Posted on 05/26/2006 8:05:32 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot
INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Robert Clarke, the president of Honda Performance Development, can't help but consider the irony of Honda's circuitous route to supplying every car in the starting field for the 90th Indianapolis 500.
Clarke remembers that difficult initial experience in 1994, when Honda was new to IndyCar racing and arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Team Rahal.
It was obvious from the start that the new engine company wasn't up to speed and Bobby Rahal was in danger of missing the race for the second year in a row. Rahal made the difficult decision to abandon the engine at Indy in the second week of qualifications and made the field in another brand.
But Honda would return the following year, started on the outside of the front row with Scott Goodyear and nearly won the race.
Honda returned to the Indianapolis 500 in 2003, but it was Toyota-powered Gil de Ferran that drove into victory lane that day, giving team owner Roger Penske a record 13th Indy 500 win.
Buddy Rice gave Honda its first Indy 500 winner in 2004 in an ironic twist Rahal was his team owner. Dan Wheldon gave Honda its second Indy win last year as it had become the dominant engine in the sport.
"We've gone the whole spectrum," Clarke said. "We were the first Japanese make there, we failed to qualify, were laughed out and now we own the entire starting field. We've gone full circle."
Honda is now the sole supplier to the Indy Racing League and as many fans of the 500 arrive early enough to see the sun rise over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"It is big," Clarke said. "As far as Honda goes, clearly we understand and appreciate what that event means. It was a key part of our decision to be here and to support the entire field. It's pretty cool to have a Honda engine in all 33 cars. The satisfaction of meeting that challenge remains."
The Indianapolis 500 has always cast a magical name to racing enthusiasts in Japan. It's the epic, bigger-than-life event that lures many a visitor from the Far East to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year.
In the 1990s, Honda decided to build an oval race track Twin Ring Motegi. Just outside the gates to that facility is the Honda Museum, which proudly exhibits several cars that have raced in the Indianapolis 500.
Clarke's interest in the Indy 500 grew at an early age. He was the son of a Navy fighter pilot and when he grew up in Coronado, California his father took him to an SCCA race when he was 8 years old.
"I was hooked from that weekend," Clarke said.
He would attended graduate school at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and the industrial design student got a chance to attend his first Indy 500 in 1974.
"My wife and I went on pole day and then we came back for the race," Clarke said. "I was in awe. The speed of the cars was something I had never experienced before. That's what I recall the most was the speed."
His first job in racing was with Honda in 1980 and he ultimately became the president of Honda Performance Development.
Honda is now a partner in the IRL. It's betting that the series will grow and wants to remain a key player.
"A great deal of time and energy has been pointed at our new engine program, and we feel this type of program is perfect for us at this point in our history," said IRL president and chief operating officer Brian Barnhart. "Just a few short years ago we welcomed an expanded roster of manufacturers to the series, and that helped us achieve some goals that we had set at that time.
"In this era of value, a single-engine program will allow better cost containment and put us in a position to attract expanded teams or new teams to our series."
There are a mix of rewards and challenges that come with being the only engine in the series.
"The benefits are we win every race," Clarke said.
There are plenty of challenges, though, mostly ensuring a supply of engines for the entire field. In a little over four months since announcing it would make all the engines, HPD has had to make sure there are enough parts available to rebuild the engines as well as increase the staff for trackside support.
"It was a major project within the very limited time that we had," Clarke said. "But I feel we have crested the hill and we're on the downhill slope of that now. Getting ready was the big job."
Defending Indy 500 winner and defending IRL champion Wheldon admitted Honda was a major factor in his championship run, but the whole series should prosper now that all teams have equal engines
His former teammate at AGR, Dario Franchitti, said the challenge remains the same to beat the other guy.
"I think first of all Honda should be applauded for what they've done in stepping up and supplying the whole series," Franchitti said. "I've enjoyed a long relationship with them. This is my ninth season with Honda. You have to do your talking on the track.
"There's going to be no favorites from Honda. They've made that very clear."
Shouldn't the correct title be "Every car in Indianapolis 500 a Honda"?
What ever happened to the Chevroreys?
Fuzzy dice doesnt do well at 225mph
Hmm, I guess there are a LOT of Hondas .....
Honda is the only serious engine company in the world.
I am an avid of flat track Motorcycle racing. Harley davidson ownd the tracks a few uears back. They were the only manufacturer in the running. Then along came Honda.
They started a program to win, they hired the best riders, including Bubba Shobert and Ricky Graham, and before long they were kicking Harley's butt.
Then they must have gotten bored with their winning, they stopped making the engine and parts and now only a few Honda's are left, and I understand they have to make their own parts to keep them in the race.
Harley decided to do what Honda did in the big Formula road races, they got an Engine designed by Porsche and hired great riders, but they never amounted to much in the big leagues of motorcycle road racing. The japanese can do great things when they want to, I hope the American manufacturers decide to spend more and get into the race, Its an atrocity that Honda supplies all of the Engines in a major race like Indy.
Does the pace car have a Honda engine also?
The first phrase has nothing to do with the second and I like cats.
Seriously, does this mean that every team in the Indy Racing League has chosen Honda engines because they are technically superior to every other company's engines or did they get an exclusive contract where everyone has to use their engines even if they want to use some other engine?
Good God - it's the lesbianmobile.
Ford has every car in Champ Car. So what's your point?
Was it Sheila Jackson Lee who famously said she had changed her mind by "doing a 360 on that"?
Going around a circle gets you back to where you started. That's not what he's trying to say. English is a tool. Learn to use it well.
Open track practice in the morning before the Time trials and then the trials lasted until 6PM local time.
The race itself is over in less time than a NFL or MLB game.
Ain't that the truth. The fugliest car I've ever seen.
The Axtec sreams designed by committee.
It's been 12 years since Scott Goodyear squeaked his way into the field in a Honda? Dang.
So where do i enter my Accord? Shoot, best seats to this race would be on the track. Varoom.........lol!
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