Hondanews Online Newsroom

Honda Racing: Honda Teams and Drivers Enter Indy With Depth and Experience

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:46:00 -0700

As Honda-powered teams and drivers head into the 96th running of the Indianapolis 500-mile race, they do so with the depth and experience of teams and drivers who have conquered racing's most prestigious and unpredictable event.

Four of Honda's seven teams have won the prestigious Memorial Day classic. Target Chip Ganassi Racing owns three '500' victories, in 2000, 2008 and 2010. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing brought Honda its first Indy 500 victory in 2004. A.J. Foyt has recorded three Indianapolis 500 victories as a team owner, in 1967, '77, and '99; while Bryan Herta Autosport won the Centennial Indianapolis 500 in 2011 with the late Dan Wheldon.

Honda's stable of drivers includes Indy 500 champions Dario Franchitti (2007 and 2010) and Scott Dixon (2008), who between them have won the last five IZOD IndyCar Series drivers' championships.

"Many times, victory at the Indy 500 depends on a bit of good luck," says Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development, the racing arm of American Honda Motor Company, Inc. "However, the Indy 500 demands that teams and drivers have a certain level of experience and depth in order to contend for a victory. We are extremely confident in being able to call upon this level of strength in our garages."

Founded in 1993, Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines, and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.

Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994, and has played an active role in the growth of the IZOD IndyCar Series - as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and single engine supplier - since joining the series in 2003.

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases "fun" products for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

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Honda Racing: Honda Indy 500 Talking Points

Tue, 22 May 2012 07:04:00 -0700

Indianapolis 500-Mile Race
May 27, 2012
11 a.m. EDT
ABC Television Network

COMPETITION

Fifteen starters in this year's Indianapolis 500 will use the Honda HI12RT turbocharged V-6 engine. Eleven are full-season competitors: Mike Conway, Scott Dixon, Dario Franchitti, James Jakes, Charlie Kimball, Josef Newgarden, Simon Pagenaud, Graham Rahal, Takuma Sato, Alex Tagliani and Justin Wilson.

In addition to the regular-season drivers, drivers utilizing Honda power at Indianapolis include Townsend Bell, Bryan Clauson, Wade Cunningham and Michel Jourdain, Jr.

The 2012 season marks the return of manufacturer competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series after six years of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Lotus now join Honda in providing engines to the 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field.

HONDA HERITAGE AT INDY

Honda has powered the last eight Indianapolis 500 race winners, versus manufacturer competition in 2004-05, and as single engine supplier from 2006-11. Winners have included Buddy Rice (2004), Dan Wheldon (2005 and 2011), Sam Hornish, Jr. (2006), Dario Franchitti (2007 and 2010), Scott Dixon (2008) and Helio Castroneves (2009).

From 2006-2011, Honda supplied engines to every IndyCar Series competitor. A total of 98 drivers raced with the Honda Indy V-8 during that period, with 15 drivers recording race victories. Honda engines logged approximately 1.2 million miles of practice, qualifying and racing in the series; and nearly 500,000 actual race miles.

During the six years that Honda served as IndyCar engine supplier, the company provided engines to the full 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field - and for the only six times in Indy 500 history (2006-2011), there were no engine failures recorded in the Memorial Day weekend classic.

Honda's first competitive appearance at Indianapolis took place in 1994, but the company first put a car on track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in November, 1968, when Honda conducted an evaluation test using a Formula One car with driver Ronnie Bucknum.

MANUFACTURING

Located approximately 40 miles southeast of Indianapolis in Greensburg, Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) is Honda's newest North American auto assembly plant. HMIN employs approximately 2,000 associates from Greensburg, Indianapolis and nearby communities; and has the capacity to produce 200,000 cars each year, including the Honda Civic, the Civic Natural Gas and the new Acura ILX sedan.

The 1,600-acre HMIN site also features state-of-the-art environmental protection, including lakes around the facility designed to serve as natural aquatic filters to protect local aquifers, rehabilitation of the area floodplain with new creek-side forest growth, and a zero waste-to-landfill policy, meaning nothing from the site is sent to landfills.

On Thursday, May 10, four Honda Indianapolis 500 drivers visited Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, including two-time race winner and Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver Dario Franchitti, A.J. Foyt Racing's Mike Conway; Dale Coyne Racing's Justin Wilson, and Graham Rahal of Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing. Drivers received a guided tour of the facility, met associates at their individual work stations, and held a two-hour autograph session for plant associates.

MARKETING

Honda's popular "Fastest Seat in Sports" sweepstakes makes its fifth stop of the 2012 season at the Indianapolis 500 this weekend. Legendary racer Mario Andretti will take Thomas Patton of Celina, OH for the ride of a lifetime around the historic 2.5-mile oval in a two-seater IndyCar, in advance of the green flag for Sunday's 96th Indianapolis 500. Interested fans can find out more information on the "Fastest Seat in Sports" at shophonda.com.

SUPPORT RACE

For the second consecutive year, American Honda will support Starting Grid, Inc.'s diversity-based driver development program. Chase Austin will again compete in the Freedom 100 Indy Lights race on May 25, this year driving for Juncos Racing. In 2011, Austin finished ninth in the 18-car field in his Indy Lights debut.

Honda Racing: Statement From Steve Eriksen, Vice President, Honda Performance Development, Following Wednesday's Ruling by an Appeals Judge Concerning a Protest Filed with Indycar by General Motors:

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:35:00 -0700

"We are pleased that Justice Boehm's ruling has again confirmed INDYCAR's initial step to address parity of the Series-mandated single and twin turbochargers. This has been INDYCAR's intention ever since the matter first came under discussion in late 2010.

We eagerly look forward to continuing our battle with Chevrolet and Lotus as practice sessions for the Indianapolis 500, 'The Greatest Spectacle in Racing', begin this weekend."

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Honda Racing: Honda Readies Robust Indy 500 Challenge

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:10:00 -0700

An accomplished 15-driver lineup, including two previous race winners and nine graduates of IndyCar training-ground series, makes up the Honda-powered effort for the 2012 Indianapolis 500, as the company seeks its third consecutive "500" victory with engine-manufacturer competition.

Manufacturer competition last took place at the fabled "Brickyard" in 2005 – a race won by the late Dan Wheldon, the first of his two Indianapolis 500 triumphs with Honda power. Previously, Buddy Rice scored Honda's first Indy 500 victory in 2004.

After six years of Honda supplying engines to the full Indianapolis 500 field – marking the only six times in "500" history with no in-race engine failures – manufacturer competition returns to IndyCar competition in 2012, with Chevrolet and Lotus joining Honda to supply new, turbocharged V-6 racing engines for this year's 96th running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and the entire IZOD IndyCar Series championship.

"We're excited by the return of competition to the Indianapolis 500," said Art St. Cyr, President, Honda Performance Development (HPD). "We take a great deal of pride in the unprecedented record of performance and reliability achieved by our Indy V-8 engine these past six years, but the challenges provided by Chevrolet and Lotus validate Honda's reason for racing. It would be entirely fitting for Honda to score its first victory in this new era of IndyCar competition at our most important race of the year."

Seven teams will utilize the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine, which is designed, manufactured, developed and maintained by HPD, the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The Chip Ganassi Racing organization serves as Honda's anchor team, and is led by two-time '500' winner and four-time/defending series champion Dario Franchitti, All of Franchitti's 30 career IndyCar wins have come with Honda power, making him the manufacturer's most successful driver in North American open-wheel racing.

Franchitti is partnered by two-time series champion Scott Dixon, who also includes an Indianapolis 500 victory among his 27 race wins. Dixon's most recent title came in 2008, making the Ganassi organization the team to beat for the past four seasons.

In 2011, a second two-car Ganassi team made its Indianapolis 500 debut, featuring Graham Rahal, a product of the Formula Atlantic Championship, partnered with Indy Lights graduate Charlie Kimball. Both young American racers return with Ganassi and Honda in 2012.

The lineup at Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing includes two of the most recent graduates of IndyCar training-ground series: 2011 Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden and USAC champion Bryan Clauson. The pair, this year's most promising American newcomers, are both expected to contend for Indy's Rookie of the Year honors.

Another rookie contender, and winner of the 2006 Formula Atlantic Championship, is Simon Pagenaud, driving for Schmidt Hamilton Racing. Pagenaud is currently fourth in the IndyCar Drivers' Championship points standings, highlighted by a second-place finish at the recent Grand Prix of Long Beach. Pagenaud will be paired with veteran '500' racer Townsend Bell, the 2001 Indy Lights champion, who owns a pair of top-ten finishes in five starts at the Brickyard, including a fourth-place run in 2009.

Veteran Mike Conway moves to Indy legend A.J. Foyt's team in 2012 and will be making his second start at Indianapolis, paired with 2005 Indy Lights champion Wade Cunningham, who has won three times in Lights events at Indianapolis, and will be making his 500 debut this year.

A contender for victory in several early-season races this year, Takuma Sato will lead the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing effort at Indianapolis, as team owner Bobby Rahal seeks his third 500 win, his second as a team owner. As Rahal Letterman Racing, the team brought Honda its first Indianapolis 500 victory with driver Buddy Rice in 2004. At Indy, Sato will be joined by Michel Jourdain Jr., an open-wheel racing veteran who will be making his second Indianapolis start.

Veteran Justin Wilson made his Indianapolis debut in 2003, but not on the famous 2.5-mile oval. Instead, Wilson's first race at Indy was on the circuit's road course in the U.S. Grand Prix, driving for the Jaguar Formula One team. Now an established IndyCar veteran with six career wins, Wilson returns to the Brickyard with Dale Coyne Racing. His teammate is the fifth Honda-powered Indy rookie, James Jakes.

The 2012 Honda Indianapolis 500 lineup is completed by Team Barracuda-Bryan Herta Autosport, a team noted for winning last year's 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 in just its second attempt, with the late Dan Wheldon collecting his second Indy victory in an unforgettable finish. Alex Tagliani, the pole qualifier for last year's 500, will drive for the Herta organization in 2012.

Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994, and has played an active role in the growth of the IZOD IndyCar Series – as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and single engine supplier – since joining the series in 2003.

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006. Honda supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year from 2006-2011, and for a record-six consecutive years, the '500' ran without a single engine failure. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

Founded in 1993, HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases 'fun products' for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

2012 Honda Indianapolis 500 Lineup

Team	Car	Driver
Chip Ganassi Racing	# 9 Honda Dallara	Scott Dixon (W)
	#10 Honda Dallara	Dario Franchitti (W)
	#38 Honda Dallara	Graham Rahal
	#83 Honda Dallara	Charlie Kimball
Dale Coyne Racing	#18 Honda Dallara	Justin Wilson
	#19 Honda Dallara	James Jakes (R)
A.J. Foyt Racing	#14 Honda Dallara	Mike Conway
	#41 Honda Dallara	Wade Cunningham (R)
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing	#15 Honda Dallara	Takuma Sato
	#45 Honda Dallara	Michel Jourdain Jr.
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing	#67 Honda Dallara	Josef Newgarden (R)
	#39 Honda Dallara	Bryan Clauson (R)
Schmidt Hamilton Racing	#77 Honda Dallara	Simon Pagenaud (R)
	#99 Honda Dallara	Townsend Bell
Bryan Herta Autosport	#98 Honda Dallara	Alex Tagliani

(W) – Previous Indianapolis 500 Winner
(R) – 2012 Indianapolis 500 Rookie

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Honda Racing: Honda to Power Bryan Herta Autosport

Thu, 10 May 2012 07:06:00 -0700

American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power a single-car effort from Team Barracuda-Bryan Herta Autosport for veteran Canadian driver Alex Tagliani at the 2012 Indianapolis 500 and for the remainder of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, Honda and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to Team Barracuda-Bryan Herta Autosport's single, full-time entry for Tagliani, a 12-year IndyCar veteran and the pole qualifier at last year's at Indianapolis 500.

Founded in 2009 by former IndyCar driver Bryan Herta and veteran race engineer Steve Newey, Team Barracuda-Bryan Herta Autosport made its Indianapolis 500 debut in 2010 and last year won a thrilling 100th Anniversary Indianapolis 500 with the late Dan Wheldon driving.

Bryan Herta Autosport joins multi-car entries from A.J. Foyt Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing as Honda-powered teams at the 2012 Indianapolis 500.

The addition brings the number of Indianapolis 500 entries supported by the manufacturer to 15, a record number of entries for Honda during years of manufacturer competition at the Speedway. The previous high total, 14 Honda-powered Indianapolis entries, was established in 2005, when the manufacturer was in competition with Chevrolet and Toyota.

"We're pleased to be able to renew our relationship with Bryan Herta and his team. Bryan has long been associated with Honda and HPD, and he served as our primary development driver during the last era of IndyCar manufacturer competition," said Steve Eriksen, vice president of HPD. "His team's victory in the 2011 Indianapolis 500 was the stuff of legend, and all of us at HPD and American Honda are delighted to have a hand in helping him defend that championship.

"Beyond that, we look forward to a successful partnership with Bryan Herta Autosport through the remainder of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season."

"My time as a Honda driver in both the IndyCar Series, as well as the time spent driving factory Acura LMP2 in the American Le Mans Series, were among my most rewarding and memorable years in racing," Herta commented. "So, it is with great personal pleasure that we are returning to the Honda family for the remainder of the 2012 season. We look forward to joining the other Honda-powered teams on track this weekend in preparation for the 2012 Indianapolis 500, and working to defend last year's memorable and popular win by Dan Wheldon. I know that Alex Tagliani and the entire Team Barracuda - BHA crew are brimming with confidence and excitement going into the 'Month of May.' "

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006.

Honda supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year from 2006-2011, and for a record-six consecutive years, the '500' has not seen a single engine failure. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

Founded in 1993, Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

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Honda Racing: 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Race Report

Sun, 06 May 2012 13:13:00 -0700

6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Race Report

Circuit:Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (4.35-mile road course) Stavelot, Wallonia, Belgium
Weather:Overcast, scattered showers early, cool, 51 degrees F

Top 10 Race Results:

Ps.	Class.	Drivers	Team	Engine Chassis	Laps/Notes
1.	1-LMP1	Romain Dumas/Loic Duval/Marc Gene	Audi Team Joest	Audi R18 TDi Ultra	160 laps
2.	2-LMP1	Marcel Fassler/Andre Lotterer/Benoit Treluyer	Audi Team Joest	Audi R18 e-tron quattro	160
3.	3-LMP1	Marco Bonanomi/Oliver Jarvis	Audi Team Joest	Audi R18 e-tron quattro	159
4.	4-LMP1	Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish	Audi Team Joest	Audi R18 TDi Ultra	159
5.	5-LMP1	Nick Heidfeld/Neel Jani/Nicholas Prost	Rebellion Racing	Lola B12/60 Toyota	156
6.	6-LMP1	Andrea Belicchi/Haral Primat	Rebellion Racing	Lola B12/60 Toyota	155
7.	7-LMP1	Jonny Kane/Nick Leventis/Danny Watts	Strakka Racing	HPD ARX-03a	154
8.	1-LMP2	Simon Dolan/Sam Hancock	Jota Racing	Zytek Z11SN Nissan	151
9.	2-LMP2	Tor Graves/Robbie Kerr/John Martin	ADR-Delta Racing	Oreca 03 Nissan	151
10.	3-LMP2	Jody Firth/Brendon Hartley/Warren Hughes	Murphy Prototypes	Oreca 03 Nissan	151

12.	8-LMP1	David Brabham/K. Chandhok/P. Dumbreck	JRM	HPD ARX-03a	150 Running
34.	12-LMP2	Ryan Dalziel/E. Potolicchio/S. Sarrazin	Starworks	HPD ARX-03b	123 Running

Strakka Trio Leads HPD Effort at Spa

Strakka Racing continues to impress in its first year of LMP1 competition with Honda Performance Development, as the driving trio of Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts finished seventh Saturday to lead the HPD effort at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, second round in the 2012 World Endurance Championship.

After qualifying sixth, starting driver Kane moved up to fifth overall – and first in the “privateer” order for non-manufacturer works entries – as Strakka’s HPD ARX-03a ran in a high-downforce configuration that paid dividends during the wet opening hours of the contest.

But when the forecast afternoon showers failed to materialize and the circuit dried mid-race, the Strakka trio lost its setup advantage. Kane, Watts and Leventis continued to battle for privateer honors with the Pescarolo Racing Dome Judd, and a pair of Lolas run by Rebellion Racing throughout the contest. At the finish, Strakka cross the line seventh overall, and third in the privateer category.

JRM Racing, fielding a second HPD ARX-03a, overcame a spin and contact with the crash barrier on the formation lap to finish 12th overall and fourth in the privateer category.

After the glancing contact, starting driver Karun Chandhok was able to pilot his HPD back to the JRM pits, where repairs were quickly completed. But series regulations required the team to take the start from pit lane, one lap down. An hour into the contest, contact with a slower GT car in the “bus stop” chicane resulted in another unscheduled stop for repairs, dropping the JRM squad to 21st overall.

As the 4.35-mile long Spa circuit began to dry, co-drivers David Brabham and Peter Dumbreck combined to claw back some of the ground lost as a result of the early incidents. Brabham had the HPD up to 15th overall at the three-hour mark, with Dumbreck making up additional ground in the final hours to finish eighth in LMP1.

In LMP2, it was a difficult race for the Sebring-winning, US-based Starworks team. Starting driver Enzo Potolicchio lost time with an off-course excursion – the result of possible contact from an LMP1 Audi prototype – in the opening hour. Additional repairs, to replace the engine drive belts, cost the Starworks HPD ARX-03b more than 20 laps, leaving co-drivers Ryan Dalziel and Stephane Sarrazin unable to make up much ground. The trio took the checkers 12th in the large LMP2 field.

The World Endurance Championship continues with next month’s signature event: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where all three HPD-equipped WEC teams, plus the American Le Mans Series LMP2 effort of Level 5 Motorsports, are scheduled to compete. The North American-based American Le Mans Series resumes next weekend with the May 13 race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Jonny Kane (#21 Strakka Racing HPD ARX-03a) Started 6th, Finished 7th: "The start was tricky, really wet with a lot of spray. It was difficult to see until it all began to settle down after a couple of laps. The car felt good in the wet and I overtook a Rebellion [Lola-Toyota] and was able to run behind the Audis quite comfortably. We were putting in some good lap times, despite having to look after the wet tires from very early on. We were very competitive with all the other ‘petrol’ cars and finished third privateer, so it was a pretty good day’s work, really.”

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development) on this weekend’s 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps: “It was a race of mixed fortunes for HPD. Well-deserved congratulations to the Strakka team for a solid seventh place; the team didn’t put a wheel wrong all race. They were particularly unfortunate during the caution periods, losing ground to the Audis due to the timing of the yellows. Despite this, they maintain a strong position in the privateer teams’ championship. JRM was extremely unlucky coming the grid, the slippery conditions caught out Karun [Chandhok] and – just as at Sebring in March – they had to start from the pit lane.

“We were hoping for a repeat of the Sebring victory in P2, but unfortunately an early race spin put the team out of contention. Stephane [Sarazzin] was able to display the potential of the HPD car, running very competitive lap times during his stint. In just a month’s time we will be back in Europe, this time for Le Mans, a race that HPD has achieved significant success in the past. Our Le Mans development is very encouraging for both cars and we are optimistic of success there.”

Honda Racing: Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 Race Report

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:21:00 -0700

Circuit: Parque Anhembi (2.54-mile street circuit) Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
2011 Winner: Will Power (Team Penske Honda) 76.733 mph average [rain]
Weather: Mostly cloudy, mild, 72 degrees F

Top 10 Race Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Engine Chassis	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1.	1.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	75	88.945 mph avg.; led 63 laps
2.	5.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	75	-0.9045 seconds
3.	25.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda Dallara	75	-2.3905 seconds
4.	18.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	75	-4.5489 seconds; led 2 laps
5.	2.	Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	75	-5.1722 seconds; led 1 lap
6.	4.	James Hinchcliffe	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	75	-6.2615 seconds; led 1 lap
7.	14.	JR Hildebrand	Panther Racing	Chevrolet Dallara	75	-8.3764 seconds
8.	15.	Charlie Kimball	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-8.5905 seconds
9.	13.	E.J. Viso	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet Dallara	75	-10.3449 seconds
10.	12.	Rubens Barrichello	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet Dallara	75	-10.8477 seconds

Other Honda-Powered Results:

12.	16.	Simon Pagenaud-R	Schmidt Hamilton	Honda Dallara	74	Running
15.	17.	James Jakes	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	74	Running
16.	6.	Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	74	Running
17.	3.	Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	74	Running; led 8 laps
19.	7.	Mike Conway	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	73	Running
22.	26.	Justin Wilson	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	66	Did not finish - mechanical
23.	8.	Josef Newgarden-R	Sarah Fisher Hartman	Honda Dallara	61	Did not finish - contact
R - IndyCar Series Rookie

Sato Finishes Third in Sao Paulo

After running near the front of the IZOD IndyCar Series field throughout the early season - but with scant reward - Takuma Sato led the Honda-powered field Sunday with a third-place finish at the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Starting on the back row of the grid after missing qualifying Saturday due to an engine change, Sato also received a drive-through penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit during his first stop. As a result, he was still only in 20th place after 25 of the scheduled 75 race laps.

