Ferrari to design Prototype or even IndyCar engine?

With F1 looking to enact budget caps, rumors have emerged that Ferrari could be on their way back to the top flight of sportscar racing, or to Indy under the Maserati nameplate.

One major sign of this is the fact that Ferrari boss – Luca di Montezemolo will be the race starter at the 2009, 24 Hours of Le Mans. Other Ferrari brass will be in attendance at the French classic. Additionally, as the F1 budget cap arguments escalate, Ferrari have been making more and more claims about their future in F1.

"Le Mans is synonymous with technologically-advanced sporting competition and has always been a focus of great attention on our part," said di Montezemolo.

Another Ferrari motivation could be the fact that they want to keep their staff employed as budget caps come into force meaning a reduction in F1 staff.

Ferrari could have a lot of spare capacity and this could go to sportscar, or an Indy program. The problem with Indy is that Ferrari does not want to pit its brand against a Honda or VW, which are considered middle class cars, but to beat an Audi at LeMans, that they would like to do. So if they do go ahead with an Indy program it would be under the Fiat or Alfa Romeo nameplate. Now if the IRL could convince Honda to run the Acura brand, and VW the Audi brand, then Ferrari or Maserati might badge an IndyCar engine.