Champ Car doubles P2P to 100 HP

When newly crowned champion Sebastien Bourdais and the rest of the Champ Car World Series drivers use the popular Cosworth Power-to-Pass (P2P) feature on their respective cars in the Gran Premio Tecate Presented by Banamex at Mexico City, they are going to get something they always ask for—more horsepower.

In the 13 previous 2007 races, when a Champ Car driver utilized the Cosworth Power-to-Pass on the Cosworth/DP01/Bridgestone, they would benefit from an additional 50 horsepower. The P2P boost is available for 60 seconds, to be used at a driver’s discretion during a race, providing a strategic element to Champ Car racing.

When drivers push the P2P button during the Nov. 11 season finale at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, however, they will have an additional 50 horsepower to enhance their ability to pass other cars, as well as additional 15 seconds of use (75 seconds total).

“We will analyze how a 100 horsepower Power-to-Pass feature will affect the racing so we can consider it for next year," said Tony Cotman, Champ Car Race Director and EVP, Operations. “The Cosworth Power-to-Pass has been very popular with the drivers, and even more so with the fans who love our racing, which features more passing than most other racing series. Everyone assumes if we go up another 50 horsepower, it will add even more excitement, but we’ve wanted to wait until now because we didn’t want the experiment to affect the championship [clinched recently by Bourdais].

“Ultimately, we want the Champ Car to be the biggest, baddest machine to drive."

The Power-to-Pass function on the Cosworth XFE raises the boost pressure inside the engine at the press of the P2P button, located on the steering wheel. Once pressed, the increased boost stays in effect until the driver cracks the throttle.

Ken Deagle, Cosworth’s Track Support Manager, emphasizes the critical strategic element that the function has added to the equation.

“The additional horsepower in Power-to-Pass makes Champ Car racing a poker game," Deagle said. “A driver is going to wonder how much power does he have and when does he use it? It always seems that the guy up front saves it, and the slow guy uses it to keep up. With 50 more horsepower than normal, it also should become less of a defensive tool."

Said Pacific Coast Motorsports driver Mario Dominguez: “I’m sure I’m not alone among the drivers in welcoming a boost in horsepower. It will be particularly interesting in Mexico City, where our fans love fast cars and the circuit features a long straightaway and several interesting twists and turns that should offer plenty of opportunities for drivers to make a run at cars in front of them. It should be a blast!"

The Gran Premio Tecate Presented by Banamex will be broadcast live on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. ET.