But excellent strategy by his Rahal Letterman Lanigan team and several opportunistic passes moved Sato up the order to eighth place on Lap 56, and fifth with just 10 laps to go. On the final Lap 71 restart, Sato got the jump on both third-place Dario Franchitti and fourth-running Helio Castroneves, passing them both with a single move that netted the Japanese driver his best finish of 2012.

For his part, Franchitti survived a hit from behind that spun the defending series champion out of second place on a Lap 26 restart. Falling to the rear of the field, Franchitti and his Target Chip Ganassi Racing team also used a mix of strategy and speed to move into third place before the final restart, and a fifth-place finish at the checkers.

Teammate Scott Dixon ran near the front of the field throughout the first 50 laps, and then led eight laps before a late-race stop for fuel dropped him down the order. Along with several other Honda-powered drivers, he was caught up in a multi-car crash on Lap 67 that dropped him a lap off the lead pace and resulted in an unrepresentative 17th-place finish.

Charlie Kimball had his best result of 2012, and second top-ten result of the season, with an eighth-place run in his Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda-Dallara. Josef Newgarden had the consolation of running up front early and setting fastest race lap, before being one of several Honda-powered drivers caught up in collisions today. Simon Pagenaud, Mike Conway, Graham Rahal and James Jakes all had potential top-10 finishes spoiled by contact.

After four road races to start the 2012 season, the IZOD IndyCar Series now returns home to the U.S. for the season's signature event: the Indianapolis 500.

IZOD IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship (after 4 of 16 races):

1. Will Power	180 points (3 wins)	6. Scott Dixon	109
2. Helio Castroneves	135 (1 win)	7. Takuma Sato	83
3. James Hinchcliffe	123	Ryan Briscoe	83
4. Ryan Hunter-Reay	121	JR Hildebrand	83
5. Simon Pagenaud	118	10. Dario Franchitti	82

Manufacturers' Championship:		Rookie of the Year:
1. Chevrolet	36	1. Simon Pagenaud	118
2. Honda	24	2. Josef Newgarden	54
3. Lotus	16	3. Katherine Legge	46

Takuma Sato (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) started 25th, finished 3rd: "It's great to finally finish on the podium, especially here in Brazil where we came so close to victory last year [Sato led 23 laps in the 2011 race, but a late pit stop dropped him to an eighth-place finish]. To be honest, the weekend did not start very well for us. We started at the back, and it was difficult to overtake in the early laps. But our team had great strategy, and overtaking became possible later in the race. On the last restart, I saw an opportunity to pass both Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti up the inside, and it worked out beautifully. It's the first time we've seen the checkered flag this season, and we earned a podium result. We know we have the speed, now we need more results like today."

Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 2nd finished 5th: "Our car was very fast today, Honda gave us great speed. I also have to thank the Holmatro [IndyCar] Safety team. Those guys were awesome today after I was hit and spun out. They were able to bump-start me almost immediately and it kept me in the hunt. Today's finish was an improvement for us, but there was so much more that was left on the table. We still have some work to do, but we know where we need to improve now, so that's encouraging."

Charlie Kimball (#83 Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 15th, finished 8th: "It was a good day for us. There was a lot going on out there all day today, but I was having fun. The team gave me great stops today, and we had a good race strategy. With all the rain last night, the track was green at the start and it was hard to pass, but as more rubber was laid down it became possible to get around some guys. We had a fast car in clean air today, and that made for an enjoyable race."

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development) on today's race: "We very pleased for Takuma Sato and the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team. They produced a strong performance to both come from the back and score an excellent finish. For Honda, once again it was a case of missed opportunities. It seemed like every time I looked up, there was a multi-car crash involving several of our cars! I'm hoping we've gotten all of our bad luck for the year out of the way as we head to Indianapolis. Our speed was much improved this weekend, and the associates back at Honda Performance Development are working extremely hard right now on the other things we still need to improve."

Honda Racing: Statement From Steve Eriksen, Vice President, Honda Performance Development, Following Thursday’s Ruling By An Independent Panel Convened By Indycar Regarding A Protest Filed By General Motors

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:43:00 -0700

We are gratified that an independent panel has upheld INDYCAR’s ruling of April 18, 2012, which approved use of the 0.74 A/R compressor cover for single-turbocharged engines competing in this year’s IZOD IndyCar Series. INDYCAR committed well in advance of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season to structure engine regulations that would ensure parity in turbocharger performance for both single and twin turbo configurations, and this commitment played a significant role in our decision to adopt a single turbocharger configuration for the new HI12RT Honda Indy V-6.

The new compressor cover helps to offset the performance disadvantage of the current IndyCar single turbo hardware as measured by INDYCAR's turbo supplier. This correction was designed and provided by the turbo supplier under the direction of IndyCar and was approved prior to the 2012 season.

We look forward to deploying the new compressor cover to optimize performance of the Honda Indy V-6, as we continue to do battle with our worthy adversaries from Lotus and General Motors.

Honda Racing: Sao Paulo Indy 300

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:03:00 -0700

COMPETITION

The 2012 season marks the return of manufacturer competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series after six years of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Lotus have joined Honda in providing engines to the full-season starting field.

Simon Pagenaud of Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports leads the 10-driver Honda-powered contingent in the IZOD IndyCar Series drivers’ championship. Pagenaud comes to Brazil ranked third, just two points behind Helio Castroneves, in second. Pagenaud also leads the Rookie of the Year standings, with Honda driver Josef Newgarden second.

Second-place finishes at the season-opening St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park races last month have Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon fourth in the championship standings, four points behind Pagenaud.

Dixon has led more laps this season, 75, than any other driver, including race-high totals of 37 laps at St. Petersburg and 38 at Barber. Castroneves is ranked second with 56 laps led, followed by Will Power, third with 48 laps led.

Honda-powered drivers have led 149 laps this season, while Chevrolet drivers have led a total of 126 laps. Race lap leaders for Honda include Dixon (75), Takuma Sato (27), Pagenaud (26), Justin Wilson (15), Dario Franchitti (5) and Graham Rahal (1).

Honda comes to this weekend’s race second in the Manufacturers’ Championship, with 18 points, to 27 for Chevrolet. Lotus is third, with 12 points.

HONDA CIVIC Si PACE AND SAFETY CARS

A fleet of 2012 Honda Civic Si coupes and sedans have been prepared by Honda Brazil for use as Safety Cars and Pace Cars at the Sao Paulo Indy 300, replacing the Honda Brazil-supplied Accords formerly used for the Sao Paulo race.

Modifications installed by Honda Brazil are similar to the changes made to the US-based Honda Civic Si safety cars. They include Sparco seats and four-point racing harnesses; high-performance brakes with four-piston calipers, competition rotors, racing pads, and stainless brake lines; a Honda Genuine Accessory aerodynamic body kit, consisting of front, side and rear under spoilers; installation of a Borg-Warner K16 turbocharger; performance engine mapping and an IZOD IndyCar Series graphics package.

Honda Racing: Honda Grand Prix of Long Beach Race Report

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:55:00 -0700

Cirtcuit: Grand Prix of Long Beach (1.986-mile street circuit) Long Beach, CA
2011 Winner: Mike Conway (Andretti Autosport Honda) 88.676 mph average
Weather: Sunny, mild, 62 degrees F

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Driver	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1.	12.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	85	88.021 mph avg.; led 15 laps
2.	4.	Simon Pagenaud-R	Schmidt Hamilton	Honda Dallara	85	-0.8675 seconds, led 26 laps
3.	16.	James Hinchcliffe	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	85	-13.2719 seconds
4.	19.	Tony Kanaan	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet Dallara	85	-18.1951 seconds
5.	20.	JR Hildebrand	Panther Racing	Chevrolet Dallara	85	-22.9947 seconds
6.	13.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	85	-42.5631 seconds; led 4 laps
7.	11.	Ryan Briscoe	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	85	-1:40.127; led 5 laps
8.	6.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda Dallara	84	Did not finish – contact; led 16
9.	22.	Rubens Barrichello	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet Dallara	84	Running
10.	3.	Justin Wilson	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	84	Running; led 15 laps

Other Honda-Powered Results:
11.	14.	James Jakes	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	84	Running
15.	1.	Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	82	Did not finish - mechanical
18.	9.	Charlie Kimball	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	80	Did not finish - mechanical
22.	7.	Mike Conway	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	41	Did not finish - mechanical
23.	5.	Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	27	Did not finish - mechanical
24.	8.	Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	23	Did not finish - contact
26.	2.	Josef Newgarden-R	Sarah Fisher Hartman	Honda Dallara	0	Did not finish - contact

R – IndyCar Series Rookie

Pagenaud Chases Power to the Finish at Long Beach

In an IZOD IndyCar Series battle of opposing race strategies, Simon Pagenaud and his Honda-powered Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports team came up just eight-tenths of a second short in their charge during the final laps of Sunday's Grand Prix of Long Beach, finishing second by that narrow margin to the Team Penske machine of Will Power after 85 laps around the Southern California street circuit.

On a "two-stop" race strategy, Power was able to stretch his fuel to run the last 31 laps to score his first victory of 2012. Pagenaud, running a three-stop race, left the pits after his final stop on Lap 70 in fourth place, but rapidly caught and passed Rubens Barrichello and fellow Honda driver Takuma Sato. He then set off after Power, who was 10 seconds ahead with 10 laps remaining. Pagenaud closed the gap by a second each lap, but came up just short at the checkers.

For a large portion of today's race, Takuma Sato looked like a contender for the victory, as his Rahal Letterman Lanigan team adopted a similar strategy to Power's. Sato ran in the top three for much of the race, and led 16 laps, but was knocked out of third place on the final lap by contact from Ryan Hunter-Reay. The incident dropped Sato to an eighth-place finish, and earned Hunter-Reay a post-race time penalty that dropped him from third to sixth in the official results.

Justin Wilson was another Honda driver to run at the front today, leading 15 laps for Dale Coyne Racing. But the team's attempt to also pull off a "two-stop" race fell short, as Wilson was forced to pit for fuel in the final laps and fell to a 10-place finish.

Wilson's teammate, James Jakes, had one of his best IndyCar runs to date, racing as high as fourth, until he briefly slid off course on Lap 66. He recovered to finish 11th.

Front-row starters Dario Franchitti and Josef Newgarden made light contact in the first turn at the start, leaving rookie Newgarden in the wall and out of the race. Although he led the first four laps, Franchitti struggled on the restarts and eventually dropped out with just three laps remaining. Scott Dixon and Mike Conway also were early retirements today, while Charlie Kimball's race ended with an apparent transmission problem on Lap 80. Graham Rahal crashed without injury on Lap 23, when his Honda Dallara was struck by Marco Andretti's car as the pair battled for position.

After the first three races of the 2012 season, the IZOD IndyCar Series now travels to Brazil for its first international event of the season, the April 29 Sao Paulo Indy 300.

IZOD IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship (after 3 of 16 races):
1. Will Power	127 points (1 win)	6. Ryan Hunter-Reay	81
2. Helio Castroneves	103 (1 win)	7. Ryan Briscoe	72 (1 win)
3. Simon Pagenaud	100	8. Graham Rahal	62
4. Scott Dixon	96	9. Rubens Barrichello	59
5. James Hinchcliffe	95	10. JR Hildebrand	57

Manufacturers' Championship:		Rookie of the Year:
1. Chevrolet	27	1. Simon Pagenaud	100
2. Honda	18	2. Josef Newgarden	42
3. Lotus	12	3. Katherine Legge	36

Simon Pagenaud (#77 Schmidt Hamilton Racing Honda) started 4th, finished 2nd: "During the final laps, I was hoping for a repeat of the [American Le Mans Series at Long Beach] race from 2010! That time, I was able to catch and pass the leader when he made a mistake in Turn 9 on the last lap. But Will [Power] made no mistakes today. I think Honda is doing a great job, but Chevy is very strong, too. Drafting the Chevys today, I think the power levels are about equal. Their teams are very good, and we have to raise our game to match their performances."

Takuma Sato (#15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) started 6th, finished 8th (not running, after last-lap contact with Ryan Hunter-Reay): "The race was awesome, I was able to overtake like crazy on every restart and our team had a great strategy. We were headed for a podium finish, for sure. But I'm very disappointed with Ryan [Hunter-Reay]. There were several other, better places, where he could have tried to pass without hitting me, but at the place he chose, he never even got alongside me. I just got hit in the back and spun around."

Justin Wilson (#18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) started 3rd, finished 10th: "We let a top-three finish get away from us today. We had a very fast car, made up a lot of positions all race long and led a lot of laps. But at the end, we tried to stretch our fuel mileage, which cost us several positions, and then at the end we still had to pit. We turned a second- or third-place finish into 10th today, so we need to learn from this and go on to Brazil."

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development) on today's race: "Congratulations to Simon Pagenaud and Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports. They put on a thrilling charge for the final third of the race and, perhaps if the race had just been a lap or two longer, could have pulled off a well-deserved win. It's disappointing we were unable to capitalize on the strong starting positions we had today, but now we have to take the lessons learned and go on to Brazil."

Honda Racing: Honda Long Beach American Le Mans Series Race Report

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:33:00 -0700

Circuit:Grand Prix of Long Beach (1.986-mile street circuit) Long Beach, CA
Weather: Clear, mild, 66 degrees F

O/A	Class	Drivers	Team	Engine/Chassis	Laps/Notes
1.	1-LMP1	Klaus Graf/Lucas Luhr	Muscle Milk Racing	HPD ARX-03a	86
2.	3-LMP1	Chris Dyson/Guy Smith	Dyson Racing	Lola B12/60 Mazda	86
3.	1-LMPC	Alex Papow/Ryan Dalziel	CORE Autosport	Oreca FLM09 Chevy	85
4.	2-LMPC	Memo Gidley/Michael Guasch	Muscle Milk Racing	Oreca FLM09 Chevy	84
5.	3-LMPC	Jon Bennett/Colin Braun	CORE Autosport	Oreca FLM09 Chevy	84
6.	1-GT	Tom Milner/Oliver Gavin	Corvette Racing	Chevrolet Corvette	84
7.	2-GT	Joey Hand/Dirk Mueller	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	BMW M3	84
8.	3-GT	Johannes van Overbeek/Scott Sharp	Extreme Speed	Ferrari F458 Italia	84
9.	4-GT	Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen	Corvette Racng	Chevrolet Corvette	84
10.	1-LMP2	Christophe Bouchut/Scott Tucker	Level 5 Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	83

Additional HPD entries:
19.	3-LMP2	Luis Diaz/Scott Tucker	Level 5 Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	81 Running
33.	4-LMP2	Jeroen Bleekemolen/Tim Pappas	Black Swan Racing	Lola B11/80 HPD	1 DNF-contact

Muscle Milk Leads Double Victory for HPD at Long Beach

Honda Performance Development scored its first double victory in the 2012 American Le Mans Series as the Muscle Milk Racing duo of Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr gave the new HPD ARX-03a chassis its first victory in LMP1; while Level 5 Motorsports and drivers Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker took the LMP2 version – the AR-03b – to it's second class win of the season.

Starting second, Luhr used lapped traffic effectively to move around Guy Smith's Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda during the opening stint of the race. A caution flag, the only full-course yellow of the race, conveniently arrived just as the two-hour contest reached its midpoint and all the front-runners pitted for fuel and their mandatory driver change.

Taking over from Luhr, Graf made a second, brief pit stop to top-off his fuel load at the end of the caution. That took the Muscle Milk car out of the lead and stuck behind lapped traffic. But Graf relentlessly hunted down pole qualifier and race leader Chris Dyson, and moved to the front for the final time with around 30 minutes left. Once in the lead, Graf continued to press his advantage through the final laps to establish a 43-second margin of victory at the finish.

The team also claimed the Michelin Green X Challenge award for clean, fast and efficient racing. It was the second consecutive Green X win for Muscle Milk at Long Beach and the ninth team the team has won the award.

As at last month's season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring, where the HPD-equipped Starworks team won LMP2 and finished third overall in its brand new ARX-03b chassis, HPD again won LMP2, as Tucker and Bouchut combined to win the class and finish 10th overall in their Level 5 Motorports ARX-03b. It was the second consecutive Long Beach win for the pair.

Contact from another car spun Tucker's HPD early in the race, leaving the Level 5 entry well behind the class-leading Conquest Racing Morgan of Martin Plowman and David Heinemeier. But Tucker and teammate Bouchut were relentless in their pursuit, taking the class lead with less then 10 minutes remaining in the race when Plowman was forced to pit for fuel.

The second Level 5 HPD entry, driven by Luis Diaz and Tucker (who drove both his team's cars), finished third in LMP2. Unfortunately, the final HPD-powered LMP2 entry, the Black Swan Racing Lola of Jeroen Bleekemolen and Tim Pappas, saw its race end after just one lap when it was unable to avoid a GT-class machine, which had previously spun exiting Turn One and directly in the path of the Lola-HPD.

After its first temporary street circuit race of 2012, the American Le Mans Series returns to road courses next month at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 13. Meanwhile, the new FIA World Endurance Championship, which also debuted last month at Sebring, has its second race of 2012 on May 5 at the historic Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.

Lucas Luhr (#6 Muscle Milk Racing HPD ARX-03a) Started 2nd, Finished 1st: "I pushed really, really hard after the caution – just like qualifying laps, really – just to catch up to Chris [Dyson]. Once I was able to get close to him, he struggled a bit coming out of the hairpin and we were side-by-side going down the front straight. I was able to get just ahead of him and stay in front. A really good team comes back strong. That's what we did today. Sebring [where the team lost a possible podium finish to a late-race refueling failure] was a shave, but now we'll hopefully keep winning races the rest of the year."

Steve Eriksen (Vice President, Honda Performance Development) on HPD's first American Le Mans Series victories of 2012: "Congratulations to Muscle Milk Pickett Racing and Level 5 Motorsports on their great victory today. The Grand Prix of Long Beach is one of Honda's 'home' races and there were hundreds of Honda associates here to witness the excellent performance of our sports car teams. I'm sure they were all pleased to see our tradition of winning at Long Beach continue, and these wins should give our teams some great momentum going into Laguna Seca. We were also quite pleased to receive yet another Michelin Green X Challenge award demonstrating the high efficiency of Honda's products."

Honda Racing: Honda Talking Points Long Beach

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:28:00 -0700

Grand Prix of Long Beach
April 15, 2012
3:30 p.m. EDT
NBC Sports Network

COMPETITION

The 2012 season marks the return of manufacturer competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series after six years of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Lotus now join Honda in providing engines to the 26-car starting field.
After two races this year - the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama - Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon leads the 10-driver Honda-powered contingent. Second-place finishes at both St. Petersburg and Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama have Dixon slotted second in the drivers' championship, just two points behind championship leader Helio Castroneves.
Dixon has led more laps this season, 75, than any other driver, including race-high totals of 37 laps at St. Petersburg and 38 at Barber. Castroneves is ranked second with 56 laps led, followed by Will Power, third with 33 laps led.
Five Honda-powered drivers currently rank among the Top 10 in the championship. In addition to Dixon, Simon Pagenaud is ranked 5th; Graham Rahal 7th; Mike Conway 9th and Dario Franchitti 10th.
Honda comes to this weekend's race second in the Manufacturers' Championship, with 12 points, to 18 for Chevrolet. Lotus is third, with eight points.
From 2006-2011, Honda supplied engines to every IndyCar Series competitor. A total of 98 drivers raced with the Honda Indy V-8 during that period, with 15 drivers recording race victories. Honda engines logged approximately 1.2 million miles of practice, qualifying and racing in the series; and nearly 500,000 actual race miles.
During the six years that Honda served as IndyCar engine supplier, the company also provided engines to the full 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field - and for the only six times in Indy 500 history (2006-2011), there were no engine failures recorded in the Memorial Day weekend classic.

