably worthwhile for its crew house owners. However for the place we’re at present, prices are the one largest issues for almost all of these house owners, which makes doubling automotive prices a non-starter. An concept that’s forward of its time.
