[DeTomaso] NPC 2014 Indy engines

[Larry - Ohio Time Corp]

INDYCAR has announced that all engines for the IZOD IndyCar Series from 2014
forward will be equipped with twin Borg-Warner turbochargers. After Lotus
dropped out of competition due to a problem-filled 2012, returning engine
manufacturer Chevrolet squared dual superchargers against Honda's single,
and dominated the season. Next year should show better performance and a
more level playing field.

IndyCar engines represent remarkable feats of engineering and experience.
These 2.2 liter (135.25 cu in) turbocharged V6 engines weighing a mere 114
kg (250 lbs) might be an appropriate size for pushing along a mid-sized
sedan, but pump out about 650 horsepower at up to 12,000 rpm. A combination
of direct and indirect fuel injection allows these tiny engines to swallow
the enormous amount of fuel needed to achieve such power.

Normal turbo boost is 21.75 psi for these mini-brutes, with a passing option
allowing a temporary (15 to 20 seconds, depending on the track) increase to
23.2 psi. Ten such boosts are allowed during a race, after which the
capability is self-terminated. It isn't yet clear how much advantage the
extra boost will deliver to these E85 powered thoroughbreds, but time will
tell.

 

For most of the last decade, Honda has been providing the only IndyCar
racing engine in the world, which automatically removed engine performance
as a factor in these races. In 2012, Chevrolet reentered the game as a
second source of IndyCar engines, however, it decided to use a dual turbo
rather than Honda's single turbo. Both options fit within the rules and,
while not a walkaway win, the Chevy engine took a clear first in 2012 and is
on track for a repeat this year.

 

In response to the slightly imbalanced versions of the IndyCar 2.2 liter
engines, the INDYCAR Engine Committee, in coordination with Honda and
Chevrolet who are preparing to update their engines, has decided that only
engines with dual turbochargers will be allowed starts for the 2014 season.
As Borg-Warner supplies all the turbochargers for INDYCAR, this, together
with the rules limiting boost, will help insure that the drivers are tested
more strongly than their racecars during a race.

"In an effort for parity throughout the turbocharger range, mandating only a
twin turbo system simplifies our efforts to ensure even closer competition,"
INDYCAR president of competition and operations Derrick Walker said. "Both
manufacturers displayed a willingness to use a common turbo spec for 2014,
so it made sense to mandate a twin turbocharger that maintains the
performance we've come to expect while keeping the technology relevant to
the automotive industry."