MARKETING

Honda's popular 'Fastest Seat in Sports' sweepstakes will make its third stop of the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season prior to Sunday's Long Beach Grand Prix. Beverly Delp of Brownsburg, IN will be taken for the ride of a lifetime around the 1.97-mile Long Beach street circuit in a two-seater Indy car during the pace laps leading to Sunday's green flag. The 'Fastest Seat in Sports' sweepstakes continues through the season at selected IZOD IndyCar Series events. Interested fans can learn more about the promotion at shophonda.com.
On Monday, April 16, the day after the Grand Prix of Long Beach, all 10 Honda IZOD IndyCar Series drivers will visit Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita, California, where the Honda Indy V-6 engines are designed, produced and maintained; followed by a visit to American Honda corporate headquarters in Torrance.

HONDA CIVIC Si PACE AND SAFETY CARS

A fleet of new 2012 Honda Civic Si coupes and sedans are being used as Safety Cars and Pace Cars in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series. The Civic Si Coupe made its debut as an IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Car at last year's Honda Indy Toronto. That first Civic has now been joined by additional coupes and sedans, replacing the Honda Accords formerly used by the series.
Cars start out as standard Civic Si models, and one coupe has been developed into an IndyCar Series Safety Car by Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita, Calif.
Modifications installed at HPD include Sparco seats and four-point racing harnesses; an HPD high-performance brake system, with four-piston calipers, competition rotors, racing pads, and stainless brake lines; a Honda Genuine Accessory aerodynamic body kit, consisting of front, side and rear under spoilers; Firestone Firehawk 225/40 R18 tires mounted on Enkei alloy wheels, and an IZOD IndyCar Series graphics package.

Honda Racing: Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama Race Report

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 16:46:00 -0700

Circuit:                Barber Motorsports Park (2.3-mile road course) Birmingham, AL
2011 Winner:      Will Power (Team Penske Honda) 92.194 mph average
Weather:             Mostly sunny, warm, 82 degrees F

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Driver	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1.	9.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	90	102.081 mph avg.; led 22 laps
2.	3.	Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	90	-3.3709 seconds; led 38 laps
3.	1.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	90	-19.1150 seconds; led 28 laps
4.	8.	Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	90	-19.3395 seconds; led 1 lap
5.	10.	Simon Pagenaud-R	Schmidt Hamilton Racing	Honda Dallara	90	-20.1050 seconds
6.	2.	James Hinchcliffe	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	90	-23.3039 seconds; led 1 lap
7.	4.	Mike Conway	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	90	-24.5552 seconds
8.	14.	Rubens Barrichello	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet Dallara	90	-25.4023 seconds
9.	17.	Sebastien Bourdais	Lotus Dragon Racing	Lotus Dallara	90	-27.1815 seconds
10.	18.	Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	90	-32.7377 seconds
Other Honda-Powered Results:
16	20.	James Jakes	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	90	-54.5343 seconds
17.	15.	Josef Newgarden-R	Sarah Fisher Hartman	Honda Dallara	90	-60.6180 seconds
19.	17.	Justin Wilson	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	89	Running
22.	15.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda Dallara	52	Did not finish - mechanical
23.	22.	Charlie Kimball	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	45	Did not finish - mechanical
R – IndyCar Series Rookie

Dixon Runs Second at Barber Motorsports Park

Having his best season start since his first IZOD IndyCar Series championship in 2003, Scott Dixon finished second Sunday at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. It was the second consecutive podium finish for the Honda-powered Target Chip Ganassi Racing driver, following on the heels of his runner-up result last weekend at the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Starting on the inside of the second row, in third, Dixon moved into the lead following the first round of scheduled pit stops, then controlled the middle third of the race, while many fierce battles for position raged behind him. But Dixon’s lead disappeared on lap 65, when he was delayed by slower cars while entering and leaving the pits for his final stop, handing the lead to eventual winner Will Power.

Prior to the start of today’s 90-lap contest, Tom Ogata from San Francisco, California, received the ride of his life – as passenger in the Honda two-seat IndyCar driven by former Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk – during the pace laps just prior to the green flag. Ogata won his ride by entering Honda’s “Fastest Seat in Sports” contest at www.shophonda.com.

Taking the checkers just over three seconds behind Power, Dixon still closed to within two points of early-season drivers’ championship leader Helio Castroneves, and was the first of three Honda-powered drivers in the top five.

Graham Rahal had his first top-five finish of 2012, and came close to his first podium finish of the year, as he hounded eventual third-place finisher Castroneves for the final 15 laps.

Simon Pagenaud also improved on his sixth-place finish last week in St. Petersburg, climbing through the field in his Schmidt Hamilton Racing Honda Dallara, from 10th at the start to fifth at the checkers. Mike Conway recovered from a minor “off” just after the final race restart on Lap 74 to finish seventh for A.J. Foyt Racing; while a last-lap pass of Marco Andretti saw three-time defending series champion Dario Franchitti round out the top-10 finishers for Honda today.

After back-to-back races in the Southeast to open the 2012 season, the IZOD IndyCar Series now goes cross-country, continuing in two weeks with the April 15 Grand Prix of Long Beach in Southern California.

IZOD IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship (after 2 of 16 races):
1. Helio Castroneves	86 points (1 win)	6. Ryan Hunter-Reay	53
2. Scott Dixon	84	7. Graham Rahal	50
3. Will Power	77 (1 win)	8. Ryan Briscoe	46
4. James Hinchcliffe	60	9. Mike Conway	38
5. Simon Pagenaud	58	10. Rubens Barrichello	37

Manufacturers' Championship: Rookie of the Year:
1. Chevrolet	18	1. Simon Pagenaud	58
2. Honda	12	2. Josef Newgarden	32
3. Lotus	8	3. Katherine Legge	24

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 3rd, finished 2nd: “I’m feeling a bit angry at the moment, but I guess it’s a good thing if you’re unhappy about finishing second! But this was our race to lose and somehow we managed to lose it. Coming in for my final pit stop, I was held up by a slower car on my ‘in’ lap and then by another lapped car after leaving the pits. I guess that was all Will [Power] needed.”

Graham Rahal (#38 Service Central Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 8th, finished 4th: “I gave [Helio Castroneves] a run, but the rules allow you to make a defensive move and that’s exactly what he did. I would have done the exact same thing had the situation been reversed. I tried him probably five times in all, but just couldn’t make it happen.

Simon Pagenaud (#77 Schmidt Hamilton Racing Honda) started 10th, finished 5th: “After starting 10th, this was a good recovery for us. We had a really good car today; I think in the closing laps we had the fastest car out there. This was a really fun race, with lots of passing, and a great crowd. It made the day very enjoyable for us, and I hope for the fans as well.”

Marc Sours (General Manager, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race: "What a great race! I think there may have been more action and passing this afternoon than in all previous IndyCar races here at Barber. Certainly, the introduction of new cars and the return of manufacturer competition to IndyCar racing has added a sense of anticipation to each green flag. This is a spectacular venue, and the huge crowd on hand seems to enjoy the spectacle. Congratulations to Scott Dixon on an excellent start to his 2012 season and to all our drivers and teams. We had three Hondas finishing in the top five today, and look for even better things to come in the races ahead. We’re interested in examining the engines from the cars of Takuma Sato and Charlie Kimball, to determine the exact nature of their issues. Constant improvement is one of the goals of our racing program.”

Honda Racing: Honda Talking Points Barber

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 07:03:00 -0700

Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama
April 1, 2012
2 p.m. EDT
NBC Sports Network

ENGINE MANUFACTURER COMPETITION

The 2012 season marks the return of manufacturer competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series after six years of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Lotus now join Honda in providing engines to the 26-car starting field.

At last weekend's season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon led the Honda-powered field with a second-place finish. Honda comes to this weekend's race second in the Manufacturers' Championship, with nine points, to 12 for Chevrolet. Lotus is third, with four points.

Honda will field 10 drivers and teams this weekend at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, anchored by the four-car Chip Ganassi team, which includes 2008 series champion Dixon, four-time series champion Dario Franchitti; Graham Rahal, and rising star Charlie Kimball.

Other drivers and teams using the new turbocharged Honda Indy V-6 engine this weekend include Justin Wilson and James Jakes with Dale Coyne Racing; Takuma Sato with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing; Simon Pagenaud, leader in the series Rookie of the Year standings, with Schmidt Hamilton Racing; Mike Conway with A.J. Foyt Racing and 2011 Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

From 2006-2011, Honda supplied engines to every IndyCar Series competitor. A total of 98 drivers raced with the Honda Indy V-8 during that period, with 15 drivers recording race victories. Honda engines logged approximately 1.2 million miles of practice, qualifying and racing in the series; and nearly 500,000 actual race miles.

During the six years that Honda served as IndyCar engine supplier, the company also provided engines to the full 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field - and for the only six times in Indy 500 history (2006-2011), there were no engine failures recorded in the Memorial Day weekend classic.

MARKETING

This weekend's race will be the third IZOD IndyCar Series event at the scenic, 2-3-mile Barber Motorsports Park circuit, and the second year American Honda has served as title sponsor of the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama. American Honda also sponsored last weekend's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg; and will again be the title sponsor of the Honda Indy 200 in August at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In addition to these three events, Honda Canada entitles the Honda Indy Toronto.

Two new Honda race-related marketing programs debuted last weekend at St. Petersburg and will continue this weekend at Barber. The Honda Racing Backstage Pass offers an exclusive race-day entertainment package to loyal Honda owners who apply though the Honda Racing/HPD Facebook page. It includes a VIP tour of the paddock, Honda Tech Talk and special seats in the Honda Fan Section, also new for 2012.

The Honda On Track Ticket provides a high-end, branded experience for fans at seven events this year, centered around the INDYCAR Two-Seater and Safety Car ride-along programs. Special guests of Honda will receive a personal, on-track riding experience, in either a Honda Safety Car or the Two-Seater IndyCar.

On Thursday, March 29, Honda drivers Dixon, Jakes, Kimball and Sato will visit the Honda Manufacturing of Alabama auto assembly plant in nearby Lincoln, AL. With approximately 4,000 associates, HMA has the capacity to build up to 300,000 Honda cars and trucks annually.

HONDA CIVIC Si PACE CAR

The new 2012 Honda Civic Si made its debut as an IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Car at last year's Honda Indy Toronto. This Civic was originally built by Honda of Canada Manufacturing, and then developed into a series Safety Car at Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Additional modifications installed at HPD include Sparco seats and four-point racing harnesses; an HPD high-performance brake system, with four-piston calipers, competition rotors, racing pads, and stainless brake lines; a Honda Genuine Accessory aerodynamic body kit, consisting of front, side and rear under spoilers; Firestone Firehawk 225/40 R18 tires mounted on Enkei alloy wheels, and an IndyCar Series graphics package.

Honda Racing: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Race Report

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:01:00 -0700

Circuit:                Bayfront Park (1.8-mile street circuit) St. Petersburg, FL
2011 Winner:      Dario Franchitti (Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) 84.975 mph
Weather:             Mostly sunny, mild, 81 degrees F

Fn.St.	Team	Driver	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1. 5. Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	100	90.113 mph avg., led 28 laps
2. 6. Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	100	-5.5292 seconds, led 37 laps
3. 3. Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	100	-7.5824 seconds
4. 4. James Hinchcliffe	Andretti Autosport	Chevrolet Dallara	100	-10.6526 seconds
5. 2. Ryan Briscoe	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	100	-11.7851 seconds, led 9 laps
6. 16. Simon Pagenaud-R	Schmidt Hamilton Racing	Honda Dallara	100	-31.2623 seconds
7. 1. Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet Dallara	100	-34.6582 seconds, led 11 laps
8. 8. E.J. Viso	KV Racing Technology	Chevrolet Dallara	100	-35.5943 seconds
9. 22. Charlie Kimball	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	100	-43.1425 seconds
10. 15. Justin Wilson	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	100	-44.3141 seconds
11. 19. Josef Newgarden-R	Sarah Fisher Hartman	Honda Dallara	100	-44.8275 seconds
12. 10. Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	100	45.1080 seconds
13. 9. Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	100	-45.8468 seconds, led 1 lap
Other Honda-Powered Results:
20. 11. Mike Conway	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	75	did not finish - transmission
22. 14. Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda Dallara	73	did not finish - transmission
26. 20. James Jakes	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	19	did not finish – crash
				R – IndyCar Series Rookie

Dixon Ushers in New Era as Runner-Up at St. Petersburg

Manufacturer competition returned to the IZOD IndyCar Series Sunday at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, with Scott Dixon leading the way for 10 Honda-powered entries, finishing second to Helio Castroneves after 100 laps around the temporary airport/street circuit on the Florida Gulf Coast.

Dixon and eventual winner Castroneves were two of only a handful of racers who chose not to pit during an early-race full-course caution, and their strategic gamble paid off as both were then able to complete the race distance with only two pit stops, while the rest of the field needed three to make the finish.

The Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg featured several new Honda trackside programs, rewarding fan loyalty and enthusiasm for the brand. The fans in the Honda Fan Section were a sea of red, cheering on Honda-powered teams and drivers. The winners of the Honda Backstage Pass were treated to an exclusive "behind-the-scenes” tour of the IndyCar paddock and garage areas, including Grand Prize winners Mike and Carson Harris from Maineville, Ohio.

Behind the leaders, Simon Pagenaud recovered from a post-qualifying, 10-position grid penalty – due to a precautionary, but unscheduled engine change on Friday – to finish sixth in his debut race for Schmidt Hamilton Racing. The former American Le Mans Series champion for HPD now takes an early lead in the IndyCar Rookie of the Year standings.

Charlie Kimball made the biggest move though the field in today's contest, finishing ninth after starting 22nd in his Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Just behind Kimball, Justin Wilson recovered from a long stop after running out of fuel just before his second pit stop to round out the top-10 finishers, passing fellow Honda driver and series rookie Josef Newgarden on the last lap.

Defending three-time series champion – and 2011 St. Petersburg race winner – Dario Franchitti ran out of fuel just a quarter mile from the finish line, dropping him to an unrepresentative 13th-place finish.

The IZOD IndyCar Series continues next week with the first permanent road course of 2012, the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama, April 1 at the scenic Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Ala.

IZOD IndyCar Series Drivers' Championship (after 1 of 16 races):
1. Helio Castroneves	50 points (1 win)	6. Simon Pagenaud	28
2. Scott Dixon	42	7. Will Power	27
3. Ryan Hunter-Reay	35	8. E.J. Viso	24
4. James Hinchcliffe	32	9. Charlie Kimball	22
5. Ryan Briscoe	30	10. Justin Wilson	20

Manufacturers' Championship: Rookie of the Year:
1. Chevrolet	9	1. Simon Pagenaud	28
2. Honda	6	2. Josef Newgarden	19
3. Lotus	4	3. Katherine Legge	12

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 6th, finished 2nd: "Today was tough. Just the fact it was the first race since Dan [Wheldon] passed away, in his hometown, made it a sad start to the season for everyone. But once we got underway, the race strategy played right into our hands, although at first I didn't think it would and I certainly had some choice words for the team on the radio in the early laps! But we had a great start, and excellent restarts, and it's really good to have a strong finish in St. Petersburg after so many disappointing runs here previously.”

Simon Pagenaud (#77 Schmidt Hamilton Racing Honda) started 16th, finished 6th: "This was a good start to the season for us, it's important to be able to surmount your difficulties over the course of a race weekend, and we certainly were able to do so today. The team did a fantastic job in the pits, gaining positions every time. That got us to the front, and I helped by not making any mistakes. This was an encouraging start for our team, but there is still much more to come from us.”

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on today's race, his final event prior to taking on new duties as President of Honda R&D Americas: "We had a beautiful day and a great crowd, which is always good to see at one of our signature events here in St. Petersburg. And everyone behaved themselves at the start! There was some good racing going on throughout the field, and it was interesting to watch the different fuel strategies play out. I'm happy Honda had a podium finish today with Scott Dixon, but the real goal we achieved is the return of manufacturer competition. There doesn't appear to be a huge performance difference between the three manufacturers, and that bodes well for the season ahead.”

Honda Racing: 2012 IZOD IndyCar Teams and Drivers Lineup

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:36:00 -0700

Team	Driver	Car No.
A.J. Foyt Racing	Mike Conway	# 14
Dale Coyne Racing	Justin Wilson	# 19
	James Jakes	# 18
Rahal Letterman Racing	Takuma Sato	# 15
Sam Schmidt Racing	Simon Pagenaud	# 77
Chip Ganassi Racing	Dario Franchitti	# 10
	Scott Dixon	# 9
	Graham Rahal	# 38
	Charles Kimball	# 83
Sarah Fisher Racing	Josef Newgarden	# 67

Honda Racing: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:20:00 -0700

Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
March 25, 2012
12:30 p.m. EDT
ABC

ENGINE MANUFACTURER COMPETITION

This weekend's season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg marks the return of manufacturer competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series after six seasons of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Lotus now join Honda in providing engines to the 26-car starting field.

Honda will field 10 drivers among six teams this weekend in St. Petersburg, anchored by the four-car Chip Ganassi team, which includes four-time series champion Dario Franchitti, 2008 series champion Scott Dixon, 2008 St. Petersburg race winner Graham Rahal, and rising star Charlie Kimball.

Other drivers and teams using the new turbocharged Honda Indy V-6 engine this weekend include Justin Wilson and James Jakes with Dale Coyne Racing; Takuma Sato with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing; Simon Pagenaud with Schmidt Hamilton Racing; Mike Conway with A.J. Foyt Racing and 2011 Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden, who will make his IndyCar racing debut this weekend with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. Chevrolet will field 11 drivers and teams this weekend, while five drivers will use the new Lotus IndyCar engine.

From 2006-2011, Honda supplied engines to every IndyCar Series competitor. A total of 98 drivers raced with the Honda Indy V-8 during that period, with 15 drivers recording race victories. Honda engines logged approximately 1.2 million miles of practice, qualifying and racing in the series; and nearly 500,000 actual race miles.

During the six years that Honda served as IndyCar engine supplier, the company also provided engines to the full 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field – and for the only six times in Indy 500 history (2006-2011), there were no engine failures recorded in the Memorial Day weekend classic.

MARKETING

Honda's title sponsorship of the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg marks the seventh consecutive year the company has supported what is now the season-opening IZOD IndyCar Series event. American Honda also sponsors next weekend's Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park, outside of Birmingham, and the August 5 Honda Indy 200 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Honda Canada, meanwhile, entitles the July 8 Honda Indy Toronto.

Two new Honda race-related marketing programs will make their debuts this weekend at St. Petersburg. The Honda Racing Backstage Pass offers an exclusive race-day entertainment package to loyal Honda owners who apply though the Honda Racing/HPD Facebook page. It includes a VIP tour of the paddock, Honda Tech Talk and special reserved seats in the Honda Fan Section, also new for 2012 at Honda-sponsored events.

The Honda On-Track Ticket will provide a high-end, branded experience for fans at Honda-sponsored IZOD IndyCar Series events this year, centered around the INDYCAR Two-Seater and Safety Car ride-along programs. Special guests of Honda will receive a personal, on-track riding experience, in either a Honda Safety Car or the Two-Seater IndyCar.

HONDA CIVIC Si PACE CAR

The new 2012 Honda Civic Si made its debut as an IZOD IndyCar Series Safety Car at last year's Honda Indy Toronto. This Civic was originally built by Honda of Canada Manufacturing, and then developed into a series Safety Car at Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Additional modifications installed at HPD include Sparco seats and four-point racing harnesses; an HPD high-performance brake system, with four-piston calipers, competition rotors, racing pads, and stainless brake lines; a Honda Genuine Accessory aerodynamic body kit, consisting of front, side and rear under spoilers; Firestone Firehawk 225/40 R18 tires mounted on Enkei alloy wheels, and an IndyCar Series graphics package.

Honda Racing: Honda Anticipates Exciting 2012 IZOD IndyCar Season

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:35:00 -0700

A 10-driver lineup that has combined for three Indianapolis 500 victories, six IZOD IndyCar Series championships – including the last five drivers' championships in succession – and 65 IndyCar race wins will lead the Honda effort in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series.

