Indy Racing League: Powerful turbocharged engines return
Strategies and technologies at the auto world change as fast as the speeds of the autos. Now it is the Indy Car that has come up with their new engine strategy. Starting from the year 2012, they will be bringing the turbocharged engines back to their cars. Indy Car had been using these engines in their cars previously as well. It was the year 1996 when Indy Car used the same engine for its formative races which were designed for their CARTS.
The Indy Racing League informed the media that this time round, the engines will increase the participation of the manufacturers in the entire series. At the moment, it is only Honda for the past four years that has been their sole manufacturer for the engines. The spokesman for Indy also added that this new generation of engines will prove to be more powerful and efficient for the contemporary formula.
The ICONIC (Innovative, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective) Advisory Committee has recommended Indy Car for this new engine strategy. By the end of June, it is also expected that the committee will make some announcements on the new chassis concepts, as now it is being studied closely by the committee.
With the implementation of the new rules, the manufacturers will be allowed to produce engines with a maximum displacement of 2.4 cubic litres. The Indy Racing League informed the media that the race will permit up to six cylinders at maximum.
A thorough research was done by the ICONIC Advisory Committee for the future engine platforms with teams, manufacturers, drivers and fans as well, all the stakeholders admit to the fact that this new strategy would surely highlight the key attributes of the sport that includes speed, competition and diversity. The chief executive officer of the Indy Racing League Randy Bernard said that they felt this has given a way to a platform that is open and includes everything that will surely turn the sport into an even more attractive option for engine manufacturers. He added that this will also allow the development of an amazing platform that will be relevant and innovative for the automotive industry for the future. Moreover, that would help in highlighting other factors like, performance, quality, durability, environmental responsibility and above all the safety while driving these machines.
Bernard also told that the IRL is very hopeful for the new strategies as it will once again challenge the manufacturers to prove their worth. The manufactures also think that this is a great doorway to introduce the technological advancements that could benefit the future of their industry.
He further explained that the rules will be evaluated to keep an equal playing field for all the different engines that could penetrate the IZOD Indy Car Series.
He added that a good example of it could be the V-6 going against an Inline 4 at all IZOD Indy Car Series in all the future events. He told that reference engines will be required as a yardstick to check performance while keeping the sonic air restrictors in mind. Similarly, the fuel flow restrictions and other such rules will make the key criteria for competition.
The team owner representative to the ICONIC Advisory Committee, Gil de Ferran, expressed the opinion of the committee saying that it felt that the new engine strategy is open, includes all and above all it is powerful and promises high performance. Above all, he said that it does not defy the historical value of Indy car racing.
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