Engine Economics: Forty Cars at Indy?
Written by Allan Brewer · January 21, 2006
Honda has lowered the price of entry to the Indy Racing League….
IRL President Brian Barnhart was on hand yesterday to announce a new wrinkle in the League’s engine deal: the price of racing Honda’s V-8 power has dropped, perhaps enough to induce as many as forty owners and chassis into this years 500-mile race qualifying.
Leases on engines from the sole manufacturer for the series have been reduced in cost, and leasing terms can be for as short as one month of May.
IndyStar.com: IRL and Honda Engine Lease
How many of the existing forty IRL car owners will make it to Gasoline Alley for a shot at the Indy 500’s traditional 33-car field is anyone’s guess. At the present time, existing teams and drivers account for only twenty-one spots in the field. This count includes Red Bull Cheever Racing, and Panther Racing, both of which are being dissolved for lack of sponsorship and financing.
Comments
2 Responses to “Engine Economics: Forty Cars at Indy?”
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
If they get 40 entries it will be by the grace of something, but it won’t be by any great interest in the series at this point.
And the way it looks the big teams may follow Michael Andretti and all jump ship in 2007.(http://tinyurl.com/8z7vb)
More importantly, will Honda provide FREE engines and $40 million in cash to AGR, as in past seasons?
One reason so many IRL cars carry “sponsorship” is they were able to charge next to nothing for sidepod advertising when the league was awash in Honda and Toyota cash.
I sincerely hope that the IRL has a successful season, including a full field at Indy. 40 available cars is what’s possible for Indy. How many can afford to race is another question entirely. The leagues announcement of the available car count has a whiff of desperation to it.