After six years of Honda supplying engines to the full IndyCar Series field and achieving an unparalleled record of equal performance and reliability, manufacturer competition makes a welcome return to the IndyCar Series in 2012, with Chevrolet and Lotus joining Honda to supply new, turbocharged V-6 racing engines when the season opens at this weekend's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

We're encouraged by the performance of the new Honda Indy V-6 and excited about the return of competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series," said Steve Eriksen, Vice President of Honda Performance Development (HPD). We believe we have a great lineup of teams and drivers, including a good balance of proven champions, race winners, and promising new stars. We're looking forward to the start of the 2012 season on the streets of St. Petersburg, and taking on the challenges from Chevrolet and Lotus."

Six teams will utilize the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine, which is designed, manufactured, developed and maintained by HPD, the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The Chip Ganassi Racing organization serves as Honda's anchor team, and is led by three-time defending series champion Dario Franchitti, Honda's most successful driver in IndyCar competition with 30 race wins, two Indianapolis 500 victories and four IZOD IndyCar Series championships, starting in 2007 with Andretti Green Racing, and from 2009-2011 with Target Chip Ganassi Racing. All of Franchitti's IndyCar successes have come with Honda power, making him the manufacturer's most decorated driver in North American open-wheel racing.

Franchitti is partnered by two-time series champion Scott Dixon, who also includes an Indianapolis 500 victory (2008) among in his 27 race wins. Dixon's series championship also came in 2008, making the Ganassi organization the team to beat for the past four seasons.

In 2011, a second two-car Ganassi team began operations, featuring Graham Rahal, winner of the 2008 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, partnered with promising rookie and Indy Lights graduate Charlie Kimball. Both young American racers return to Ganassi and Honda in 2012.

With six career IndyCar victories to his name, veteran Justin Wilson returns to Dale Coyne Racing this year, partnered by fellow Englishman and second-year IndyCar driver James Jakes.

Mike Conway, winner of the Long Beach race in 2011, moves to Indy legend A.J. Foyt's team in 2012 as the three-year veteran seeks to add to his victory tally. Takuma Sato, the pole qualifier at Iowa last year, proved capable of regularly challenging for race wins in 2011 and will lead the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing effort for Honda this season.

A trio of promising rookies rounds out the 2012 Honda IndyCar driver lineup. Already a champion in sports-car racing and a Champ Car veteran, Simon Pagenaud has performed impressively in testing for Schmidt Hamilton Racing. Reigning Indy Lights champion Josef Newgarden will lead the attack for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. Beginning at the Indianapolis 500, Luca Filippi, an Italian veteran of the European GP2 championship series, will join Sato at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to complete the 2012 season.

In off-the-track developments for 2012, on April 1, HPD President Erik Berkman, who also served as Vice President of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda, will become president of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. In his new role, Berkman will be responsible for all North American new-vehicle design and development, including the all-new Acura NSX. He will succeed Hiroshi Takemura, who will return to Honda Motor in Japan as Deputy Director of Automobile Operations.

Art St. Cyr will succeed Berkman in both of his current roles. St. Cyr comes to HPD from Honda R&D, where he has served most recently as Chief Engineer. St. Cyr is a 1988 graduate of the University of California-Davis, with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He joined Honda upon graduation and, beginning in 1991, spent two years at Honda's R&D Center in Tochigi, Japan, where he worked on chassis development of the original Acura NSX and the 1991 Acura Legend.

More recently, St. Cyr took responsibility for the complete vehicle performance of Honda R&D Americas' first SUV development, the 2001 Acura MDX. St. Cyr performed the same duties in the development of Honda's innovative Element, which debuted in 2003, and the all-new 2011 Honda Odyssey.

An additional personnel move finds David Heath, Senior Manager of Auto Shows and Events, taking over supervision of the American Honda Motorsports Department, effective with the March 1, 2012 retirement of Kurt Antonius, Assistant Vice President of Public Relations.

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006. Honda supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year from 2006-2011, and for a record-six consecutive years -- and the only six times in event history – the '500' ran without a single engine failure. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2011 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and a class victory at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans. HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Founded in 1993, HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines and competes at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California.

2012 Honda IZOD IndyCar Series Lineup
Team Car Driver

Target Chip Ganassi Racing	#9 Honda Dallara #10 Honda Dallara	Scott Dixon Dario Franchitti
Chip Ganassi Racing	#38 Honda Dallara #83 Honda Dallara	Graham Rahal Charlie Kimball
Dale Coyne Racing	#18 Honda Dallara #19 Honda Dallara	Justin Wilson James Jakes
A.J. Foyt Racing	#14 Honda Dallara	Mike Conway
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Indianapolis 500 onward)	#15 Honda Dallara #30 Honda Dallara	Takuma Sato Luca Filippi (R)
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing	#67 Honda Dallara	Josef Newgarden (R)
Schmidt Hamilton Racing	#77 Honda Dallara	Simon Pagenaud (R)

Honda Racing: 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Schedule

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:41:00 -0700

Click on date to see results from that race

Date	Track
Sun 25-Mar	Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Sun 01-Apr	Barber Motorsports Park
Sun 15-Apr	Streets of Long Beach
Sun 29-Apr	Streets of Sao Paulo
Sun 27-May	Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Sun 03-Jun	Raceway of Bell Isle Park
Sat 09-Jun	Texas Motor Speedway*
Sat 16-Jun	Milwaukee Mile*
Sat 23-Jun	Iowa Speedway*
Sun 08-Jul	Streets of Toronto
Sun 22-Jul	Edmonton City Centre Airport
Sun 05-Aug	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Sat 19-Aug	Streets of Qingdao
Sun 26-Aug	Infineon Raceway
Sun 02-Sept	Streets of Baltimore
Sat 15-Sept	Auto Club Speedway*
* Saturday race

Honda Racing: 12 Hours of Sebring Race Report

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 09:48:00 -0700

Circuit: Sebring International Raceway (3.74-mile road course) Sebring, FL
Weather: Clear, warm, afternoon high 86 degrees F

Race Results:

Ps.	Class	Drivers	Team	Engine/Chassis	Laps/Notes
1.	1-LMP1	Capello/Kristensen/McNish	Audi Team Joest	Audi R18 TDI	325 laps
2.	2-LMP1	Bernhard/Dumas/Duval	Audi Team Joest	Audi R18 TDI	321
3.	1-LMP2	Dalziel/Potolicchio/Sarrazin	Starworks Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	319
4.	2-LMP2	Barbosa/Bouchut/Tucker	Level 5 Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	319
5.	3-LMP2	LaHaye/Nocolet/Pla	OAK Racing	Morgan Judd	318
6.	3-LMP1	Boullion/Collard/Jousse	Pescarolo Team	Pescarolo Judd	318
7.	4-LMP2	Ayari/Companc/Kaffer	Pecom Racing	Oreca 03 Nissan	317
8.	4-LMP1	Dyson/Kane/Smith	Dyson Racing	Lola B12/60 Mazda	317
9.	5-LMP2	Gonzalez/Julian/Zugel	Greaves Motorsport	Zytek Z11SN Nissan	316
10.	5-LMP1	Kane/Leventis/Watts	Strakka Racing	HPD ARX-03a	316

17.	7-LMP1	Brabham/Chandhok/Dumbreck	JRM	HPD ARX-03a	309 Running
28.	8-LMP1	Graf/Luhr/Pagenaud	Muscle Milk Racing	HPD ARX-03a	302 Mechanical
30.	8-LMP2	Curtis/Fogarty/Pappas	Black Swan Racing	Lola B11/80 HPD	298 Running
59.	11-LMP2	Diaz/Hunter-Reay/Tucker	Level 5 Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	85 Contact

Stunning Finish for Starworks and HPD at Sebring

The new Honda Performance Development ARX-03 chassis exceeded all expectations Saturday at Sebring International Raceway, as the Florida-based Starworks team took the LMP2 version of the new car – the ARX-03b – to a thrilling class victory and third-place overall finish in the 60th anniversary 12 Hours of Sebring endurance racing classic.

In their first American Le Mans Series and World Endurance Championship event, Starworks and drivers Ryan Dalziel, Enrico Potolicchio and Stephane Sarrazin battled defending LMP2 champion Level 5 Motorsports and their drivers, Joao Barbosa, Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker – throughout the race. The two HPD teams frequently exchanged the class lead until the final 30 minutes of the contest, when former Peugeot works driver Sarrazin finally edged out a 32-second lead over Barbosa in Level 5's ARX-03b.

For Starworks, the win was especially satisfying as the team only finished building its new ARX-03b this week in the Sebring paddock, while fellow HPD team Level 5 saw its Sebring LMP2 victory streak stopped after two consecutive wins.

Sebring also marked the debut of the LMP1 version of the new HPD chassis, the V8-powered ARX-03a. Both the California-based Muscle Milk Racing organization and the British JRM team harried the pace-setting trio of works Audi R18 diesel-powered cars through the first nine hours.

JRM, making its endurance racing debut with HPD after winning the GT-1 World Championship in 2011, ran as high as third until being delayed by rear suspension problems just after the nine-hour mark. The team and drivers David Brabham, Karun Chandhok and Peter Dumbreck returned to the contest after making repairs to record a 17th-place overall finish.

After a battle with JRM, Muscle Milk Racing moved its own ARX-03a into third place overall and appeared headed for a near-certain podium finish with drivers Klaus Graf, Lucas Luhr and Simon Pagenaud. But when Pagenaud pitted the car for what was expected to be his final stop prior to the finish, the team discovered the refueling "buckeye" valve had come detached from the chassis. Unable to successfully refuel the car, the Muscle Milk team finished an unrepresentative 28th overall, 8th in LMP1.

The Muscle Milk team did claim the Michelin Green X Challenge at Sebring, defeating last year's season champion Dyson Racing in the contest for the cleanest, most fuel-efficient run during the 12 Hours.

Returning HPD team, and 2010 class winners at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Stakka Racing made it's US racing debut at Sebring and completed a nearly trouble-free run 10th overall, and 5th in LMP2. Yet another new HPD partner team, Black Swan Racing, made the big jump from GTC competition to finish 30th, 8th in LMP2, in their HPD V6-powered Lola chassis.

Level 5's second HPD entry, co-driven by Luis Diaz and Ryan Hunter-Reay, led the LMP2 class in the early laps and appeared to be a contender for the class win, but contact with a slower GTC category Porsche 911 resulted in damage to the right side suspension and bodywork, leading to the car's retirement just past the three-hour mark.

Stephane Sarrazin (#44 Starworks Racing HPD ARX-03b) Finished 3rd overall, 1st in LMP2: "It's amazing to finish on the podium overall. We did no mistakes, and the new HPD chassis and Honda engine ran perfectly all day. We've had this car for one only week and I'm very thankful to Starworks, for the opportunity, and all the guys on the team for their incredible hard work."

Steve Eriksen (Vice President, Honda Performance Development) on this year's 12 Hours of Sebring: "This was a very successful debut for the ARX-03 chassis, and an excellent performance from Starworks, a team that, while experienced in other categories, is brand-new to the HPD family and to Le Mans Prototype competition. Their well-earned class victory and third-place overall finish was a real testament to the team's preparation and experience as its starts its first world-championship campaign. Level 5's efforts made it a very exciting contest for the final podium step and LMP2 honors, and still was the highest-placed ALMS finisher.

"In LMP1, the Muscle Milk team showed great speed taking the race to Audi for much of the 12 hours. Audi is the defending champion, but they definitely know we were competitive today. It also was a strong HPD debut for the Muscle Milk and JRM teams, and an encouraging debut for Black Swan. Strakka has been an HPD partner team in Europe for several years now, and learned a great deal in its first American race. So it appears to be shaping up into an exciting season for both the American Le Mans Series and the new World Endurance Championship. We're looking forward to it."

Honda Racing: 2012 Honda North American Motorsports Strategy

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:36:00 -0700

"Ever since I was appointed as the president of the company, I have been prompting systems and capabilities which enable us to develop edgy products."
- Takanobu Ito, Honda Motor Co. CEO; November, 2011; Tokyo Motor Show

Introduction

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) and its subsidiary, Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD), will continue to expand HPD's performance-brand footprint to highlight Honda's exciting and fun automotive products. This strategy gets a turbo boost in 2012 through three basic elements:

1. Underscoring the performance pedigree of Honda products through HPD. With the return of OEM competition in the IZOD IndyCar Series; its expanded sports-car programs in ALMS, WEC, and Le Mans; and new performance-product introductions across the grassroots racing spectrum, the Honda and HPD brands will demonstrate high value for our customers and unprecedented exposure for the Honda brands.

2. Customer-focused information and service. A major restructuring of HPD's customer-facing website offers a unique opportunity for fans to obtain real-time information about their favorite racing programs, an e-commerce platform to conveniently obtain Honda and HPD-branded products, and a chance to interact directly with HPD and its community of followers. HPD's new website, launching this month, will also be a place for consumers to experience the "fun" of experiencing Honda and HPD racing products.

3. A connection between Honda, on the track and in the showroom. Today, Honda's Fit, Civic, and Accord engines power racing efforts for many of our customers. This demonstration of power and durability provides an important proof-of-concept for consumers looking to buy the finest road cars in America's new-car showrooms. Many of AHM's and HPD's marketing activities at INDYCAR events will focus on this proof-of-concept. For example, HPD's new HI12RT IndyCar engine will feature Direct Injection (DI), allowing validation of DI technology in advance of its introduction into the all-new Honda Accord, which launches in mid-September, 2012. Technologies such as these will emphasize HPD's efforts to serve as a bridge between the track and the showroom.

In 2009, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) and its subsidiary, Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) launched a strategy to thrill customers who love the fun-to-drive characteristics of Honda automotive products. From 2009 through 2011, AHM and HPD expanded Honda's product delivery from "grassroots to pinnacle," serving customers in North American amateur and professional racing ranks.

The year 2011 proved to be successful for AHM, HPD, and their customers. Honda Indy V-8 engines powered every Indy car throughout the season, including the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, without an engine failure. An HPD-powered team won the American Le Mans Series LMP2 championship and campaigned a Honda-powered LMP2 prototype to a class podium finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Additionally, Honda customers ascended the winner's podium in myriad grassroots events in North America, from karting to open-wheel to production-car racing.

Seeking continuous improvement, Honda will not spend 2012 reminiscing. This year's racing season promises to be an exciting one for Honda, its customers, and its fans, with new challenges and automotive products.

Honda Racing Line

The Honda Racing Line is the place where fun begins for Honda racing enthusiasts. Judging from the growth of the program since its launch in 2009, there are many more Honda customers enjoying the thrill of HPD's performance racing products.

In its expanding efforts to serve customers from "grassroots to pinnacle," HPD provides engines, parts, chassis components, and support for professionals and amateurs alike. In 2012, Honda Racing Line customers will participate across the North American motorsports scene. Their chosen venues include:

QMA and USAC Quarter Midgets
SKUSA and WKA Karting
Pro Formula F Championships
Atlantic Championship Series
NASA Honda Challenge
SCCA Club Racing
Pro Touring Car Championships
SCCA Pro Solo

With the diversity of racing classes and series served, the Honda Racing Line has become a virtual ladder to success for America's young race-car drivers. With robust Honda / HPD programs at the highest levels of open-wheel and sports-car racing, "grassroots to pinnacle" means something real to the racer who wants to use Honda's racing products to progress from karting all the way to a pro racing career in IndyCar or ALMS.

Honda Racing Line registrants will retain the opportunity to purchase performance automotive parts, HPD-designed parts, and branded components. These products are rigorously tested to give consumers the confidence that comes from HPD's years of success at the highest levels of motorsports.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from pinnacle racing - as in Indy cars and prototype sports cars - to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts. In 2011, HPD augmented its line of crate-engine products with the HPD K20 engine. In 2012, HPD's in-house designed HI12RT will enter the IndyCar arena for the first time. Whether you are running a business, or driving your personal race entry, HPD wants to power your race car.

Open-Wheel Racing

IndyCar

From 2006-2011, Honda served as the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series. Powering Indy cars to victory over this period has provided a valuable opportunity for Honda to showcase its trademark reliability.

The Indianapolis 500 remains the largest single-day sporting event in the world, and provides Honda with a high-visibility platform for exposure of its products and engineering capabilities. The Indy 500 has not seen an engine failure since Honda began its sole-supply relationship in 2006. That's six straight ‘500's without a failure ... for the only six times in Indy 500 history.

This year, Honda will be joined by Chevrolet- and Lotus-branded engines in the battle for the INDYCAR Manufacturers' Championship. For its first year of multi-manufacturer IndyCar competition since 2005, HPD will bring its 2012 Honda HI12RT IndyCar engine, a turbocharged, aluminum alloy V6 with 2.2 liters of displacement, featuring electronic combined direct and indirect fuel injection.

HPD will campaign the 2012 HI12RT with a lineup of elite Honda IndyCar teams, including Chip Ganassi Racing, AJ Foyt Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, and Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Leading the Honda family of drivers are IndyCar champions and Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon.

Formula Atlantic

HPD is pleased to be supporting the new Atlantic Championship Series in 2012. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series' inaugural season will be comprised of six rounds at three events. Formula Atlantic has a rich history stemming from the Sports Car Club of America's launch of the Formula B class in 1965. Honda hopes to create a small niche for itself in the class's rich history and plans to showcase the HPD K20 engine as a cost-effective Atlantic power plant.

Formula F

The HPD L15A7 engine continues to be the engine of choice for FF competitors in North America. Since its introduction in 2010, the engine has powered numerous competitors to victory in SCCA Formula F club racing, the F1600 Formula F Championship Series, and the Pacific Formula F Super Series. In 2012, HPD will continue expanding its support for this class, which is experiencing a resurgence of interest. With its success in the U.S., HPD plans to introduce its L15A7 FF engine into Canadian racing in 2012. The 1.5-liter Honda Fit-based power plant has been approved for competition in both the Quebec-based Formula Tour 1600 series and the Ontario Formula Ford Championship.

Karting

In 2011, AHM and HPD made Honda CR125 engine parts and rebuild kits available to kart racers throughout the United States via the Honda Racing Line. The Honda two-stroke engine is used in the popular Spec Honda and Stock Moto classes by a variety of karting sanctioning bodies. The Honda Racing Line now offers racers a new source for CR125 parts, engine-rebuild kits and technical support.

Last year, HPD again offered support programs for competitors using the Honda CR125 engine package during the 2011 SKUSA ProTour and WKA Dunlop Tire Road Race series seasons, as well as the SKUSA SuperNats.

Looking at market demand, HPD has created an installation kit, allowing the fuel-injected, four-stroke CRF250 to be installed into shifter-kart chassis. In 2012, HPD will look for opportunities to showcase this environmentally friendly power plant in karting applications.

Quarter Midget

In 2011, HPD continued to provide a variety of engines and parts utilized by quarter-midget competitors, including complete "crate" GX120 and GX160 engines; individual engine parts such as cylinder heads and pistons; and technical support via e-mail and phone. Last year, HPD also released details of a new support program for Honda Racing Line competitors during the 2011 USAC and QMA race seasons. HPD offered "HPD Bucks" to 1st- through 3rd-place finishers in designated classes and races.

Honda is pleased to continue its quarter-midget participation in 2012. The Quarter Midget Association (QMA) recently voted to continue GX engine sanction going forward. USAC has also committed to continue sanction of the GX power plant. Looking ahead, Honda Power Equipment and HPD will continue exploration initiated last summer toward development of an engine specifically for quarter-midget racing, at a price point which compares favorably in the marketplace.

Oval racing remains a cornerstone of the American motorsports scene. Honda is looking forward to broadening its participation in this format.

Closed-Wheel Racing

American Le Mans Series / World Endurance Championship

In 2011, HPD expanded its sports-prototype racing program by supporting four teams, campaigning in three separate championships around the globe. The new HPD ARX-01e made a stunning LMP1 debut in Sebring, capturing second place in its first outing and besting the factory Audi and Peugeot entries. Level 5 Motorsports unveiled Honda-powered Lola LMP2 prototypes in both the ALMS and ILMC championships and then surprised competitors by switching to the new ARX-01g cost-capped LMP2 chassis, ultimately winning the ALMS LMP2 championship. Two more HPD-powered LMP2 teams, Strakka Racing and RML Racing, campaigned the HPD ARX-01d chassis in the full European-based Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Last season, in its first attempt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Level 5 Motorsports completed a trouble-free run to third in the LMP2 category, leading the Honda Performance Development effort at the 2011 endurance-racing classic.

