IndyCar trying to entice F1 manufacturers?
Bernard is rumored to be a guest of none other than Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali and, what's more, since taking over IndyCar's driving seat in March last year, he has had meetings with every F1 team principal as well as the sport's boss Bernie Ecclestone. Although Bernard has never visited an F1 race before, his series has been the subject of much discussion in the sport this year.
In June, Ron Walker, chairman of the Australian Grand Prix said that 17 F1 race promoters would leave if the new greener engine which is being introduced in 2014 does not run to 18,000rpm and sound the same as the current model. Walker added that IndyCar would be the beneficiary since the circuits' plan would be to switch to it from F1, which of course is pure hogwash because IndyCar engines don't turn 18,000 RPM either, far from it in fact.
It is thought that Bernard is trying to convince Ferrari owner Fiat to finally agree to supply engines for IndyCar, possibly with the Dodge nametag they now own when they bought Chrysler, and with Ford also rumored to be eyeing IndyCar, the possibility of the Big-3 American car manufacturers going head-to-head in IndyCar against Honda and Lotus has some salivating.
Bernard was also in Europe to meet with Lotus, to make sure they will be ready with their engine on time, and of course he may also have met with McLaren who are supplying the ECU for the new engines.