Lotus to begin IndyCar season with just 5 cars

As the final few IZOD IndyCar Series teams work to find engine leases to make the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Group Lotus Motorsport Director Claudio Berro confirmed to SPEED.com that the British marque will begin the year with five engine leases in place.

“As of today, we have five teams," said Berro. “It’s a good number for us to start. When we get to Indy, I suppose we’ll have maybe two or three more cars for the 500, probably. Some teams may also start their season around Indy."

With one lease apiece for factory partners Bryan Herta Autosport, Dreyer & Reinbold Racing and HVM Racing, and two for its most recent partners at Dragon Racing, Berro expects to see only those teams using its twin-turbo V6 at St. Pete.

The likely addition of Michael Shank Racing, which could make its debut at one of the following rounds, would bump the supply figure to six and Conquest Racing, which is targeting its season debut at Indy, could raise the count to seven.