Cosworth working to become IndyCar engine supplier

Cosworth had much success in CART doing a turbocharged engine for Ford that won many races. No other engine manufacturer is better suited to give Honda a run for their money in IndyCar

Word in the IndyCar paddock is that Cosworth has already done a fair amount of research on both an inline 4-cylinder engine and a V-6 configuration to be able to field an IndyCar engine by 2012. Word is that both Cosworth and the IRL are actively working to find a manufacturer who will pay the $4M to $6M required for Cosworth design, build and test an engine capable of competing against Honda which have already committed to a V-6 engine. Cosworth are keeping their options open to a 4 or 6 cylinder configuration depending on which works best for the car manufacturer and their marketing strategy to sell passenger cars.

Rumored manufacturers that could possibly badge a Cosworth engine are Mazda and Lotus, both of whom have a history with Cosworth. Lotus and Cosworth were once unbeatable in F1 in the early 60s starting with the Lotus 25 at the hands of Jim Clark. Cosworth did the engine for Mazda in the Atlantic Series. Both companies have ties to IndyCar – Mazda in the Road to Indy feeder series and Lotus on the KV Racing car.

However, Cosworth will do an engine for whichever car manufacturer steps forward, and that could be any one of dozens of companies who sell cars and can be convinced that IndyCar is finally on the right track to prosperity. That is the key because a car manufacturer is not going to make the investment to do an IndyCar engine only to see the series fail. And that issue is probably IndyCar's biggest hurdle as it makes its pitch to manufacturers worldwide.