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New IndyCar engine plans stirring global interest despite delay to 2012

 
6 3,399 views Feb 4, 2009
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Carmakers from around the world are looking to build to the new formula

Carmakers from around the world are looking to build to the new formula

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Tough times and cutbacks, or even outright cancellation of programs, are mode throughout today's motorsports programs, and while the Indy Racing League (IRL) has announced it will delay application of its new engine package until 2012, the proposed format is already drawing interest from diverse quarters.

The plan had initially been to enact the new engine proposal for the 2011 season, but that has been scrapped to help allow teams and sponsoring manufacturers time to cope with the current economic situation. "The world is a different place than when we began this process," said Brian Barnhart, president of IRL's competition division.

But despite the delay, carmakers as varied as Fiat, Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen are beginning to express interest in building to the new formula, which places emphasis on efficiency as well as power. The IRL has already been a leader in the use of alternative fuels, so the move to small-displacement turbocharged engines is in a similar vein.

The package proposed includes a displacement limit of 2.0L. Though cylinder count hasn't yet been decided, it's expected to be either a four or six-cylinder engine, fed by a single turbocharger. To help keep costs down, engine life between rebuilds will be a mandatory 3,750mi (2,800km) and a cost-limited engine lease program will be available to teams as well.



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Comments (6)

  1. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 2/4/2009 12:07pm PST

    I LOVE IT!!! STRAIGHT 6's!!! CMONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

    ..i might actually watch F1
     
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  2. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 2/4/2009 12:07pm PST

    excuse me... IRL...
     
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  3. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 2/4/2009 2:54pm PST

    Darn, when I saw "small displacement turbocharged", I thought we were going to get some 1980s F1 style turbo V8 madness. Still, the prospect of getting turbos back into open-wheel racing sounds promising.
     
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  4. ma_dcars avatar dcars Posted: 2/4/2009 6:41pm PST

    Why wait? open up the spec now and make IRL interesting again.
     
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  5. ma_phil12321 avatar phil12321 Posted: 2/4/2009 7:10pm PST

    This could be intresting. BMW some 20 or more years ago had a 1.6L 4 cyl formula 1 engine that ran a full race at 1300HP +... terell P11 if my memory serves me right...it was a blindingly fast car...with todays technology we can see the same numbers but maybe last a half of a season rather than 1 race..
     
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  6. ma_phil12321 avatar phil12321 Posted: 2/4/2009 7:16pm PST

    If you guys are intrested in the above metioned BMW engine heres a cool link that talks all about it

    http://www.gurneyflap.com/bmwturbof1engine.html
     
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