Rahal and Carpenter teams add to 2012 IndyCar car count
“We’ve ordered two cars and we’re going forward with the plan of competing fulltime with the possibility of a third car at Indianapolis," said Rahal, who partners with David Letterman and Mike Lanigan.
“I can’t gut my BMW team (that runs a factory GT program for the German manufacturer in the ALMS) so right now I’m looking for people and I’m talking with several drivers. We’re pretty close on several sponsors and Dave and Mike are pumped up and so am I."
Bertrand Baguette damn near stole this year’s Indy 500 for Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan (“we came within two laps," said Rahal) before making a late stop for fuel.
“We’ve had good runs with Graham (Rahal) and Oriol (Servia) as well and I still feel like we’re capable of fielding competitive cars," said the three-time CART champion.
“We’ll still use our shop in Columbus (Ohio) and there’s a strong chance we’ll have a satellite shop in Indianapolis for the season."
Rahal didn’t disclose his engine choice but he gave Honda its initial Indy win with Rice and was Honda’s original CART team in 1994.
Carpenter, who scored a popular victory at Kentucky last month for Sarah Fisher Racing, is poised to announce a team that will be sponsored by Fuzzy’s Vodka.
It’s uncertain whether it will be the return of Tony George’s Vision Racing or the moniker will be Ed Carpenter Racing but a press statement is forthcoming. Speedtv.com
AR1.com updated IRL engine count.
|
Team |
No. Cars | Chevy | Honda | Lotus | Notes |
| AJ Foyt Racing | 1 or 2 Car team | – | 1 | – | Has ordered 2 cars |
| Andretti Green Racing | 3-Car Team | 3 | – | – | 2 or 3 cars, Chevy Confirmed |
| Bryan Herta Autosport | 1-car team | – | 1 | – | Assumed Honda (or Lotus) |
| Conquest Racing | 1-car team | – | – | 1 | Lotus. Maybe a 2nd car |
| Dale Coyne Racing | 2-car team | – | 2 | – | Will run Chevy or Honda |
| Dragon Racing | 1-car team | – | – | 1 | Assumed Lotus |
| Dreyer & Reinbold Racing | 2-car team | – | – | 2 | Lotus fairly certain |
| Ed Carpenter Racing | 1-car team | – | – | 1 | Lotus assumed |
| Sam Schmidt Motorsports | 2-car team | – | 2 | – | 100% Sure |
| HVM Racing | 1-car team | – | – | 1 | Lotus |
| KV Racing Technology | 3 car team | 3 | – | – | Chevy Confirmed |
| Michael Shank Racing | 1 car team | – | – | 1 | Have ordered new Dallara |
| Newman/Haas Racing | 2-car team | – | 2 | – | Confirmed |
| Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing | 2-car team | – | 2 | – | Honda Confirmed |
| Panther Racing | 1 or 2-car team | 2 | – | – | Chevy Confirmed on 10/7/11 |
| Rahal Letterman Lanigan | 2-car team | – | – | 2 | Lotus Assumed (or Honda) |
| Target Chip Ganassi Racing | 2-car team | – | 2 | – | Honda Confirmed |
| Team Penske | 3 car team | 3 | – | – | Chevy Confirmed |
| – |
Totals |
11 | 12 | 9 | 32-Cars possible |
Honda: Single Turbo
Chevy and Lotus: Dual Turbos