Honda engine availability for 500

[Danny Noonan]

Anyone heard any whispers of Honda limiting the total number of engine leases for the 500 to 40? That would be really unfortunate if more teams than that want to qualify. But Honda is really put under the gun at this point, especially considering all the additional engines needed for the races prior to Indy.

Of course, this might be some kind of IRL/Honda ploy to get all the potential entries signed up sooner rather than later.

Just a whisper, not even a rumor, so don't shoot the messenger.

[indyracefan]

...in a word, no. I don't believe engine availability or the lack of will be an issue.

[Mack Too]

No use posting D&G for no reason, I'm guessing they'll find a way to have engines for all. The upside is that if that is the case, all of the entries will come in early instead of trickling down.

[Danny Noonan]

No use posting D&G for no reason, I'm guessing they'll find a way to have engines for all. The upside is that if that is the case, all of the entries will come in early instead of trickling down.

I agree. Having so many potential entries that it puts a strain on Honda is a good problem to have, and one that would have been hard to imagine just a few months ago.

[Tadarida]

I don't have a link at hand, but I remember the question of additional engines for the 500 being asked of Robert Clarke a couple of years ago. His answer was that due to lead time for acquiring block castings (which are outsourced), machining, testing, &c. Honda needed 90 days advance notice to produce additional engines. We are past that date for the race, and certainly for the first day of Indy practice.

How firm is the 90 day cut-off? Darned if I know, but I hope it's soft.

[dog-ring]

I don't think they'll need many more than what they have because I think with the former Champ Car teams running the engines there will be less of the smaller teams...................

[ovalfan01]

I don't think they'll need many more than what they have because I think with the former Champ Car teams running the engines there will be less of the smaller teams...................

Agreed. Teams aren't going to scrape together their nickels only to get bumped out of the field. Racing Professionals, Team Leader, PDM, Hemelgarn, etc. are all probably very questionable now. It was a different story when they were reasonably assured of a starting spot.

[bigred]

Agreed. Teams aren't going to scrape together their nickels only to get bumped out of the field. Racing Professionals, Team Leader, PDM, Hemelgarn, etc. are all probably very questionable now. It was a different story when they were reasonably assured of a starting spot.

Though it will be harder to make the field, the reward will be greater. So the economics of the situation may not have moved as far as thought.

Of course, it will be much more difficult for a rag-tag bunch to make the show with a shoddy effort, limited talent, and low-cost used equipment. Put a well-run one-off could be in a better position now rather than in 2007

[THE BEAR]

Honda has to be smiling all the way to the bank. The premier open wheel series, running will full(er) fields for the first time in years, no competing series, the INDY 500....and their engines are solely in each and every one of those cars. I know Honda really helped out the series by agreeing to stay as a supplier through the bleak times, but you couldn't calculate the value to them of being the sole supplier under the current circumstances. Trust me, they'll find all the engines which are needed.

[Mack Too]

I don't think they'll need many more than what they have because I think with the former Champ Car teams running the engines there will be less of the smaller teams...................

I know one team that ran last year that is just about ready to go that is waiting to find out how many CCWS teams will run in the ICS this year. If there are too many they won't run, and it looks like there will now be eight or more, so that just about knocks them out. I think it will be very difficult to make the Indy field this year with one of those old Panoz cars.

[cleanupcrew]

engines are also rebuilt during the month ... there should be plenty of engines ...

[jonovision_man]

Anyone heard any whispers of Honda limiting the total number of engine leases for the 500 to 40?

Only in dreams is >40 an issue. Merger or not, the issue is more likely to be finding 33 than worrying about 41.

jono

[RS2]

How many Panoz IRL tubs are there? Is there a chance now that things are settled that Panoz will support these chassis again?

[Danny Noonan]

Only in dreams is >40 an issue. Merger or not, the issue is more likely to be finding 33 than worrying about 41.

jono

Care to wager that there will be closer to 40 than 33?

[Mack Too]

How many Panoz IRL tubs are there? Is there a chance now that things are settled that Panoz will support these chassis again?

No, any used for Indy will have to have the cooling system update, parts kits come from Panoz, work done in Indy. Just a guess that less then 7 were updated last year.