IndyCars to go Italian? IRL in talks with Alfa Romeo
IndyCar teams and fans have grown accustomed to the proliferation of Italian racing car chassis as Dallara has been supplying them for the past eleven seasons, now all but exclusively. But with Honda's engine supply contract coming to a close, series organizers have been discussing new powertrain options with a number of manufacturers. Among them is Alfa Romeo, the Italian automaker widely anticipated to make a return to the North American market in the near future.
This wouldn't be the first time Alfa Romeo has provided motivation for the largely American racing series, having participated in the late 80's and early 90's with a project adopted from Ferrari. However, despite the company's deep racing heritage, Alfa Romeo does not currently compete in any major form of motorsport since the N.Technology team stopped campaigning race-prepped 156 Super Turismos in the World Touring Car Championship. The responsibility for developing the IndyCar engines – 3.5-liter V8s under the current regulations, tipped to be replaced by turbocharged fours – would presumably fall to Fiat Powertrain Technologies, headed by Paolo Martinelli, formerly head of Scuderia Ferrari's engine program. Nothing's certain, however, since IRL organizers are also rumored to be discussing a renewal with Honda as well as with Audi, Porsche and an undisclosed fifth automaker.
[Source: Italiaspeed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shiftright 6:05PM (10/19/2008)
This would be not only a great way for Alfa to return to its rich heritage in motorsports but also a way to signal its commitment to the North American market. It would be a nice follow up to the 8C's introduction on these shores as a way of reestablishing what Alfa stands for. God knows they've made some truly fantastic racing engines as well as cars in the past. Here's hoping...
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Henry 6:09PM (10/19/2008)
Just as long as they don't sound like the current crapwagon engines. It would be nice to see something other than a spec series but I can't imagine that being in the cards in the near future.
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Rick 6:42PM (10/19/2008)
It's an Alfa, the sound should be just short of glorious.
JayP 6:43PM (10/19/2008)
Audi at Indy?
Insert your own joke here.
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Richard 6:46PM (10/19/2008)
This makes perfect sense! Alfa comes back to the USA, F1 becomes a spec. engine series (believe me, that's about to happen) and Fiat (Alfa and Ferrari) provide all the design and manufacturing.
Brilliant!
Forza Ferrari!
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AZZO45b 1:49PM (10/20/2008)
The last Alfa Romeo IndyCar engine program (in the early 90's) was also based on a Ferrari concept....
... & it bombed big time (no pun intended). It was so bad that Pat Patrick even sent one of his Ilmor Chevy power plants for Alfa to copy. The results were still bad
Kitko 7:43PM (10/19/2008)
Ehm, as Alfa is fully owned by Fiat, which is a full time parent of Ferrari, we're talking about Ferrari engines for IRL. I believe FIAT have zillion reasons not to get into Indy under Ferrari name.
Note: Current F1 engines are 2.4 liter V8 (cca 750 hp, 19,000 rpm maximum), normally aspirated.
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Ian 9:07PM (10/19/2008)
The politically correct unification name is Indycar now.
Indycar people need manufacturers not only to make engines but to financially suppport races and teams etc. It's difficult to see the return for Alfa Romeom unless they envisage a mjor return to NA and I don't see that.
Audi makes sense as would the VW name as would Porsche. Oops they are all the same group these days.... Don't see Toyota coming back. This leaves perhaps Hyundai...they should rebadge a Cossie. The latter though dropped out of talks with Indycar. Meantime GM and Ford are busy elsewhere.
But with a 10 year TV package on Versus interest may be muted.
In truth the 2007 Cossie 2.65 Turbo V8 would have been better than the current Honda engine.
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Henry 10:53AM (10/20/2008)
Bollocks, they're called crapwagons.
Cardude 10:04PM (10/19/2008)
Come on back Alfa!
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Elux Troxl 8:32AM (10/20/2008)
Good news for the tow truck industry.
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Coop 3:23PM (10/20/2008)
Wow, way to break this story a month and a half late. Bravo.
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