Honda Indycar Message Points For Texas Motor Speedway
June 6, 2013 by SuzukiENGINE MANUFACTURER COMPETITION ◾The twin IZOD IndyCar Series victories for Honda last weekend in Detroit were the 198th and 199th wins for the manufacturer since it began Indy car competition in 1994. This total includes both seasons of manufacturer competition and the six-year period (2006-2011) when Honda supplied engines to the full IndyCar Series field. ◾Simon Pagenaud's inaugural IndyCar win in Sunday's IndyCar Dual at Detroit was Honda's 100th victory against competition from other manufacturers. Honda-powered drivers have won three times this season, including two podium sweeps of the top-three finishing positions. ◾Race victories have been recorded by Takuma Sato for A.J. Foyt Racing at Long Beach, Mike Conway with Dale Coyne Racing in the first of Detroit's two races, and Pagenaud of Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports in the Sunday finale. ◾Honda drivers swept the victory podium at Long Beach (finishing 1-4 were Sato, Graham Rahal, Justin Wilson and Dario Franchitti, respectively); and at Sunday's Detroit 'Dual' (a 1-5 result with Pagenaud, James Jakes, second; Conway, third; Scott Dixon, fourth and Franchitti fifth). Honda drivers have scored 10 podium finishes in seven races this season. ◾The IZOD IndyCar Series returns to oval-track competition this weekend, with Saturday's Firestone 550K at Texas Motor Speedway. In 2012, Justin Wilson led the final 11 laps to win for Dale Coyne Racing, while Graham Rahal led 27 laps and finished second after brushing the wall in the closing laps. ◾The 2013 season marks the second season of manufacturer competition in the IZOD IndyCar Series after six years of Honda serving as single engine supplier. Chevrolet and Honda are battling for supremacy throughout a season of 19 races. ◾On Wednesday, June 5, Honda announced that Pagenaud will drive a race-prepared Honda Odyssey at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb later this month, part of a record 11-vehicle Honda effort taking part in the annual 'Race to the Clouds'. Built by Honda associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, the Odyssey features a turbocharged, intercooled V6 engine producing more than 500 hp, a full roll cage and race-tuned suspension and brakes. MARKETING
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◾Detroit victor Pagenaud and his Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammate, IndyCar rookie Tristan Vautier, are being featured in 'Inside the Indy Challenge', a series of nine documentary-style webcast videos featuring Honda and the Schmidt team. The first video in the series debuted in April on www.insidetheindychallenge.com and a variety of social media channels, including Tumblr, YouTube, Ustream, Facebook and Twitter. ◾Filmmakers were embedded with the team for three race weekends – the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Sao Paulo, Brazil and the Indianapolis 500 – to provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Honda's IndyCar racing program. HONDA PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT 20TH ANNIVERSARY ◾In April 1993, Honda Performance Development was founded in Santa Clarita, California as the competition arm of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. HPD is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013 with a variety of events and activities. ◾In 20 years, HPD has grown from just a handful of staffers to approximately 150 associates; and from an engine-rebuilding facility to a complete motorsports Research & Development organization, engaged in programs ranging from pinnacle racing series including the IZOD IndyCar Series, FIA World Endurance Championship and American Le Mans Series; to grassroots and entry-level categories including karting, Quarter Midgets and Formula F competition. ◾Drivers and teams using HPD products have won 199 Indy car races and nine Indianapolis 500s, both in years with multi-manufacturer competition (2004-05, 2012); and as single engine supplier to the IndyCar Series from 2006-2011. ◾In years of multi-manufacturer competition, Honda has claimed six Manufacturers' Championships in Indy car racing; and Honda-powered drivers have won eight drivers' championships. No other manufacturer has won as many titles in the past 20 years. ◾ ◾HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009, 2010 and 2012 American Le Mans Series; the 2010 Le Mans Series; and powered the LMP2-winning team at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 2010 and 2012. Last year, the Florida-based Starworks team became the first American team to win an FIA World Championship since 1969, claiming LMP2 honors in the 2012 World Endurance Championship using an HPD ARX-03b chassis and Honda HR28TT V6 engine, prepared and developed by HPD. ◾On May 23, HPD announced a comprehensive motorsports partnership program between Honda and the United States Auto Club USAC. Honda K24 engines will become the new spec power plant for the USAC Ignite Midget Series. Honda will become title sponsor of the USAC National Midget Series, where a variety of competitors already use Honda K- and F-series engines supplied by HPD, and the official vehicle of USAC. Honda GX-series engines also remain a popular choice for USAC .25 Midget competition.