In 2012, HPD will support seven customer-lease programs in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). This represents the high-water mark of Honda's involvement in the pinnacle of sports-car racing competition, and the opportunity to showcase the HPD brand before a worldwide audience. In the WEC, Strakka Racing and JRM Racing will campaign the new-for-2012 HPD ARX-03a in the LMP1 class and Starworks Motorsport will enter the LMP2 class with its new-for-2012 HPD ARX-03b chassis. In the ALMS, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing will compete in LMP1 with its HPD ARX-03a chassis and will be joined by the returning Level 5 Motorsports with its pair of HPD ARX-03b prototypes, and by Black Swan Racing with its HPD-powered Lola coupe. The ARX-03a will utilize HPD's 3.4L normally aspirated LM-V8 engine and the ARX-03b chassis will feature HPD's HR28TT twin turbo 2.8L V6 production-based power plant. Strakka Racing, JRM Racing, Level 5 Motorsports and Starworks Motorsport have all accepted invitations to compete in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 16-17.

Touring Car

HPD's road-racing program for production-based automobiles continues to grow as the 2012 season begins, with customer Honda and Acura teams racing in a variety of sprint and endurance series in both the United States and Canada.

Developed from the popular "Showroom Stock" club racing formula of the 1970s, today's professional series take that level of performance one step further, allowing limited engine and suspension modifications. The SCCA Pro Racing Pirelli World Challenge, Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) all feature large fields, with fierce competition throughout.

Peter Cunningham's Wisconsin-based RealTime Racing has waved the "Caliper A" banner in World Challenge competition since 1996, winning a record-nine manufacturers' championships with an assortment of race-tuned Acura products. In 2012, RTR will campaign a pair of V6-powered Acura TSXs in the GTS category, after eight successful seasons with the four-cylinder version of this model.

In Grand-Am, Honda Civic Si is the weapon of choice in the Street Tuner (ST) division, led by Toronto-based Compass360 Racing, a multiple-champion in the category for Honda, and the Honda of America Racing Team (HART), made up of associates from Honda of America Manufacturing in Ohio.

The HART contingent returns to the Grand-Am ST class in its 2012 Civic Si in HPD livery, driven by former SCCA national champion Chad Gilsinger and Canadian Michael Valiante. A second Civic is expected on track later in the season.

Spec Showroom Stock Racing

In 2010, Honda Performance Development announced its intention to work with other manufacturers to create a new segment of race cars called "B-Spec", which would target the sub-compact market. B-Spec refers to all cars meeting a common set of rules, which can be adopted by any race circuit or sanctioning organization. Several sanctioning bodies have adopted B-Spec rules for classes from club to pro racing.

Designed to be an entry-level category, B-Spec cars feature showroom stock racing cars utilizing stock engines and chassis, fitted with competition roll cages, racing seats and other safety equipment; and manufacturer-approved suspension components, tires and wheels. In February 2012, HPD began offering B-Spec kits for the Honda Fit, which include a coil-over kit, front and rear race springs, camber bolts, cat-back exhaust system, brake line set (braided stainless), front brake-pad set, air filter and air-conditioning delete belt. The cost of the kit is $2,800.

Off-Road Racing

After making its Pikes Peak International Hill Climb debut in 2010 with the Honda Ridgeline, HPD returned in 2011 and introduced the HPD Desert Pilot Trophy Truck. Developed by HPD and California Race & Rally, the Desert Pilot finished the "Race to the Clouds" with a solid eighth-place position in class. After this first outing, the Pilot entered its true realm in SCORE and BITD off-road desert races. Driven by Gavin Skilton, the Desert Pilot completed the Baja 1000 in its inaugural attempt. The 2012 season will see continued development of the Desert Pilot for this challenging endurance-racing format.

The Ohio-based Team Honda Research (THR) Rally team also competed in the 2011 Pikes Peak Hill Climb to showcase the rally version of HPD's entry-level B-Spec Fit racecar. Utilizing the same low-cost concept as the road-racing B-Spec format, the small displacement Fit was a fan favorite. THR-Rally then took the same B-Spec Fit to compete in stage rally and rallycross events. This has helped the concept of B-Spec rallying take hold; as a result, sanctioning body Rally America has adopted the format for the 2012 season. THR-Rally will compete in the 2012 Rally America championship as one of the first B-Spec competitors in the series.

Associate Clubs

Racing is in the DNA of Honda associates no matter where they are throughout North America. The 2012 season will see Honda associates spending their off-work hours and weekends feeding this passion.

The Honda R&D (HRA)-based teams of Team Honda Research (THR) in Ohio and Team Honda Research-West (THR-W) in California will compete on road courses in SCCA National and Regional Club Racing and the NASA HPD Honda Challenge series. Additionally, these teams once again expect to field their annual combined effort in the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

The Velocity Motorsports Club (VMC) from Honda of Canada Manufacturing (HCM) is busy preparing its 2012 Civic Si entry for the Canadian Touring Car Series. VMC will be utilizing much of the know-how from HPD's 2012 Civic Si touring-car development program.

The Honda of Alabama factory also boasts its own racing spirit by utilizing the Alabama-built Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot models for its associate race team. The Odyssey is a unique and highly competitive entry in the One Lap of America event, while the Pilot is used for SCCA Rallycross competition.

The HART Drag Racing Team will compete with two vehicles in the NHRA - North Central Division. The twin-turbocharged NSX engine-powered Accord, which has completed the quarter mile in 7.07 seconds at 193.77 mph, will compete in the Competition Eliminator CC/AT class. A Civic with a supercharged NSX engine will compete in the Super Street Class (10.90 Index).

The HART Autocross Team will compete with four vehicles in 2012 at local, regional, and national Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Solo 2 autocross events. Competing in the Prepared class will be a heavily modified Civic Si and RSX. A pair of S2000s will also compete, one in Stock class and the other in the Street Touring class.

Street Performance Concepts

Honda's unwavering dedication to engineering a street car for which every detail is tuned to perfection is at the root of every Honda brand impression. The heart of the HPD brand is the expression of the passion and innovation that is Honda performance. The 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas marked the first time that HPD performance products appeared in Honda concepts for the street. HPD also partnered with American Honda in its 2011 SEMA display. As HPD's performance pedigree deepens on the race track, customer interest in the street-performance future of Honda OEM products increases. In 2012, HPD will expand activities related to street performance, while continuing its direct-to-the-dealer dialogue about the HPD performance brand.

HondaRacingStore.Com

Starting in 2009, HPD began a new commercial program offering officially licensed HPD and Honda Racing products for sale in the United States. In 2011, the Honda Racing Store expanded its reach to consumers, including the creation of a new wholesale program for Honda dealers throughout the country.

In 2012, HondaRacingStore.com, the official source of licensed Honda Racing products and apparel, will expand its reach with a new website offering products which celebrate Honda's racing heritage and the success it continues to enjoy on the racetrack.

Conclusion

Whether our customers love to race their own Hondas in sanctioned motorsports events, or cheer their favorite cars and drivers to victory, American Honda's motorsports initiatives seek to bring the excitement of Honda Racing closer to consumers. As programs such as the Honda Racing Line grow in popularity, our customers will have enhanced access to dependable Honda Racing performance products. Through application of HPD's advanced technologies, Honda and Acura engines will continue to power racers and teams into Winner's Circles and the hearts of Honda Racing fans.

For Honda, racing offers much more than an opportunity to highlight the quality of our products or our on-track accomplishments. We hope that in 2012, the sport of racing will be more fun for our customers because of Honda products.

Honda Racing: Honda to Power Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:46:00 -0800

American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power a single-car effort from Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing for young American driver Josef Newgarden in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to SFHR's single, full-time entry for Newgarden, as last year's Firestone Indy Lights champion graduates to the IZOD IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500 for 2012.

The addition of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing to the Honda IZOD IndyCar Series lineup was made possible when Bobby Rahal, team principal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, agreed to the transfer of the engine contract for his second full-season entry to SFHR. Honda and HPD will continue to field 10 full-time IndyCar entries this season.

"We deeply appreciate Bobby's generous offer to forego his second full-season lease in order to ensure that Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing will be on the grid from the start of the season, and we were happy to help facilitate this change," said Steve Eriksen, vice president of HPD. "We're pleased to be able to continue our relationship with Sarah and her growing team, and look forward to a successful rookie season from Josef, following on the heels of his outstanding championship season in Indy Lights last year."

Designed at HPD's Santa Clarita, California, facility, the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine is now being tested on the race track. Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing joins Chip Ganassi Racing – winner of the last four IndyCar drivers' championships – A.J. Foyt Racing, Dale Coyne Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Sam Schmidt Motorsports as Honda-powered teams in 2012.

"Everyone at SFHR is ecstatic about competing in the entire 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, with Josef behind the wheel and Honda engines. We had been in discussions with Honda since last season, and I'm delighted it finally came together," said Sarah Fisher, team founder and co-owner. "I'd also like to give special thanks to Bobby Rahal, for helping us initiate our 2012 partnership with Honda. Bobby once again personified the definition of a gentleman and sportsman, remembering how we helped his son, Graham [who drove four IndyCar races for Sarah Fisher Racing in 2010]. This is wonderful example of 'paying it forward'."

Honda Power for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

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Honda Racing: Honda Performance Development Expands Professional Touring Car Program

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:20:00 -0800

Honda Performance Development's production-based racing program continues to grow as the 2012 racing season begins, with customer Honda and Acura teams racing in Touring Car series in both the United States and Canada.

In 2012, drivers and teams will be competing in series ranging from the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge Series to Sports Car Club of America Club Racing. In addition, new B-Spec category Honda Fits will be raced in both professional and amateur categories this year. HPD provides components and technical support to teams competing in all of these series - from professional organizations to the smallest club racing teams making their initial forays into motorsports - through the Honda Racing Line.

Developed from the popular "Showroom Stock" racing series of the 1980s, today's professional North American Touring Car racing series - the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Pirelli World Challenge and Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) - all feature large fields, with fierce competition throughout.

"With the development of the 2012 Honda Civic Si for Touring Car racing and the introduction of B-Spec for both professional and club racing, it's been a very busy off-season for HPD," said Lee Niffenegger, HPD senior engineer responsible for production-based racing. "There has been a definite upsurge in interest from both the U.S. and Canada for this year, and we're looking forward to exciting seasons in Grand-Am, World Challenge and Canadian Touring Cars."

Toronto-based Compass360 Racing takes part in both the SCCA and Grand-Am series, and claimed the 2010 CTCC championship for Honda. In addition, Compass360 joined HPD and the Honda of America Racing Team (HART) to develop the 2012 Honda Civic Si for Grand-Am competition. The car will run in both the SCCA and Grand-Am this year.

In 2012, Compass360 will field multi-car efforts using Civic Si's in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge and Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. The driver lineup includes former champions David Thilenius, Trevor Hopwood, and Adam Burrows, as well as previous race winners and championship contenders Ryan Eversley and Todd Lamb.

Led by the most successful driver in Acura history, Peter Cunningham, Wisconsin-based RealTime Racing has waved the "Caliper A" banner in professional competition since 1996, winning a total of 10 manufacturers' championships in every division of the series with an assortment of race-tuned Acura products. RealTime campaigns the Acura TSX in the GTS class, and this year will run V6 power for the first time.

In the World Challenge TC class, the Honda Civic Si is the vehicle of choice, with at least five teams taking part in the 14-race schedule. Compass360 will have a multi-car program including Lamb, Ryan Winchester and Shea Holbrook, who last year became the first woman to win a Touring Class World Challenge event. Branden Petersen returns with his 2010 Civic, and is building up a new 2012 Si from a body-in-white kit available from HPD.

Veteran racer Peter Schwartzott Sr. is also preparing a new 2012 Civic from an HPD body-in-white kit. Durabond Racing comes to the World Challenge this year with driver Anthony Rapone, the CTCC champion in 2010, in his Honda Civic Si. TLM Racing returns for another year with its 2010 Civic for Peruvian racer Guty Michelsen.

The Honda Civic Si competes in the Street Tuner (ST) division of the Grand-Am endurance-racing series. Compass360 Racing, a multiple-champion in the category for Honda, will field four cars with a driver lineup including Burrows, Hopwood, Thilenius and Eversley.

Honda of America Racing Team (HART), made up of associates from Honda of America Manufacturing in Ohio, returns with its 2012 Civic Si in HPD livery for former SCCA national Champion Chad Gilsinger and Canadian Michael Valiente, with a second Civic expected later in the season. Randy Smalley Racing (RSR) joins the HPD family this year after several seasons with another manufacturer. The team is running a 2011 Civic previously built by HPD for drivers Chris Puskar and Owen Trinkler. Other teams campaigning Civics this year include Marren Motorsports and veteran Matt Chambers' North Carolina-based Raceworks operation.

North of the border, Honda returns as defending manufacturer champion of the Canadian Touring Class, and M&S Racing's Tom Kwok will be back to defend his drivers' title with his Honda Civic and his teammate/brother, Gary. Other Honda teams in the series include 89 Racing Team with driver Jocelyn Hebert; Paul Dargis and his Dargis Motorsports team; and Blanchet Motorsports with driver Damon Sharpe.

In 2012, all three professional series have added a new "B-Spec" division, designed as an inexpensive, entry-level category for compact cars such as the Honda Fit, developed for participation in the new class by HPD. B-Spec Fits will also make their debut in SCCA Club Racing this year, while Civics and other Honda/Acura products continue to feature throughout multiple classes in both the SCCA and National Auto Sport Association (NASA) club events.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD prepares and fields the Honda Indy V6 turbocharged engines used in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2011 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD also administers The Honda Racing Line to provide racing enthusiasts and professionals with dependable racing products and support, from entry level to pinnacle forms of motorsports.

Honda Racing: Honda Indy V8 Honored by Race Engine Magazine

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:10:00 -0800

Race Engine Technology magazine, a respected British technical publication, has named the Honda Indy V8 engine as its "North American Race Engine of the Year" for 2011.

In its latest issue, the Honda Indy V8 engine was recognized by Race Engine Technology for its combination of reliability, performance and equality during its just-concluded six-year run as the engine supplied to every team taking part in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Honda took on the role of single engine supplier to IndyCar racing in 2006, after scoring back-to-back Manufacturers’ Championships the previous two seasons. Throughout six years as single engine supplier, 98 different drivers completed more than one million miles (1,188,366) of practice, qualifying and racing, with only six in-race engine failures. No in-race failures were reported during the entire 2008, 2010 and 2011 race seasons.

In 2011 alone, 41 drivers completed 206,113 miles of IZOD IndyCar Series competition without a single race-day failure.

From 2006-2011, Honda also powered the entire 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field. For a record-setting six consecutive seasons - and the only six times in Indy history - there were no engine-related retirements during the running of the Memorial Day classic.

"The Honda Indy V8 engine had quite a run, and we are honored to be recognized for its accomplishments by Race Engine Technology," said Roger Griffiths, technical director of Honda Performance Development, the racing arm of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "In addition to its well-deserved reputation for reliability, we take pride in the effort made by our associates at HPD, and our technical partners at Ilmor Engineering, to ensure equality and reliability to all teams and drivers throughout our time as engine supplier to the IndyCar Series, during which performance levels of all the engines varied by less than one per cent."

In 2012, manufacturer competition returns to the IZOD IndyCar Series with both Chevrolet and Lotus joining Honda. All three companies have produced new, turbocharged V6 engines to new series specifications. Honda’s new engine, the HI12R, will make its competition debut March 25 at the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in Florida.

Features of the new design include a combined direct/indirect fuel injection system, single Borg-Warner turbocharger, "drive-by-wire" throttle technology and a series-spec McLaren Electronics Engine Control Unit (ECU).

Established in 2003 and published eight times a year, Race Engine Technology is a professional review and technical journal, covering contemporary racing power-train developments and technologies. Under the direction of publisher Simon Moss, the magazine is read by professional power-train designers, engineers and industry professionals throughout the global racing community.

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Honda Racing: Honda Performance Development Unveils Ambitious Worldwide Sports-Prototype Effort

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:29:00 -0800

Honda Performance Development today unveiled its largest customer endurance racing program to date, as six teams will campaign a total of seven HPD-powered LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes in the 2012 World Endurance Championship and the American Le Mans Series.

"In recent years, teams running HPD engines and chassis have delivered remarkable results at some of the world's greatest sports-car races," said Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president, "starting with an amazing LMP2 victory - and second and third overall finishes - at our endurance racing debut, the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring. Another highlight was Strakka's LMP2 victory and fifth-place finish overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010, also on our first attempt!

"Returning to LMP1, while continuing our LMP2 program, will be the biggest challenge yet for our engineers and associates," Eriksen added, "but I'm extremely confident in our capabilities and look forward to another exciting season in 2012. We expect that the proven design, development and engineering expertise of HPD and its technical partners will provide our teams with the tools they need to succeed. It will be an exciting season."

Three teams, all experienced, accomplished racing organizations, will campaign the new HPD ARX-03a in the LMP1 class. The British-based Strakka Racing group continues its three-year association with HPD, but moves from LMP2 to the premier category in the new FIA World Endurance Championship with drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts.

Joining them on the WEC grid in 2012 will be JRM Racing, which comes to LMP1 after winning the drivers' title in the FIA GT-1 World Championship last season. Now, drivers David Brabham, Karun Chandok and Peter Dumbreck will have HPD's LM-V8 engine and new ARX-03a chassis at their command for the eight-race WEC schedule, which begins March 17 with the classic 12 Hours of Sebring endurance contest.

Sebring also marks the start of the 2012 American Le Mans Series, where Greg Pickett's Muscle Milk Racing team will debut the ARX-03a chassis it will campaign during the full ALMS schedule for team regulars Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr.

In addition to the LMP1 program utilizing the new ARX-03a chassis and proven HPD LM-V8 normally aspirated, gasoline engine, HPD will continue its support of the cost-capped LMP2 formula in 2012, which features the production-based HR28TT twin-turbocharged V6 engine powering the new HPD ARX-03b cost-capped LMP2 chassis.

Fresh off an undefeated LMP2 season with HPD power in the 2011 ALMS, Level 5 Motorsports returns to defend its team and drivers' championships, and HPD's LMP2 engine-manufacturers' title, with a pair of new ARX-03b chassis for regular drivers Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker. The team also plans on returning to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, following up on their strong third-place finish in LMP2 last year, in their inaugural attempt at the French racing classic.

Level 5 will be joined on the ALMS grid this year by Black Swan Racing, which will campaign an HPD-powered Lola B10/80 coupe after winning the ALMS GTC championship in 2010. The driving duo of team owner Tim Pappas and Jerome Bleekmolen now move up to LMP2 competition as part of the HPD lineup.

Another American-based team has announced plans to take part in the full WEC schedule, as the Florida-based Starworks Motorsport team completes the 2012 HPD sports-prototype lineup. Coming off a strong second-place finish at the recent 24 Hours of Daytona, the Starworks HPD ARX-03b will join the LMP2 grid for the first time with team regulars Ryan Dalziel and Enrico Potoliccio behind the wheel.

In 2011, Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development announced a new long-term technical partnership building upon the global successes achieved in recent years - a partnership that has produced numerous class and/or outright victories in all the world's premier sports-car races and championships, including the Le Mans 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD prepares and fields the Honda Indy V6 turbocharged engines used in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series; and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD also participates in multiple U.S.-based Touring Car series; and administers The Honda Racing Line to provide racing enthusiasts and professionals with dependable racing products and support, from entry level to pinnacle forms of motorsports.

2012 HPD Sports Prototype Program

FIA World Endurance Championship
Class	Team	Chassis	Engine
LMP1	Strakka Racing	HPD ARX-03a	HPD LM-V8
LMP1	JRM Racing	HPD ARX-03a	HPD LM-V8
LMP2	Starworks Motorsport	HPD ARX-03b	HPD HR28TT V6

American Le Mans Series Championship
LMP1	Muscle Milk Racing	HPD ARX-03a	HPD LM-V8
LMP2	Level 5 Motorsports	HPD ARX-03b	HPD HR28TT V6
LMP2	Black Swan Racing	Lola B11/80 coupe	HPD HR28TT V6

Honda Racing: Honda to Power Dale Coyne Racing in 2012

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:20:00 -0800

American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power a two-car effort from Dale Coyne Racing in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to all Coyne entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and at the Indianapolis 500.

