Honda Tag

The partnership that has claimed five Indianapolis 500 victories will remain intact as Andretti Autosport announced today that the team will return to Verizon IndyCar Series competition in 2018 with Honda-powered machines as part of a multi-year agreement. “It’s no secret that we’ve been weighing this decision for a while now,” said Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti. “We’ve had strong relationships and have marked milestones with both manufacturers, but we’re pleased to continue our Honda partnership. We have a great history of success with Honda and I have no doubtRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Cyril Abiteboul, the managing director of Renault Formula One Team, confirmed at Friday’s FIA press conference that the French manufacturer has talked with McLaren about a potential engine supply deal for the 2018 season. Renault, which currently supplies for its factory team and both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, appears to be McLaren’s last hope for a different power unit should it elect to terminate their relationship with Honda. For McLaren, the frustrations have grown as their three-year relationship with the Japanese manufacturer has failedRead More

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports (SPM) has announced Sebastian Saavedra as the driver of the No. 7 Honda for the next two Verizon IndyCar Series races. The Colombian will join teammate James Hinchcliffe at Pocono Raceway and Gateway Motorsports Park. The event at Pocono will mark the 27-year-old’s 64th career IndyCar start and third at the Tricky Triangle. Saavedra will once again be paired with race engineer Blair Perschbacher with whom he has won previously in the Indy Lights Championship. “I am very excited to be back with the SPM organization,” Saavedra commented.Read More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor IndyCar continued its round of tests for the new 2018 universal aerokit at Iowa Speedway this week where test drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Oriol Servia experimented with the Road Course/Short Oval spec car on the 0.894 mile oval. The veteran duo completed 270 laps as they sampled the new kit in various trims to determine a base line set up for next year’s race, where they added and then took downforce off of the cars to find the elusive sweet spot. Like the previous testsRead More

By INDYCAR LEXINGTON, Ohio – One thing is certain following another successful test of the new Verizon IndyCar Series universal aero kit: Any misconception of drivers not earning their keep in the cockpit will be put to rest in 2018. The new aero kit – developed by chassis supplier Dallara and set to be used by all competitors next season following three years of manufacturer aero kit competition between Chevrolet and Honda – was put through the paces in the road course/street course/short oval configuration for the first time todayRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Honda and Sauber have mutually agreed to put an end to a potential deal that would have seen the Japanese manufacturer supply the longtime Formula 1 team with engines in 2018. The interest for a new engine supplier came from Sauber’s former team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn, and was being discussed with Honda motorsport’s general manager, Masashi Yamamoto. However, Kaltenborn’s departure in June prior to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix put the situation in flux until the Hinwill-based squad put their faith in replacement and former Renault teamRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The wait is over. After months of teasing fans with renderings of the universal aero kit that is set to run for the 2018 season, INDYCAR has released images of the actual car. Dallara takes over as the sole builder, taking the reins from the recent manufacturer-purposed kit by Chevrolet and Honda which was started in 2015. INDYCAR will conduct its first test with the superspeedway package on Tuesday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Juan Pablo Montoya and Oriol Servia. Other test dates are listed asRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor With the rumors swirling around McLaren-Honda like vultures, Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg has gone on record saying he would welcome Fernando Alonso back to Renault should the two-time World Champ leave McLaren at season’s end. Speaking to Speed Week ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, the German driver was very excited at the possibility of Alonso considering a Renault return. “I think it would be great,” said Hulkenberg. “It would be great not only for the whole team, but for me as well to compete with one ofRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief There is a lot of debate on Fernando Alonso’s future in Formula One, but he remains content on not making any decision until later this year. The 35-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a solid outing in the Verizon IndyCar Series for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 under a McLaren-Honda Andretti entry, leading 27 laps before falling victim to an engine failure and finishing 24th. However, he did manage to win Rookie of the Year honors for the event and hasn’t ruled out a potential return. SpeakingRead More

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor After an incredible rookie performance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this May, two time F1 Champion Fernando Alonso’s Indy 500 and Triple Crown dream ground to a halt with a late race engine failure this afternoon. Alonso led the race multiple times, for 27 laps, and had the highest average speed before his Honda engine let go as he was running in seventh place with 21 laps to go. He immediately pulled off and was greeted by a standing ovation from the 300,000 strong crowd when heRead More