Honda Welcomes Open-Wheel Unification
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Honda Welcomes Open-Wheel Unification
TORRANCE, Calif. - May 01 —Officials at American Honda and Honda Performance Development are thrilled with the announcement that America's two premier open-wheel racing series have united.
"We are elated that the sanctioning bodies have elected to combine into a single, cohesive and powerful IndyCar Series," said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development, the wholly-owned motorsports subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "For some time now, Honda has been clearly on record as supporting the concept of a single, unified American open-wheel racing series.
"We welcome the opportunity to provide our Honda Indy V-8 racing engines to all participants in what we believe will instantly be a larger, stronger and even much more competitive field; and we eagerly look forward to what surely will be a very exciting 2008 racing season. Not only is this unification good for all the teams and sanctioning bodies; most importantly, it is great for fans of open-wheel racing, whose loyalties have been divided by two competing racing series."
Earlier today, officials of both the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series announced their intentions to unify, effective immediately. Existing Champ Car teams making the move to the IndyCar Series will begin utilizing IRL-approved Dallara chassis, equipped with Honda HI8R Indy V-8 engines and Firestone racing tires. In addition, several of the most popular Champ Car venues will be incorporated into the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule.
Beginning with its initial entry into Formula One in 1964, Honda has a long record of involvement in open-wheel racing at the highest levels of the sport. Worldwide, Honda accomplishments have included 72 Formula One Grands Prix victories; four consecutive F-1 Constructors' Championships (1988-91); and eight MotoGP motorcycle road-racing world championships in the last 13 years.
In the U.S., Honda began Championship Auto Racing Team (CART) competition in 1994, winning its first manufacturers' and drivers' championships in 1996. Three more manufacturer titles (in 1998, '99 and 2001), five additional driver crowns (1997-2001) and 65 race victories highlighted Honda's nine seasons in CART.
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"We are elated that the sanctioning bodies have elected to combine into a single, cohesive and powerful IndyCar Series," said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development, the wholly-owned motorsports subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "For some time now, Honda has been clearly on record as supporting the concept of a single, unified American open-wheel racing series.
"We welcome the opportunity to provide our Honda Indy V-8 racing engines to all participants in what we believe will instantly be a larger, stronger and even much more competitive field; and we eagerly look forward to what surely will be a very exciting 2008 racing season. Not only is this unification good for all the teams and sanctioning bodies; most importantly, it is great for fans of open-wheel racing, whose loyalties have been divided by two competing racing series."
Earlier today, officials of both the Indy Racing League and the Champ Car World Series announced their intentions to unify, effective immediately. Existing Champ Car teams making the move to the IndyCar Series will begin utilizing IRL-approved Dallara chassis, equipped with Honda HI8R Indy V-8 engines and Firestone racing tires. In addition, several of the most popular Champ Car venues will be incorporated into the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule.
Beginning with its initial entry into Formula One in 1964, Honda has a long record of involvement in open-wheel racing at the highest levels of the sport. Worldwide, Honda accomplishments have included 72 Formula One Grands Prix victories; four consecutive F-1 Constructors' Championships (1988-91); and eight MotoGP motorcycle road-racing world championships in the last 13 years.
In the U.S., Honda began Championship Auto Racing Team (CART) competition in 1994, winning its first manufacturers' and drivers' championships in 1996. Three more manufacturer titles (in 1998, '99 and 2001), five additional driver crowns (1997-2001) and 65 race victories highlighted Honda's nine seasons in CART.
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