Toyota Retires From the IRL
First it was Chevrolet, now it’s Toyota bowing out of the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis 500.
Toyota has announced that it will not supply engines to any open-wheel racing organization in the U.S. after the 2006 season, a statement similar to one issued earlier by Chevrolet.
“This was simply a decision to move in a different direction after having our major U.S. motorsports emphasis on open-wheel racing since 1994,†said J. Davis Illingworth, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Sales in the U.S. “Just as our participation in IMSA sports car racing ran its course after 12 years of participation, so has our U.S. open-wheel racing program after 12 years in the IRL and CART.â€
Toyota’s announcement had been expected as the company continued to concentrate on its NASCAR program with the Craftsman Truck series and its potential entry into Busch and Nextel Cup competition.
Asked whether this meant that Toyota was prepared to expand its NASCAR program immediately, Jim Aust, vice president of motorsports for Costa Mesa-based Toyota Racing Development, said, “We are continuing to explore our options in NASCAR, however, at the present time our continued focus is on the Craftsman Truck series.â€
This leaves Honda as potentially the only engine builder involved with the IRL in 2007, a situation the Japanese manufacturer does not relish.
“Obviously we are disappointed to learn of Toyota’s decision,†said Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development in Santa Clarita. “Coupled with Chevrolet’s previously announced decision to leave the IRL, this puts Honda and the IRL in a difficult position. From the very beginning of Honda’s IRL program, one of the attractions of this series for us was the opportunity to compete on the track against other major automobile manufacturers.
“We remain committed to the IRL and Indy Car racing through the 2006 season, but we will need some time to evaluate the effects of Toyota’s announcement. “
Toyota and Honda, once the powers of CART, pulled out of the series now known as Champ Cars in 2003 to become part of the rival IRL. It was a move heralded by Tony George, owner of the IRL, but it eventually caused Chevrolet to announce it was getting out because of the escalating cost of keeping pace with the two Japanese manufacturers.
Champ Cars is now a spec engine series with all cars using a Ford-Cosworth powerplant. The series is assured stability because Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe, two of the three co-owners of Champ Cars, purchased the company from Ford in December.
Toyota has 10 cars in the IRL series, and Aust said the company would honor all its commitments through the 2006 season, when its contract expires. Honda’s contract also is up after 2006.
“It is not a situation where we are displeased with the IRL, and we wish them only good things for the future,†said Les Unger, Toyota national motorsports manager. “Our U.S. participation in open-wheel racing had simply run its course after 12 years.
“This really wasn’t a decision about the IRL. Like all racing series, the IRL has pluses and minuses. The Indianapolis 500 is still the greatest spectacle in racing, and the series continues to feature extremely competitive side-by-side racing. We expect the series to grow in the future.â€
Drivers affected include Penske Racing’s Helio Castroneves, winner of Saturday night’s race in Richmond, Va., and Sam Hornish Jr.; Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon, Darren Manning and Ryan Briscoe; Cheever Racing’s Alex Barron and Patrick Carpentier; Hemelgarn Racing’s Jimmy Kite; Foyt Racing’s A.J. Foyt IV; and Vision Racing’s Ed Carpenter. Vision Racing is owned by the IRL’s George.
IRL’s engine specs for 2007 are not expected to be announced for another month, mainly because the IRL is talking with other manufacturers about the possibility of joining the series.
“We are holding off potential new engine package announcements to get feedback from potential new suppliers,†said John Griffin, IRL vice president. “We expect only minor adjustments aimed at reducing the cost of engine maintenance and research and development. The current regulations will be in effect through 2006.â€
There also has been speculation that General Motors might reconsider and remain with the series. That was fueled by Tomas Scheckter’s win two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway in a Chevrolet-powered car.
Unger also left the door open for a Toyota reconsideration when he said, “It’s not something that will happen in the short term, but you never say never in this business.â€
After switching from CART to the IRL in 2003, Toyota enjoyed immediate success when Dixon won the season opener at Homestead, Fla.; Gil de Ferran won the Indianapolis 500, and Toyota won the manufacturer’s championship.
In seven races this year, Toyota has two wins, Hornish at Phoenix and Castroneves last week.
