IZOD IndyCar Series announces 2012 engine displacement change
"One of our goals with the new engine was to challenge the automotive industry to balance power, efficiency and durability," said Brian Barnhart, president of competition and operations, IZOD IndyCar Series. "As we've progressed defining our engine rules with the INDYCAR Engine Committee, we felt it necessary to reduce displacement to a maximum of 2.2 liter to be in line with our smaller, lighter and more efficient direction."
The INDYCAR Engine Committee is a working group made up of representatives from participating engine manufacturers, under the chairmanship of INDYCAR. This group meets several times a year to discuss manufacturer goals and emerging technologies while developing a roadmap for the future.
Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus have committed to building engines for the next generation IZOD IndyCar Series car in 2012 and are represented on the INDYCAR Engine Committee.
The 2012 platform allows manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum of six cylinders. The engines will be turbo charged producing between 550 and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD IndyCar Series competes. All engines will run on E85 with additional details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.