Will new Champ Car have onboard starters?

UPDATE We are bumping this rumor up to 'strong' today as we hear the Cosworth and Panoz engineers have overcome the obstacles and onboard starters will likely get the go-ahead for the 2007 car. If true, this is a most welcome addition and should help to reduce the number of full-course cautions.

09/18/05 A reader asks, Dear AutoRacing1.com, Will the new Champ Car have onboard starters that was mentioned by Champ Car as a goal for 2007? Dave Pearson, Edmonton, Canada Dear Dave, Onboard starters were still being debated a few weeks ago. It may have been resolved by now. The issue is the added weight of carrying the batteries and starter when the goal is to reduce the weight of the car.

Whereas the handheld starters used by the pit crews have very large heavy batteries, the onboard starter does not need as large a battery. Why? Because the handheld starter has to crank over the engine and transmission from the back of the car, whereas the onboard starter would just be turning over the engine (assuming the car is in neutral). As long as the batteries are good for just two or three restarts as a minimum, the size of the battery can be kept small. Mark C.