"Dale Coyne Racing has been one of IndyCar's most durable teams, with a history that extends for nearly 30 years." said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development and vice president, corporate planning and logistics, for American Honda. "It's great to have them racing with us in 2012. Dale's team has made great strides in recent seasons, and he has made moves this off-season to further improve. We're looking forward to continuing our association with him in 2012."

Designed at HPD's Santa Clarita, California, facility, the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine is now being tested on the race track. Dale Coyne Racing joins Chip Ganassi Racing - winner of the last four IndyCar drivers' championships - A.J. Foyt Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Sam Schmidt Motorsports as Honda-powered teams in 2012.

"We have felt a part of the Honda family from their first days in CART back in the early 1990s till today," commented DCR team owner Dale Coyne. "We are very pleased to enter this next stage of IndyCar history with a company so dedicated to winning and rich in successful motorsports heritage like Honda. Together we hope to accomplish great things in 2012."

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006.

Honda has supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year since 2006, and for a record-six consecutive years, the ‘500' has not seen a single engine failure. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Starting in 1984 as a driver/owner, Dale Coyne raced for five seasons in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition, before stepping out of the cockpit in 1990 and becoming a full-time owner for his Plainfield, Illinois-based team. Through the years, his team has given many up-and-coming drivers their first opportunities in IndyCar competition, including Paul Tracy, future fellow IndyCar team owner Eric Bachelart and 2011 rookie James Jakes.

In 1998, Coyne developed Route 66 Speedway, a state-of-the-art drag racing facility in nearby Joliet, Illinois. Later, in partnership with then Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George and the International Speedway Corporation, the facility was expanded to include the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway oval. In 2009, Justin Wilson scored the team's first IndyCar Series victory at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York.

Honda Racing: 2012 Honda Civic Si Makes Racing Debut At 25 Hours of Thunderhill

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:26:00 -0800

Honda Performance Development, in partnership with the Ohio-based Honda of America Racing Team (HART), gave the 2012 Honda Civic Si a successful competition debut at this year’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill. Developed for racing in the Grand-Am’s Continental Tire Challenge Series, SCCA World Challenge and similar categories, the HART/HPD Civic finished seventh in the E0 class at the season-ending National Auto Sport Association (NASA) endurance race, held at the three-mile Thunderhill Raceway road course north of Sacramento, California.

Members of HART, the Ohio-based race team comprised of Honda associates, joined with HPD to prepare and run the Civic Si, which was built up from a body-in-white as displayed by HPD at the recent Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, utilizing a spec Honda K-24 engine as approved by Grand-Am and the SCCA, on BFGoodrich R1 tires.

Starting fifth in the E0 class, a field that included a half-dozen BMW M3s and an FFR Cobra Daytona Coupe replica, the Civic ran competitively throughout the first quarter of the 25-hour contest. At the six-hour mark, the equivalent of multiple Continental Tire/World Challenge races for which the car was designed, the Civic was ranked sixth in E0, and continued to run without any mechanical issues.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, however, transmission issues sent the Civic behind the wall for repairs. But the HART/HPD team returned to competition after replacing the transmission, and the Civic Si went on to a seventh-place finish in E0.

“This was an encouraging race debut for the 2012 Civic Si,” said Lee Niffenegger, HPD senior engineer. “The HPD-developed parts and K-24 engine all ran flawlessly throughout the event. The one issue we did encounter, with the transmission, only developed after the equivalent of two Grand-Am race weekends, which isn’t completely unreasonable. We’ll be able to take what we learned this weekend and apply it to future HPD-developed cars and parts.”

In addition to the HART/HPD Civic effort, Team Honda Research-West (THR-W) – comprised primarily of California-based Honda R&D associates who compete regularly in NASA events – also campaigned an Acura RSX in the E1 class., one of the largest of the six classes at the 25 Hours.

The RSX started strong, leading its class through the six-hour mark and building a lead of more than a lap at 8 hours. But shortly before half-distance, an off-course excursion – due to oil on the track – cost the team time behind the wall replacing a broken damper. After repairs were completed, the THR-W Acura returned to finish fifth in E1.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD served as single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series from 2006-2011 and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Honda Racing: Honda Returns to 25 Hours of Thunderhill

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:43:00 -0800

Honda Performance Development, in partnership with the Ohio-based Honda of America Racing Team (HART), will field a 2012 Honda Civic Si at this year’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

Developed for competition in the Grand-Am’s Continental Tire Challenge Series, SCCA World Challenge and similar categories, the HART/HPD Civic will be part of an expected 86-car field in the season-ending endurance race sanctioned by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). The 25 Hours of Thunderhill will be contested December 3-4 on the three-mile Thunderhill Raceway road course, north of Sacramento, California.

Members of HART, the Ohio-based race team comprised of Honda associates, will join with HPD to prepare and run the Civic Si, which was built up from a body-in-white as displayed by HPD at the recent Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas.

The Civic has been constructed to NASA’s EO-class specifications, utilizing a spec K-24 engine as approved by Grand-Am and the SCCA, competition roll cage and safety equipment, and HPD-designed motorsports performance parts. The car will run on BFGoodrich R1 tires.

At the 2010 Thunderhill event, HPD fielded a pair of Honda CR-Zs – the first production-based, gasoline-electric hybrids to race in North America – and a B-Spec Honda Fit, which also was making its competition debut. One of the CR-Zs finished second in the E3 class and eighth overall in the 72-car field, ahead of many entries from faster categories.

In addition to the HART/HPD Civic effort, Team Honda Research-West (THR-W) – primarily made up of California-based Honda R&D associates who compete regularly in NASA events – will again campaign its Acura RSX as a club entry at the 25 Hours.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD served as single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series from 2006-2011 and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Honda Racing: Honda to Power Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:20:00 -0700

American Honda and its Honda Performance Development (HPD) subsidiary will power Rahal Letterman Lanigan in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series, HPD and the team announced today.

Under terms of the agreement, HPD will provide its new, turbocharged 2.2-liter Honda Indy V-6 engines to all Rahal Letterman Lanigan entries in the IZOD IndyCar Series and at the 2012 Indianapolis 500.

"Many fans already know that the roots of Honda's relationship with Bobby Rahal and his team extend to our initial entry into American open-wheel racing in the early 1990s," said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development and vice president, corporate planning and logistics for American Honda.

"In addition to being our first partner when Honda entered Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition in 1994, the Rahal team also joined us when Honda entered the IndyCar Series in 2003 and joined us in Victory Circle with driver Buddy Rice for Honda's first Indianapolis 500 win in 2004. We're looking forward to continuing our long and successful relationship with Rahal Letterman Lanigan as IndyCar begins a new era of multi-manufacturer competition in 2012."

Designed at HPD's Santa Clarita, California, facility, the all-new Honda Indy V-6 engine began track testing in late October . Rahal Letterman Lanigan is the fourth team to align with Honda in preparation for the 2012 return of OEM competition to the IZOD IndyCar Series.

In May, Honda announced that Chip Ganassi Racing, winner of the last four IndyCar drivers' championships, would be its anchor team beginning next year. A.J. Foyt Racing and Sam Schmidt Motorsports will also utilize Honda power in 2012.

"We are pleased to once again be partnering with Honda," said team co-owner Rahal. "We have a storied history with Honda and respect its tradition of excellence in motorsports. In putting together our plans for 2012, we felt that having the full support of a proven winner such as Honda would aid us in building the strongest program possible, and we intend to represent Honda in the best manner possible."

The company scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory - with the Rahal team and driver Buddy Rice - in 2004; IndyCar Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and '05; and became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006.

Honda has supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field every year since 2006, and for a record-six consecutive years, there has not been a single engine failure in the '500'. The 2010 Indianapolis 500, won by Dario Franchitti, marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2011 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Honda Racing: 2012 Honda Civic Si Wows At SEMA Show

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:10:00 -0700

Seven modified 2012 Civic Si Coupes and Sedans are featured prominently in the Honda booth at the 2011 SEMA Show, which opens today. The all-new 2012 Civic Si Coupe and Civic Si Sedan emphasize the performance potential of the Civic lineup and represent great platforms for vehicle personalization. Several significant vehicles are being unveiled at the show, including a 2012 Civic Si Coupe equipped with a limited-edition Honda Factory Performance™ (HFP™) package, the Honda Performance Development, Inc. (HPD) Compass360 Racing HPD 2012 Civic Si Coupe Racecar, the Accord Coupe HFP Concept and several vehicles equipped with Honda Genuine Accessories.

“The Honda Civic was instrumental in the first import-tuner movement in the U.S. during the ‘80s,” said Bruce Smith, vice president of Service and Technical Operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The all-new Civic Si builds on that proud history by offering inspiring performance, improved fuel economy and a great platform for personalization.”

Show-goers will get the first look at the 2012 Civic Si Coupe fitted with a limited-edition HFP package. Limited to only 500 complete kits and on sale today at Honda dealers in the U.S., the package includes: high-performance springs, reducing ride height by 15 mm; high-performance dampers tuned for enhanced road handling and decreased body roll; 18x7 inch HFP Alloy Wheels; full HFP aerodynamic body kit; HFP carpet floor mats; red ambient interior illumination; and, HFP emblems. All of the painted parts will come color-matched to each of the seven available Civic Si Coupe colors.

After unveiling the Compass360 Racing HPD 2012 Civic Si Coupe Racecar, HPD provided details about its new racing performance parts program for the all-new Civic Coupe. Earlier this year, HPD began sales of Civic bodies-in-white, also on display. For builders of racecars, starting their build with a body-in-white represents significant cost and labor savings when compared to the purchase and conversion of a fully-equipped production car. Sales of the body-in-white began in July, and HPD has delivered a number to licensed race teams thus far, priced at $3,500 each. Additionally, HPD will soon offer HPD-designed parts and branded racing components for the new Civic through the Honda Racing Line. These racing parts are tailored for use in the SCCA World Challenge and Grand Am's Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge. They will be available early in 2012, and full details and pricing will be available at that time.

Combining the expertise of HPD and the styling and performance history of HFP, the Accord Coupe V6 HFP Concept features a full suite of currently-available HFP components. HPD guided the creation of the “concept,” which includes a supercharger and performance air intake and exhaust systems. Building upon a stock 3.5-liter V6 engine, the supercharged engine is estimated to produce 335 hp and 285 ft. lbs of torque (up 64 hp and 34 ft. lbs vs. stock car). This vehicle was modified to demonstrate the performance potential of the Accord V6 coupe and to gauge consumer interest. Honda has no current production plans for the concept.

Sporting available Honda Genuine Accessories, the 2012 Civic Si Sedan shows that performance and style can come with four doors. It features 18x7 inch HFP alloy wheels, all-season floor mats, trunk tray, cargo net, cargo hook and splash guards. All Honda Genuine Accessories, including HFP components, offer a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty like the Civic itself, if they are purchased and installed at the time of new vehicle purchase, and are engineered to be fully compatible with each Honda vehicle.

Nestled amongst two previously-seen Honda-modified CR-Z sport hybrids, the HPD CR-Z Hybrid R Concept and the CR-Z with MUGEN accessories, is a stand-alone HPD CR-Z engine concept equipped with a supercharger. This 1.5-liter engine concept builds upon HPD’s experience with the turbocharged HPD CR-Z Racer that competed at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill last year and represents HPD’s continued exploration of the performance potential of the CR-Z.

Reaching out to the import community, Honda invited three independent vehicle tuners to build and display their Civic Si concepts at the SEMA Show. Tuners were asked to push the limits of performance and style with their builds, and the vehicles on display demonstrate the personalized potential of the Si Coupe and Sedan. Following last year’s amazing CR-Z build, Bisimoto Engineering delivered a 1004 hp version of the Civic Si Coupe. Having previously built two generations of Fit project vehicles, Tjin Edition brings its own take on the Civic Si Sedan, showing that style and performance can coexist with kids and a family. And making its Honda SEMA Show debut, Fox Marketing pulled out all of the stops to create a wide-body, turbo-charged version of the Civic Si Coupe.

Vehicles on Display at the Honda Booth

From American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
2012 Civic Si Coupe with limited-edition HFP™ package
2012 Civic Si Sedan with Honda Genuine Accessories
2012 Accord Coupe V6 HFP™ Concept
2011 CR-Z with MUGEN Accessories
2012 Civic Si Coupe modified by blink-182 for the Honda Civic Tour

Historic Civic models from the American Honda Collection
2000 Civic Si Challenge winner (by Superstreet magazine)
1975 Civic 3dr

From Honda Performance Development, Inc.
2012 HPD Compass360 World Challenge Spec Civic Si racecar
2012 Civic Coupe body-in-white
2011 CR-Z Hybrid R Concept
HPD CR-Z engine concept with supercharger (engine only)

Aftermarket Project Vehicles
Bisimoto Engineering 2012 Civic Si Coupe
Fox Marketing 2012 Civic Si Coupe
Tjin Edition 2012 Civic Si Sedan

Honda Racing: 2012 Honda Civic Si Project Vehicle Program

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:09:00 -0700

Reaching out to the import community, Honda invited three independent vehicle tuners to build and display their 2012 Honda Civic Si concepts at the 2011 SEMA Show. Tuners were asked to push the limits of performance and style with their builds, and the vehicles on display demonstrate the personalized potential of the Si Coupe and Sedan.

Honda invited the tuners to tell the stories of their cars, and those details are provided below.

All modification information listed was provided by the vehicle builders and has not been confirmed by American Honda Motor Co., Inc. The modifications to these vehicles may void the manufacturers warranty, may not be legal for street driving in all 50 states and have not been specifically suggested, recommended or approved by American Honda Motor, Inc.

Company Name: Bisimoto Engineering
Name of Vehicle: Bisimoto 2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe

Vehicle Description:
Bisimoto Engineering is known worldwide for awe-inspiring street, show and race vehicles. With no fear of the unknown, Bisimoto is always on the cutting edge of automotive technology. The Bisimoto 2012 Civic Si Coupe was no exception with a 1004+ hp turbocharged, factory-based new K24Z7 powerplant, which embraces the "Civic for all people" vision: a street friendly time attack, drag, and road race flex-fuel concept chassis.

Powertrain Modifications:
Bisimoto built 2.4L K24Z7 engine
Bisimoto steel rods, turbo kit, intake gasket, injectors, and web level 2.4 camshafts
Arias forged pistons
AEM Series 2 EMS, and smart coils
MSD coil wires
NGK Iridium spark plugs
Torco Oils
Turbonetics 72mm turbocharger, blow-off, wastegate and intercooler
Golden Eagle sleeved block, and intake manifold
Griffin Radiator
Supertech valvetrain
Vibrant Vanjen clamps and stainless hardware
Holley billet fuel pump
ARP head, main, and wheel studs
K-Tuned alternator relocation, pulley and water neck kits
Portflow custom headwork
VP Racing E85R fuel
Kinsler fuel filters
ATI Engine Damper

Chassis/Suspension Modifications:
Steen roll cage
Eibach coil suspension and sway bar
Eins Gramm 18x8 aluminum wheels
Falken 215/35-18 tires
Bisimoto-spec Action 2MS Clutch
Buddy club racing steel lug nuts
StopTech brakes

Exterior Modifications:
Gatorwrap custom laminated body wrap
Type 2 graphics
Denmatic design scheme
Bisimoto Extreme Dimensions hood and aero upgrades
Burns Stainless muffler and hardware

Interior Modifications:
Buddy Club P1 racing seats and harness
Bisimoto reservoir socks
Racepack IQ3 dash
Bisimoto fighter special control box
Odyssey PC-925 dry cell battery
Rywire mil-spec harness
G&J braided lines
Rueda interior paint
Honda "First aid" kit

____________________________________________________________________________________

Company Name: Fox Marketing Cars/Mugsy's Repair
Vehicle Name: Fox Marketing 2012 Civic Si Coupe

Theme of Vehicle:
The main focus of this build was to showcase the reliability and performance capability of Honda's new K24Z7 power plant. With a properly engineered turbo kit, the new Civic Si can consistently provide an enthusiast with over 450 horsepower without blinking an eye. Because the K24Z7 is so strong from the factory, we added a new Full-Race intercooled turbo kit featuring the BorgWarner EFR turbo as seen in Honda's LMP1/LMP2 engine program and 2012 IndyCar teams. To properly and accurately tune the vehicle, Hondata FlashPro was selected to control Injector Dynamic 1000cc fuel injectors and the 255lph fuel pump, all made possible with the Chasebays Engine Harness. For additional power and durability, the stock plastic K24Z7 intake manifold was replaced with a Honda RRC intake manifold (euro Accord Type-R) sourced from ImportDPS. Since the car has these types of power numbers we need serious traction - so a 10.5 inch wide Vossen wheel with Toyo Tire will put the power to the ground. We then hand-built the widebody kit around the wheel and tire set up, and painted the civic BASF R-M Ultrasonic Blue Pearl, a new-school take on the classic Civic Si electron-blue-pearl. The interior was upgraded with Yonaka Ronin Racing Seats with factory Civic Si fabric inserts front, and rear. We hope you enjoy our vision for this new Si, and stay tuned to our Facebook and YouTube page for full dyno videos after SEMA!

Engine:
Full-Race 2012+ Civic Si Turbo Kit
Full-Race Turbo Manifold
Full-Race Intercooler w/ 2.5" Charge piping (Black Chrome finish)
Full-Race 3" Downpipe
Full-Race 3" Cat-Back Exhaust
BorgWarner EFR Turbocharger
Hondata FlashPro
Injector Dynamics 1000cc Injectors
Walbro 255lph Fuel Pump
ChaseBays Engine Harness
2006 Civic Si ECU
Yonaka Silicone Hoses
Yonaka Clamps
Competition Clutch Stage 4
Competition Clutch Flywheel
Hardware909 Billet Oil Cap
Hardware909 K Series Flat Head Bolts
Hardware909 Billet Oil Dip Stick
Custom Steel braded AC Line
Valve Cover Insert painted BASF R-M Ultrasonic Blue
Intake Manifold Cover painted BASF R-M Silverstone
Installed by: Mugsy's Repair - Gold Certified Honda Techs

Suspension/Braking:
Front: SSBC 13 inch 4 Piston Calipers
Road Magnet 1.5 inch Springs
Rear: 12 inch 2 Piston Calipers
Road Magnet 1.2 inch Springs

Wheels/Tires:

Front:
20x10.5 Vossen CV3 Brushed Aluminum with BASF R-M Carizzma Flat Black Barrels
255/30/20 Toyo Proxes 4 Tires
Yonaka Tuner Lug Nuts

Rear:
20x10.5 Vossen CV3 Brushed Aluminum with BASF R-M Carizzma Flat Black Barrels
255/35/20 Toyo Proxes 4 Tires
Yonaka Tuner Lug Nuts

Exterior:
BASF R-M Ultrasonic Blue Pearl
BASF R-M Carizzma Flat Black
BASF R-M Black
CarBodyKits.com Custom Front Bumper
CarBodyKits.com Custom 2.5 inch Fender Flares
CarBodyKits.com Custom Side Skirts
CarBodyKits.com Custom Rear Valance
Custom Carbon Front Splitter
Advan Carbon Hood
Custom Tined Taillights with BASF R-M DC5335 Clear
Custom Tinted Headlights with BASF R-M DC5335 Clear

Interior:
Yonaka Ronin Black Leather Seats with Factory Si fabric inserts
Custom Rear Black Leather with Factory Si fabric inserts

Partners:

BASF Refinish
Yonaka Motorsports
Mugsy's Repair
Full-Race Motorsports
BorgWarner Turbo Systems
Hondata
ID Fuel Injectors / T1 Race Development
Vossen Wheels
Toyo Tires
ChaseBays.com
Hardware909
SSBC Brakes
Road Magnet
Hybrid Racing
CarBodyKits.com
Advan Carbon
Honda-Tech.com
9thCivic.com

____________________________________________________________________________________

Company Name: Tjin Edition

Name of Vehicle: Tjin Edition 2012 Honda Civic Si Sedan

Vehicle Description:
The Tjin Edition Honda Civic Si Sedan was built to showcase our abilities to build an overall impressive car that can be driven daily on the streets of Southern California. We wanted our Civic Si Sedan to be able to seat four comfortably (both adults and kids), while still incorporating our signature themes into the build. The interior of our Civic Si Sedan is customized in a black leather finish with purple diamond stitch, a full audio system and a pair of Recaro kids seats. The exterior of the Tjin Edition Honda Civic Si Sedan has been completely redone by the team at Daley Visual and Wraptivo. The exterior sports a custom wrap and carbon fiber front grille, roof, wing and rear diffuser. As the Tjin Edition Honda Civic Si Sedan rolls around the streets we wanted to make sure that people stopped and stared at the one-off 19x8.5" and 19x9.5" candy orange and candy purple concave Rotiform BLQ wheels and our Si's slammed stance thanks to Function and Form.

