More evidence that Fiat eyeing is IndyCar?
"I think we're out of time," the sport's chief executive officer said today during groundbreaking at the new Dallara facility near Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We've got a couple (engine manufacturers) and I want to wait to do it right rather than rush it."
IndyCar recently added Chevrolet to compete with Honda in 2012. There had been talk of Fiat (with their Dodge or Alfa Romeo brand), among others, being interested.
"I think you could add another couple more for 2013," Bernard said. Indy Star
11/15/10 The groundbreaking will take place tomorrow on the 16th, but Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will not be in attendance, as rumored previously.
11/15/10 Indeed, there were rumors over the weekend that Cosworth will build a 2012 IndyCar engine for Alfa-Romeo. "While Cosworth cannot provide a comment regarding specific manufacturers," said a Cosworth spokesman. "We are working actively with the IRL to expand the number of engine manufacturers in the sport." Gordon Kirby
[Editor's Note: Alfa Romeo is going to make a big push to sell cars in the USA, but we feel Fiat would be better off badging the engine as a Dodge, which goes head-to-head with Chevy and Honda for passenger cars.]
11/13/10 The deadline is Nov. 16 – next Tuesday – for another engine manufacturer to signup for the 2012 season. Tuesday is also the day of the Dallara groundbreaking and with Fiat's boss curiously going to be there leading us to believe it is for an engine announcement, it's making us bump this rumor up to 'strong' as it seems this is just too much of a coincidence. If so, we stand by our prediction that they will run their Dodge brand (or maybe Fiat or Alfa Romeo brand) in IndyCar. You will not see them pit their Ferrari, Maserati, or Lancia brands against a Honda or a Chevy.
11/11/10 Now that Chevy is all but announced for the IndyCar series in 2012 speculation rises that Fiat will enter IndyCar (the CEO of Fiat will be at the ground breaking for the new Dallara IndyCar Factory) with its Dodge brand (they would never pit their high-end Ferrari or Maserati brands against a Honda or Chevy brand, never) and that could lead to Ford also jumping into the foray giving IndyCar the Detroit Big 3. If it happens that will be a real coup for IndyCar and their new boss Randy Bernard.
And let's not forget that Lotus is coming in as well – they will do a body kit – and who knows, maybe they will have Cosworth do an engine for them as well at some point.
Speaking of Cosworth, we know they are actively seeking an engine partner for IndyCar and when the music stops you can bet they will have a chair at the table as well with either Dodge, Ford or Lotus. Cosworth was once owned by Ford (before Kalkhoven and Forsythe bought it from them) so they have some history together, but we are not hanging our hat on that at all. Mark C.
11/03/10
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| Sergio Marchionne |
Isn't it interesting that Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Automobiles is going to attend the Dallara groundbreaking?
Simply supporting another Italian company or is there something more to it?