Andretti announces switch from Chevy to Honda
"We look forward to working with Honda again; for us, it's like being back home. I have no doubt that together we will see great success," said Michael Andretti, the team's Chairman, President and CEO.
The Indianapolis-based team has competed as part of Team Chevy for the last two seasons, winning the championship in 2012 with Ryan Hunter-Reay. Prior to the return of the IndyCar manufacture competition in 2011, Andretti captured three series championships with Honda (2004, 2005, 2007), as well as two Indianapolis 500 victories (2005, 2007). Since its inception in 2003, Andretti Autosport has captured 48 IndyCar Series victories – 39 of those under Honda power.
"We're extremely happy to welcome Michael Andretti and his Andretti Autosport organization back into the Honda Racing family," said Art St. Cyr, President, Honda Performance Development. "As many of you will remember, the Andretti organization played a major role in Honda's success during the previous era of manufacturer competition in Indy car racing, and we're looking forward to adding more victories and championships to an already impressive total."
Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994 and has played an active role in the growth of Indy car racing – as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and single engine supplier – since joining the series in 2003.
The company scored its first of nine consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories in 2004. Honda won Manufacturers' Championships in 2004 and 2005, and captured the drivers' championships with Andretti drivers Tony Kanaan (2004) and Wheldon (2005).
Honda became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006, and supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field each year from 2006-2011. For a record six-consecutive years, the '500' ran without a single engine failure, and the 2010 Indianapolis 500 marked Honda's 100th race win as a manufacturer and engine supplier in IZOD IndyCar Series competition.