Modification	Supplier

Exterior
Wraptivo custom wrap	Wraptivo
Carbon fiber front grille, roof, wing, rear diffuser	Wraptivo
Customized front bumper	Unique Fabrication
Unique Fabrication rear spoiler	Unique Fabrication
Tangent Titanium bolt kit	Tangent Bolts
Light Wurkz LED headlights /taillights	Light WurkZ
Ignited HID lighting	Ignited HIDS
Webasto sunroof	Webasto
Custom Tjin Edition emblems	3rd Shift Studio
Thule roof rack	Thule

Wheels and Tires
19x8.5" Rotiform BLQ Concave wheels orange candy centers	RotiForm Wheels
19x9.5" Rotiform BLQ Concave wheels purple candy centers	RotiForm Wheels
215/33/19 and 225/35/19 Falken tires	Falken

Suspension
Function and Forum fully adjustable coilovers	Function and Forum
Custom camber shims	Unique Fabrication

Brakes
Baer big brake calipers and rotors	Baer Big Brakes
Front and rear: 6p anodized purple and orange calipers	Baer Big Brakes
Front and rear: race cross-drilled rotors	Baer Big Brakes

Audio
(2) 10" subwoofers	Realm Audio
(2) amplifiers	Realm Audio
Component speakers	Realm Audio
Custom speaker box	Realm Audio
Custom amplifier rack	Realm Audio
Custom rear deck lid featuring speakers	Realm Audio
Escort 9500ci radar	Escort
Braille Batteries	Braille
Scosche wiring	Scosche
Scosche sound dampaning material	Scosche

Interior
Custom black leather interior with diamond stitching	LR Interiors
Rewrapped front and rear seats	LR Interiors
Custom rewrapped door panels and dash insert	LR Interiors
Custom rewrapped center section of dash	LR Interiors
Custom rewrapped front, side and rear pillars	LR Interiors
Custom rewrapped center console	LR Interiors
Custom gauge pod mounted on dashboard	LR Interiors
GlowShift digital gauges in custom cluster	GlowShift
Status Racing 5pt harnesses	Status Racing
4pt harness bar	Unique Fabrication
Innovate OT-2 unit	Innovate
Recaro baby seats	Recaro
Painted NX bottles and bottle openers	NX

Engine
MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust	MagnaFlow Exhaust
Fuel rail and spark plug cover	K-Tuned
Nitrous Express set-up	Nitrous Express
Royal Purple products	Royal Purple
Dupont painted engine bay	Dupont

Honda Racing: Dan Wheldon Fatally Injured at Las Vegas

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:00:00 -0700

Sunday's season-ending IZOD IndyCar Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was cancelled after a multi-car crash on Lap 11 resulted in fatal injuries for two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon.

Wheldon was one of 15 drivers involved in the collision, which took place in Turn Two, after relatively minor contact between two cars set off a large, chain-reaction crash. Running in the middle of the field, Wheldon's car went airborne before making heavy impact with the retaining wall and catch fencing. He was airlifted to University Medical Center, where he succumbed from his injuries.

Wheldon was a mainstay of the Honda IndyCar program from his debut in 2003 with Andretti Green Racing. In 134 IndyCar race starts, he won 16 times, and recorded 93 top-10 results. Wheldon won the Indianapolis 500 for the first time in 2005, going on to win the series championship that year, and won the '500' again earlier this year. He also scored Honda's first IndyCar victories at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan, winning at the Honda-owned circuit in 2004 and again in 2005.

In addition to his parents and siblings, Weldon is survived by his wife, Susie, and sons Sebastian and Oliver.

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on the loss of Dan Wheldon: "For everyone in the Honda family, this is a day of tragedy and incalcuable loss. For us, Dan was more than a driver, he was a member of the Honda family. But most of all, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, wife Susie and two young sons. Dan had a passion for motorsports and a wonderful personality that made him a friend to everyone in the racing community. His talent and dedication were an inspiration to us all. We will miss him terribly, and everyone at Honda extends our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and fans across the world."

Honda Racing: Pagenaud to Sample Honda Formula F at Las Vegas

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:01:00 -0700

Pacific Formula F Super Series participants will have a chance to test themselves against one of the world's best all-round racers this weekend at the Las Vegas season finale for the open-wheel racing championship, as Simon Pagenaud joins the series for a one-off appearance aboard the PR1 Motorsports-prepared Piper Honda DF5 Formula F.

In the past year, Pagenaud has sampled a wide variety of HPD racing products, racing everything from a Honda-powered IndyCar in the IZOD IndyCar Series to a Honda Civic Si in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge Series. Last December, Pagenaud took part in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill grassroots endurance race, driving stints in both a Honda CR-Z and Honda B-Spec Fit. At the other end of the endurance sports-car racing spectrum, he also finished second this year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving for Peugeot, and second at this year's Twelve Hours of Sebring, driving an HPD ARX-01e prototype for Highcroft Racing in the American Le Mans Series.

"Formula F is going to be a lot of fun, for me and I hope also for the other competitors in the series," Pagenaud said. "It has been a long time since I have driven a small formula car, and I have never raced on the Las Vegas road course – although I am familiar with the oval track next door! The Piper/Honda is a very modern design, and I think it will be exciting and enjoyable to race it alongside the West Coast series Formula F racers."

The final Pacific Formula F Super Series event of 2011 takes place October 7-9, with a two-race weekend at the challenging 2.4-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway road course, located adjacent to the 1.5-mile oval speedway. The companion Pacific F2000 Series will also conclude its season with a pair of concurrent races.

Pagenaud will continue to sample and race a variety of HPD performance products through the remainder of the year, including a Rallycross version of the B-Spec Fit, as well as a Honda-powered kart. Videos of Pagenaud's efforts in assorted HPD machinery can be found posted at: http://www.youtube.com/user/HondaRacingHPDTV#p/u.

The goal of Pagenaud's participation in these events is to help HPD engineers develop better products for members of the Honda Racing Line.

"I really enjoy participating with the HPD engineers in the development of all these cars," Pagenaud said. "Hopefully, my feedback can help both current and new Honda Formula F drivers. Honda and HPD really have a great range of options for competitors. I think you'll see young drivers come through the Honda system in karts and Formula F to rise into IndyCars and professional sports-car racing."

Honda Racing: Kentucky Race Report

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:59:00 -0700

Circuit: Kentucky Speedway (1.5-mile oval) Sparta, KY
2010 Winner:Helio Castroneves (Team Penske Honda) 174.402 mph avg.
Weather:Sunny, cool, 55 degrees F

Race Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Engine/Chassis	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1.	4.	Ed Carpenter	Sarah Fisher Racing	Honda Dallara	200	174.039 mph avg.; led 8 laps
2.	11.	Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	200	-0.0098 seconds; led 143 laps
3.	7.	Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	200	-0.1048 seconds
4.	3.	James Hinchcliffe-R	Newman Haas Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-0.3007 seconds
5.	8.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	200	-0.4040 seconds
6.	9.	Oriol Servia	Newman Haas Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-0.6806 seconds
7.	15.	Wade Cunningham	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Honda Dallara	200	-0.7020 seconds
8.	18.	Ryan Briscoe	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	200	-0.7895 seconds
9.	17.	Buddy Rice	Panther Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-1.0011 seconds
10.	14.	Danica Patrick	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	200	-1.0067 seconds
11.	26.	Townsend Bell	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-1.1769 seconds
12.	2.	Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-1.2320 seconds
13.	10.	Charlie Kimball-R	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-1.7795 seconds
14.	28.	Dan Wheldon	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Honda Dallara	200	-2.0668 seconds
15.	22.	Takuma Sato	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	200	-2.1161 seconds
16.	21.	Vitor Meira	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	200	-2.4294 seconds
17.	19.	Tony Kanaan	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	200	-3.0101 seconds
18.	12.	Mike Conway	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	200	-3.4970 seconds
19.	1.	Will Power	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	200	-6.4970 seconds; led 48 laps
20.	5.	JR Hildebrand-R	Panther Racing	Honda Dallara	199	Running; led 1 lap
21.	27.	James Jakes-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	198	Running
22.	29.	Pippa Mann-R	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda Dallara	197	Running
23.	23.	E.J. Viso	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	192	Running
24.	20.	Ana Beatriz-R	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	165	Did not finish – crash
25.	13.	Simona de Silvestro	HVM Racing	Honda Dallara	141	Did not finish – crash
26.	24.	Alex Lloyd	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	140	Did not finish – crash
27.	6.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	140	Did not finish – crash
28.	25.	Dillon Battistini-R	Conquest Racing	Honda Dallara	124	Did not finish – fatigue
29.	16.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	34	DNF - broken coolant pipe

R - IndyCar Series Rookie

Carpenter Passes to Popular Kentucky Victory

After finishing second at Kentucky Speedway in both 2009 and 2010, Ed Carpenter used his Honda "overtake assist" at just the right time on the final lap Sunday to edge ahead of Dario Franchitti for his and Sarah Fisher Racing's first IZOD IndyCar Series win. Carpenter's victory margin of 0.0098 seconds was the closest in the history of the 1.5-mile Kentucky oval, and the sixth-closest in IndyCar Series history.

Franchitti's second-place finish moved him back to the top of the drivers' championship standings with just one race remaining. Franchitti now has an 18-point lead over rival Will Power, who started from the pole but was delayed by a collision on pit lane and resulting body damage following contact with Ana Beatriz. Power, who led the standings coming into today's 200-lap event, finished 19th, the final car on the lead lap.

Continuing a six-season tradition of equality and reliability, 29 Honda-powered drivers completed 12,763 miles this weekend on the fast but bumpy Kentucky Speedway oval without a single failure of the Honda Indy V-8 engine. It has been more than two years since a Honda in-race engine failure, the last one taking place at Infineon Raceway in 2009.

Franchitti's teammate, Scott Dixon, finished third to clinch the A.J. Foyt Award as the top oval-track driver in the series this year, while Newman Haas Racing's James Hinchcliffe finished fourth to take the lead in the IndyCar Rookie of the Year standings for the first time this season.

The IZOD IndyCar Series now takes a week off before heading to another 1.5-mile oval, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway circuit, for the season-ending IZOD IndyCar World Championships Presented by Honda on Oct. 16.

IZOD IndyCar Series Championship (after 16 of 17 events):
1. Dario Franchitti	573 points (4 wins)	6. Ryan Briscoe	364
2. Will Power	555 (6 wins)	7. Ryan Hunter-Reay	347 (1 win)
3. Scott Dixon	518 (2 win)	8. Marco Andretti	337 (1 win)
4. Oriol Servia	425	9. Graham Rahal	320
5. Tony Kanaan	366	10. Danica Patrick	314

Ed Carpenter (#67 Sarah Fisher Racing Honda) started 4th, finished 1st, his first IndyCar victory in 113 starts: "It [winning] is way better than even I ever thought it would be! The team made changes to the car at every pit stop and at the end, I knew I had a better car than Dario [Franchitti]. I knew I needed to get a good final restart and I was able to do just that. Dario raced me hard and clean, but I had one more ‘push-to-pass' left and I used it on the last lap. It was just enough, but we got it done. It feels unbelievable."

Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 11th, finished 2nd, retakes the drivers' championship lead by 18 points over Will Power with one race remaining: "It just shows you never give up. It was a nice surprise coming out in the lead after the first round of pit stops. Once we were in the lead, we just kept it in the bottom lane and that worked well until Ed [Carpenter] caught up to us at the end. He drove a hell of a race. I had to use my ‘overtake assist' repeatedly to keep him from getting clear [in front], because then it would have been all over. Ed and their team did a great job. He raced us hard and fair and I enjoyed it. Congratulations to them. Shortly before the race, I got an e-mail from [team manager] Barry Wanser and [his son] Michael [who is fighting a serious illness] telling us to ‘go for it', so this is dedicated to them."

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 1st, finished 3rd : "First of all, it's a big honor to win the A.J. Foyt oval award. The guy's a legend, and you all know that. Today was a bit of a different story; it was difficult to get the car up to speed at the start and on restarts. It would take three or four laps to get back to where we needed to be. Obviously a big swing in the championship points today, and we'll do everything in our power to help Dario win the championship at Las Vegas in two weeks."

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development) on today's race: "Races like this are what attracted me to IndyCar racing in the first place. Congratulations to Ed [Carpenter], who has come so close to a victory, so many times. Today's victory was hard-fought and I think one of the most popular we've seen this year. Congratulations as well to Sarah [Fisher], her husband and co-team owner Andy O'Gara, and the entire SFR organization. This is the best possible ‘present' for their newborn daughter Zoey! Now, we go to another 1.5-mile for the season finale, and it should be fantastic as well."

Honda Racing: HPD, Level 5 Dominate LMP2 at Petit Le Mans

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:09:00 -0700

The new Honda Performance Development ARX-01g continues its successful run in American Le Mans Series LMP2 competition, with Level 5 Motorsports dominating the category at Saturday’s Petit Le Mans, finishing sixth overall and eight laps ahead of its nearest LMP2 competitor.

It was the second consecutive LMP2 win for HPD and Level 5 since the debut of the new, cost-capped ARX-01g two weeks ago at Laguna Seca. As in that event, the winning car was driven by Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker, with Joao Barbosa rejoining the team for this weekend’s 14th annual Petit Le Mans, a 1,000-mile endurance racing classic at Road Atlanta.

As at Laguna Seca, Level 5 Motorsports scored a dominant victory in LMP2, taking the new HPD ARX-01g to an eight-lap victory over the United Autosports Oak-Pescarolo Judd of Stefan Johansson, Mark Patterson and Zak Brown.

The Level 5 driving trio of Tucker, Bouchut and Barbosa enjoyed an early-race battle with the Signatech Nissan Oreca 03 Nissan of JK Vernay, Franck Mailleus and Lucas Ordonez, before the Nissan ran into power-steering issues in the sixth hour, dropping to an eventual third-place finish. That gave the Level 5 trio clear sailing to the end.

Level 5’s sister HPD entry, co-driven by Tucker, Luis Diaz and Marino Franchitti, qualified on the LMP2 pole but started from the pit lane after encountering electrical issues. The car raced to the front of the field in the opening hours, then was delayed by a turbocharger issue before rejoining to finish fifth.

"What an amazing race today. The Level 5 Motorsports team repeated its excellent performance at Sebring by bookending the 2011 American Le Mans Series season with a win against worthy competition from across the globe," said Steve Eriksen, vice president of HPD. "Congratulations to Level 5 on this win and the American Le Mans Series LMP2 championship."

An evolution of the pace-setting HPD ARX-01d run by several LMP2 teams in 2011, the HPD ARX-01g is designed specifically to meet the ACO’s new cost-capped LMP2 regulations for private entrants.

HPD also recently announced its plans to return to LMP1 competition in the new FIA World Endurance Championship with another chassis evolution, the ARX-03a, powered by an HPD-developed, normally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 engine.

"This is the perfect way to end the first season of the new 2011 HR28TT V6 turbo engine, which was co-developed by Honda Performance Development Inc. and Honda R&D Americas, Inc.," said Eriksen. "The great results of the engine in its inaugural season speak to the results achieved by combining the talents of our production and race engineers in the crucible that is racing."

"In addition, the HPD chassis showed its characteristic speed and high reliability, just weeks after the launch of the new ARX-01g cost-capped LMP2 version. Many thanks to our partners at Wirth Research and Michelin for all of their hard work in achieving this great result. We’re already looking forward to the 2012 American Le Mans Series season."

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD is the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Honda Racing: Honda, Acura Racers Shine at SCCA Runoffs

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:59:00 -0700

Honda and Acura racers claimed one national championship and an additional five podium (top three) finishes as the Sports Car Club of America [SCCA] National Championship "Runoffs" returned to the famed Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, September 19-25. In all, 11 of 28 competing classes at the Runoffs featured members of the Honda Racing Line, Honda Performance Development's grassroots motorsports support program.

Greg Gauper highlighted a weekend of outstanding performances from a combined 36 Honda and Acura drivers at the Runoffs, winning the H-Production race on a damp track in his Honda Civic. Rain affected nearly all of Sunday's eight races, and Gauper had established a strong wet-weather setup earlier in the week. He used it to good advantage in the race, moving up from his second-row grid position to take the lead on the third lap and edge out a 3-second margin of victory at the end of the 13-lap (52-mile) event.

"It still hasn't sunk in," Gauper said at the finish. "I really expected I'd be battling for possibly third spot. I didn't think the rain was going to be as much of an advantage [for us]. My stomach was just butterflies [before the start] … ‘am I making the right [tire] choice?' We decided to go out with intermediates on the front and slicks on the back. It was a handful, but it worked out well for me."

In addition to Gauper's victory, five other Honda and Acura drivers recorded top-three finishes at the Runoffs, highlighted by a thrilling, come-from-behind second-place run for 2010 Touring 3 National Champion Chad Gilsinger in his Acura TL-SH AWD,

Starting 15th in a large, 26-car Touring 2 field, Gilsinger's all-wheel-drive package came to the fore during his 10-lap, rain-shortened race. Despite starting on slick BF Goodrich tires, Gilsinger was able to find traction on a damp-but-drying track in the early laps, then really began to move up in the order when rain returned with a vengeance on Lap Seven. With the rain increasing in severity, Gilsinger caught and passed everyone save winner Marty Grand, who started on full rain tires in his four-wheel-drive Mitsubishi.

"We started the race on slicks, and knowing we had all-wheel-drive gave me a little bit more comfort," Gilsinger said. "At the beginning, it was wet enough that I was able to take advantage. Then, it started to dry out and our power-to-weight was not quite there, so we started to move a little backwards. But then, it downpoured and there were puddles everywhere, and that's when it got bad for everyone. You have to work really hard to keep it on the track in those conditions. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see the checkered flag!"

In Touring 3, Chris Puskar led the Honda S2000 effort on a damp-but-drying track with a second-place finish, surviving a quick spin while trying to catch and pass eventual winner Kevin Fandozzi. In addition to scoring his best Runoffs result, Puskar also set fastest race lap and won the "Hard Charger" award for gaining the most positions in the race after starting 11th.

Lee Niffenegger, the 2009 Showroom Stock B champion, repeated his 2010 performance with another second-place run in his Honda Civic Si, a car he borrowed for the Runoffs from Honda of Keene in New Hampshire. Defending GT-Lite Champion Peter Shadowen raced second this year in his Honda CRX-Si; while Rob Coffey was another Honda-powered racer who excelled in Sunday's rain, charging from 28th on the grid to finish a remarkable third in the E-Production race. In addition to his third-place medal, Coffey also won the "Hard Charger" award after the outstanding run in his Honda Prelude Si.

Each year, racers from across the country compete in 70 SCCA national club events to qualify for one last, winner-take-all event in each of 28 classes: the National Championship "Runoffs". Previous Runoffs champions include Bobby Rahal, Skip Barber, Paul Newman and Jimmy Vasser. Other Runoffs competitors through the years have included Michael Andretti, Parker Johnstone, and former Acura American Le Mans Series racer Scott Sharp.

More than 500 drivers participated at this year's Runoffs, the third to be held at the historic, four-mile Road America circuit, located 60 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Thirty-six were Honda and Acura drivers, competing in 11 of the 28 classes.

Launched in July 2009, the Honda Racing Line is a program targeted at licensed participants in sanctioned amateur and entry-level professional racing. The Honda Racing Line was formed to provide its members with a direct connection to Honda Performance Development and its unparalleled record of success at the highest levels of motorsport. Competitors may register for the Honda Racing Line through HondaRacingLine.com.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines.

HPD is the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series and competes in prototype sports-car racing under the HPD banner in the American Le Mans Series, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the European-based Le Mans Series. HPD offers a variety of race engines for track applications from sports prototypes to karting; for amateur and entry-level professional racers.

2011 Honda SCCA National Championship Runoffs Podium Results:
1st H-Production: Greg Gauper, Rana Mort Racing Honda Civic
2nd Touring 2: Chad Gilsinger, Team Honda Research Acura TL-SH AWD
2nd Touring 3: Chris Puskar, Puskar Racing Honda S2000
2nd Showroom Stock B: Lee Niffenegger, Team Honda Research Honda Civic Si
2nd GT-Lite: Peter Shadowen, Road ‘n Racing Honda CRX-Si
3rd E-Production: Robb Coffey, David Hobbs Honda Prelude

Honda Racing: Honda Performance Development Cost-Capped LMP2 Chassis Scores Debut Win at Laguna Seca

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:05:00 -0700

A class-winning, fourth overall finish for the new Honda Performance Development ARX-01g and Level 5 Motorsports last weekend at Laguna Seca Raceway delivered the 2011 American Le Mans Series LMP2 drivers' championships for team owner Scott Tucker and co-driver Christophe Bouchut, and announced HPD's arrival into the new cost-capped era of LMP2 competition with a value-oriented engine/chassis package capable of immediate, race-winning performance.

An evolution of the pace-setting HPD ARX-01d run by the Strakka and RML LMP2 teams in 2011, the HPD ARX-01g is designed specifically to meet the ACO's new cost-capped LMP2 regulations for private entrants. Power for the Level 5 entry comes from the HR28TT, a 2.8-litre twin-turbo V6 created for this year by HPD in partnership with Honda R&D Americas

The ARX-01g is designed as a customer car and the Wisconsin-based Level 5 organization is the privately owned team responsible for the car's impressive debut win in California, its highest overall finish of the season. The HPD prototype hadn't turned a wheel until Wednesday, September 14, and had less than three hours of combined running time before the race start.

"This was a fantastic performance, the best possible start to HPD's expanded participation in the new cost-capped LMP2 era," said Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president. "The result speaks for itself, and is a credit to our engineers at HPD, our partners at Wirth Research and Honda R&D, as well as flawless execution in the race from the drivers and team at Level 5 Motorsports."

With the HPD ARX-01g running like clockwork through all six hours, not a single unscheduled pit stop or issue befell the #055 Microsoft Office 2010-sponsored machine. Bouchut recorded a best lap time of 1:16.867 during his middle stint, only one second slower than the LMP1 race-winning car's quickest time, aptly demonstrating the strength of the HPD chassis/engine package, even in the early stages of its development in the cost-capped configuration.

"This was exactly what we had hoped for," said Level 5 team manager David Stone. "The car ran like a Swiss watch all day. That's really what we wanted to do, so we couldn't have asked for anything more than that. The drivers all did a great job of not putting a scratch on the car, which is good. The Level 5 team put in another stellar effort with such a short time frame in putting a brand-new car together. All of the people from HPD also did a great job. We're looking forward to getting into Petit Le Mans and going for the big one."

"Sometimes it's hard to push the car to the limit, but today, the car was really good," Bouchut said. "Traffic and the track conditions were difficult but I was able to push the car and didn't make any mistakes. We made a lot of improvements on the setup in such a short period of time. The car reacted very well to the changes we made. It's been a wonderful start to this new program. Everybody on the Level 5 team is very happy."

The Level 5 crew now heads to HPD's partner Wirth Research in England to prepare the team's second new HPD ARX-01g for its planned debut at next month's Petit Le Mans, which will close out the 2011 American Le Mans Series season. The 1,000-mile/10-hour race at Road Atlanta will also play host to the penultimate Intercontinental Le Mans Cup round of the year.

Earlier this month, Wirth Research and Honda Performance Development announced a new long-term technical partnership building upon the global successes achieved in recent years - a partnership that has produced numerous class and/or outright victories in all the world's premier sports-car races and championships including the Le Mans 24 Hours and 12 Hours of Sebring.

HPD also recently announced its plans to return to LMP1 competition in the new FIA World Endurance Championship with another chassis evolution, the ARX-03a, powered by a normally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 engine.

HPD will continue its support of the ACO's cost-capped LMP2 formula in 2012, utilizing the existing production-based HR28TT twin-turbocharged V6 engine along with a further update of the HPD ARX cost-capped LMP2 chassis. This update, dubbed the ARX-03b, will include a new monocoque chassis tub, designed by Wirth Research to the latest FIA safety and cost-capped regulations, and accommodating a wider range of drivers with its improved ergonomics.

"Utilizing the HPD line of sports-car products, our teams have already delivered some remarkable results in all of the world's greatest sports-car series and races, including the 12 Hours of Sebring and Le Mans 24 Hours," said Eriksen. "We expect the proven design, development and engineering expertise of HPD and our technical partners to provide our customers further success with our two latest prototype contenders."

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America. Founded in 1993 and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. HPD is the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series and spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2010 American Le Mans Series, 2010 Le Mans Series and the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Honda Racing: Honda Racers Star at NASA National Championships

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:45:00 -0700

The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) National Championship returned to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course September 6-11, with more than 40 Honda and Acura racers in attendance and claiming four class national titles.

An impressive 34-car field took the standing start for the featured Honda Challenge race on Sunday, led by veteran Kevin Helms on the overall and H1 pole in his Honda Civic while Jeremy Croiset headed the H2 field in his Honda CRX.

In H1, Helms and Jonathan Meris were locked in a fierce two-car battle for much of the race, exchanging the lead a total of seven times. Then on Lap 18, both John Schmitt and Luke Wilwert caught the leaders, making it a four-way fight for the championship over the final laps. At the finish, it was Meris just ahead of Helms and Schmitt.

"I have never had a race like that, ever," Meris said at the finish. "Hats off to Kevin Helms and his Honda Works team, he drove a clean race. We respected each other on the track and had a great race."

In the H2 race, Croiset led from the start and pulled out and appeared headed for the victory until slowing with mechanical issues mid-race. Teammate Manny Coats then took over at the front, having earlier passed both Colin Botha and the second-starting Erik Olson. Coats held a three-second lead at the finish, with Botha second and Olson rounding out the top three.

"It was a very hard race," Coats said at the finish. "I started fifth and it was really difficult to get by other cars at the beginning. I saw [teammate] Jeremy [Croiset] start to check out, but then he ended up breaking and it became a three-way battle with me, Erik [Olson] and Colin [Botha]. We were going back-and-forth, and then I think Colin's tires were going [off], and I was able to get by him."

Members of the Honda Racing Line taking part in the Honda Challenge races were eligible for up to $2,500 in contingency awards at Mid-Ohio. In addition, American Honda provided catered trackside hospitality exclusively for Honda/Acura competitors and their crew members. The tent offered a buffet lunch from Thursday, Sept. 8 through Saturday, Sept. 10.

Other Honda winners on the weekend included Brian Shanfeld, who overcame a back-of-the-field start after missing the qualifying races earlier in the week, to win PTD; and Brian Maske, in his fourth appearance at the National Championships, winning his first title in the PTE class and taking the TTE title as well. Maske dedicated the victory to his father, who passed away just two weeks prior to the race.

HPD is the single engine supplier to the IZOD IndyCar Series and competes in prototype sports-car racing under the HPD banner in the American Le Mans Series, Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the European-based Le Mans Series. HPD offers a variety of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; for professional, amateur and entry-level racers.

2011 Honda NASA National Champions:
Honda Challenge 1: Jonathan Meris, Honda Civic
Honda Challenge 2: Manny Coats, Honda CRX
PTD: Brian Shanfeld, Honda Civic
PTE & TTE: Brian Makse, Honda Civic

###

Honda Racing: Indy Japan Race Report

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:04:00 -0700

Circuit: Twin Ring Motegi (2.983-mile road course) Motegi, Tochigi, Japan
2010 Winner:Helio Castroneves (Team Penske Honda) 147.008 mph (1.5-mile oval track)
Weather:Mostly sunny, warm, humid, 88 degrees F

Race Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Engine/Chassis	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1.	1.	Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	63	96.653 mph avg.; led 62
2.	2.	Will Power	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	63	-3.4375 seconds; led 1 lap
3.	10.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	63	-4.4782 seconds
4.	15.	Alex Tagliani	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Honda Dallara	63	-5.5913 seconds
5.	16.	Oriol Servia	Newman Haas Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-6.1621 seconds
6.	14.	Sebastien Bourdais	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-6.6394 seconds
7.	19.	JR Hildebrand-R	Panther Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-8.7436 seconds
8.	9.	Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	63	-9.0690 seconds
9.	20.	Mike Conway	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	63	-9.3816 seconds
10.	11.	Takuma Sato	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	63	-10.1187 seconds
11.	23.	Danica Patrick	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	63	-10.6995 seconds
12.	3.	Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-11.4555 seconds
13.	8.	James Jakes-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-11.6119 seconds
14.	26.	Simona de Silvestro	HVM Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-12.0651 seconds
15.	5.	James Hinchcliffe-R	Newman Haas Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-12.5498 seconds
16.	25.	Giorgio Pantano-R	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-14.4549 seconds
17.	22.	Tony Kanaan	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	63	-15.8407 seconds
18.	21.	Hideki Mutoh	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Honda Dallara	63	-16.3024 seconds
19.	4.	Ana Beatriz-R	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	63	-20.5159 seconds
20.	13.	Ryan Briscoe	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	63	-38.5887 seconds
21.	18.	E.J. Viso	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	63	-99.0777 seconds
22.	6.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	63	Penalized – pass under yellow
23.	7.	Charlie Kimball-R	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	62	Did not finish – off course
24.	17.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	62	Running
25.	24.	Vitor Meira	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	62	Did not finish – off course
26.	12.	Joao Paulo de Oliveira-R	Conquest Racing	Honda Dallara	19	Did not finish – mechanical

R - IndyCar Series Rookie

Dixon Dominates “The Final” at Moteg

In a virtual repeat of his winning performance earlier this year at Mid-Ohio, Scott Dixon dominated Sunday’s Indy Japan “The Final” at the Honda-owned Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan, leading all but one lap on the 2.983-mile road course to score his second IZOD IndyCar Series victory of the season.

Starting from the pole, Dixon quickly established an advantage over the 26-car starting field, with only Team Penske’s Will Power able to keep the leader in sight. Even a late-race caution period, the result of contact between Ryan Hunter-Reay and Sebastien Bourdais, failed to blunt Dixon’s efforts. When the green flag waved for the final time on Lap 61, Dixon quickly edged away from Will Power – his closest challenger all day and the only other driver to lead a lap today – by just over a second per lap to the checkers.

Continuing a six-season tradition of equality and reliability, all 26 Honda-powered drivers completed 10,870 miles this weekend on the Motegi road course without a single failure of the Honda Indy V-8 engine. It now has been more than two years since a Honda in-race engine failure, the last one taking place at Infineon Raceway in 2009.

Finishing second was more than enough for Power to take over the drivers’ championship points lead with two races remaining. Dario Franchitti, the championship leader for much of this season, started ninth but quickly moved up to fifth in the early laps. However, on a Lap 25 restart, Franchitti tapped the right rear wheel of Ryan Briscoe as the pair entered Turn 1, sending Briscoe into third-place Graham Rahal and delaying all three cars.

Franchitti was penalized for unnecessary contact and moved to 23rd, at the rear of the lead-lap field. He then put on a spirited charge for the remainder of the race, setting some of the fastest laps of the day and passing more than a dozen cars to finish eighth. Franchitti now trails Power by 11 points with two races remaining.

With the conclusion of the 14th and final race for Indy cars in Japan, and the final road-race event of 2011, the IZOD IndyCar Series now takes a week off before returning to 1.5-mile oval circuits for the final two races of the season, beginning with the October 2 Kentucky 300 at Kentucky Speedway and followed by the season-ending IZOD IndyCar World Championships Presented by Honda at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Marco Andretti took third for Andretti Autosport, jumping ahead of Oriol Servia in the final stops. Servia attacked Andretti at the late restart, but ended up being shuffled back to fifth behind Sam Schmidt Motorsports driver Alex Tagliani.

IZOD IndyCar Series Championship (after 15 of 17 events):
1. Will Power	542 (6 wins)	6. Ryan Briscoe	340
2. Dario Franchitti	531 points (4 wins)	7. Marco Andretti	327 (1 win)
3. Scott Dixon	483 (2 win)	8. Ryan Hunter-Reay	317 (1 win)
4. Oriol Servia	367	9. Helio Castroneves	302
5. Tony Kanaan	340	Graham Rahal	302

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 1st, finished 1st, his 2nd win of 2011 and 27th career IndyCar victory: “The team gave me a fantastic car today. The pit stops were perfect, too. Everything was flawless and that’s exactly what we needed to win today. It’s all a huge credit to the team. Only the last restart was nerve-racking. Will got a pretty good run at the green and we had to work for it going into the first turn. It was the perfect end to a fantastic weekend.”

Will Power (#12 Team Penske Honda) started 2nd, finished 2nd, takes over the series points lead and claims the Mario Andretti trophy as top IndyCar road racer of 2011: “We had the mindset going into this weekend to NOT think about [championship] points, but instead to just focus on the things we could control: our own car and race. We did that and had a very good day as a result. But there are still two races to go. I love the 1.5-mile ovals, but there’s no doubt that [Dario] Franchitti is strong on them as well. It looks like [the championship’s] going down to the wire once again.”

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race: “Congratulations to Scott Dixon and Target Chip Ganassi Racing. It looks like Scott has developed into a dominating force at Honda-affiliated tracks like Mid-Ohio and Motegi. It was great to see such a large and enthusiastic crowd here today, despite the heat. It’s unfortunate that the series won’t be returning here in the near future. Meanwhile, the fight for the championship has taken an interesting turn, with Will Power having another great weekend and Dario now the challenger rather than the leader. We’re looking forward to a dramatic finish to the season.”

Honda Racing: Baltimore Grand Prix Race Report

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:03:00 -0700

Circuit: Oriole Park at Camden Yards (2.04-mile temporary street circuit) Baltimore, MD
2010 Winner:N/A (inaugural event)
Weather:Mostly sunny, warm, humid, 87 degrees F

Race Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Engine/Chassis	Laps	Average Speed/Notes
1.	1.	Will Power	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	75	Mostly sunny, warm, humid, 87 degrees F
2.	16.	Oriol Servia	Newman Haas Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-10.2096 seconds
3.	11.	Tony Kanaan	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	75	-10.8557 seconds
4.	4.	Dario Franchitti	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	75	-11.0831 seconds; led 2 laps
5.	10.	Scott Dixon	Target Chip Ganassi	Honda Dallara	75	-11.5032 seconds
6.	25.	Danica Patrick	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	75	-18.5661 seconds
7.	21.	Alex Tagliani	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Honda Dallara	75	-18.5671 seconds
8.	6.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	75	-18.9269 seconds; led 1 lap
9.	14.	Vitor Meira	A.J. Foyt Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-22.3096 seconds
10.	2.	Graham Rahal	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-22.6977 seconds
11.	20.	Martin Plowman-R	Sam Schmidt Motorsports	Honda Dallara	75	-23.7405 seconds
12.	12.	Simona de Silvestro	HVM Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-24.7568 seconds; led 1 lap
13.	26.	Sebastian Saavedra-R	Conquest Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-29.6042 seconds
14.	3.	Ryan Briscoe	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	75	-30.9855 seconds; led 1 lap
15.	9.	E.J. Viso	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	75	-50.6756 seconds
16.	22.	Ana Beatriz-R	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	75	-60.5667 seconds
17.	7.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Honda Dallara	74	Running
18.	28.	Takuma Sato	KV Racing Technology	Honda Dallara	73	Did not finish – crash
19.	19.	JR Hildebrand-R	Panther Racing	Honda Dallara	73	Did not finish – crash
20.	27.	Ed Carpenter	Sarah Fisher Racing	Honda Dallara	73	Running
21.	18.	Charlie Kimball-R	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda Dallara	73	Running
22.	24.	Tomas Scheckter	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	71	Running
23.	8.	Mike Conway	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	64	Did not finish – exhaust
24.	17.	James Hinchcliffe-R	Newman Haas Racing	Honda Dallara	54	Did not finish – suspension
25.	23.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda Dallara	40	Did not finish – oil line
26.	15.	Giorgio Pantano-R	Dreyer & Reinbold Racing	Honda Dallara	39	Did not finish – contact
27.	13.	James Jakes-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	37	Did not finish – contact
28.	5.	Sebastien Bourdais	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda Dallara	9	Did not finish – electrical

R - IndyCar Series Rookie

Power Perfect in Inaugural Baltimore Run

It was another maximum effort that garnered maximum results for Team Penske's Will Power, as the Australian dominated the inaugural Grand Prix of Baltimore, scoring a series-leading sixth IZOD IndyCar Series victory Sunday at the new temporary street circuit adjacent to Oriol Park at Camden Yards.

In tandem with the victory, qualifying on the pole and leading the most laps earned Power 53 championship points, the maximum available, as he closed to within five points of championship leader Dario Franchitti, who finished fourth for Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Three races remain in the season.

Continuing a six-season tradition of equality and reliability, all 28 Honda-powered drivers completed 7,478 miles this weekend on the punishing streets of Baltimore without a single failure of the Honda Indy V-8 engine. It now has been more than two years since a Honda in-race engine failure, the last one taking place at Infineon Raceway in 2009.

At the start, Power fought off a determined challenge from the second-starting Graham Rahal, who briefly took the lead in the first corner. But after reclaiming the advantage in Turn 3, Power was in control for the rest of the 75-lap run, turning over the lead only during routine pit stops on the way to a 10-second victory over Oriol Servia.

Adjacent to the home of the Baltimore Orioles, the similarly-named Servia and his Newman Haas Racing team used an alternate pit strategy – stopping early to change to the faster "Red" alternate tires and then saving fuel to make the race distance – to gain track position early in the event. Once in the lead pack, Servia demonstrated great race pace that kept him ahead of a tight pack that included Tony Kanaan, Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Takuma Sato.

Using a strategy similar to Servia, Kanaan recovered from his airborne crash during the morning warm-up that forced him to start from a backup Honda-powered Dallara at the rear of the 28-car starting field. His third-place finish equals his best result of the season, scored at the St. Petersburg opener.

After back-to-back events on the opposite sides of the United States, the IZOD IndyCar Series now takes a week off before heading overseas for the second and final time of 2011 season, for the September 18 Japan Indy 300 at Honda's own Twin Ring Motegi Circuit, north of Tokyo.

IZOD IndyCar Series Championship (after 14 of 17 events):
1. Dario Franchitti	507 points (4 wins)	6. Ryan Briscoe	328
2. Will Power	502 (6 wins)	7. Ryan Hunter-Reay	305 (1 win)
3. Scott Dixon	430 (1 win)	8. Marco Andretti	292 (1 win)
4. Oriol Servia	367	9. Helio Castroneves	290
5. Tony Kanaan	340	10. Graham Rahal	284

Will Power (#12 Team Penske Honda) started 1st, finished 1st, series-leading 6th win of 2011 and 15th career victory: "That feels like one of my best wins. I've never driven so hard in my life. I gave it absolutely every thing I had, from start to finish, and I'm exhausted. It was a 'championship run', and I believe one of the best races I have ever driven. And Baltimore is awesome. It was an unbelievable crowd and an atmosphere unlike anything I've experienced outside of Surfers Paradise [Australia]."

Tony Kanaan (#82 KV Racing Technology Honda) started 27th, finished 3rd in a backup car after destroying his primary car in a morning warmup crash: "What a fantastic effort from the entire team after our trouble this morning [when brake failure led to his crash]. We had a great race pace in our backup car, and to finish strong at [sponsor] Geico's 'home track' was very, very important. This is an awesome track and a great event. We want to race where people come out to watch us and for a first event, this was a huge success."

Oriol Servia (#2 Newman Haas Racing Honda) started 11th, finished 2nd, his second 2nd-place finish in the last three races: "[Will] Power was just too 'powerful' today; he had everyone covered. But this is a great result for us today. We're fourth in [championship] points and fighting for the podium at every race, and there's more to come. I crashed in qualifying [Saturday], but we never gave up. The car was very good and the strategy was even better. The pit strategy was perfect today and I knew if I didn't make any mistakes, the podium was ours."

Erik Berkman (President, Honda Performance Development) on today's race: "Congratulations to Will and the Penske organization. It was a great race, a dominating performance and very impressive to watch. Our inaugural event in Baltimore seems to have been a winner. It's a wonderful city, the fans are great and we look forward to coming back. The championship has tightened further, and we're looking forward to a dramatic finish to the season."