Honda gives Andretti no choice but to switch to Chevy engines

Andretti's next Baby Borg as a team owner is likely to be with Chevy

McLaren and Alonso coming to IndyCar would be huge for the sport, everyone on both sides – the Chevy Camp and the Honda Camp – agree.

It must happen.

McLaren and Alonso are not coming unless they have a great car and can win races.

Andretti Autosport provides them with that opportunity. A rookie team would struggle otherwise, and Alonso is tired of struggling.

Honda refusing to give McLaren and Alonso IndyCar engines means one thing, and one thing only. Andretti Autosport will be forced to switch from Honda power to Chevy power.

And don't think for a minute there is much difference between the two engines. There isn't. The Andretti team loaned some of their shocks/dampers to Harding Racing and rookie Patricio O'Ward came darn close to winning the pole in Sonoma with Chevy power. Point being – the Andretti team can win with any engine.

It's as plain and simple as that. Contracts can be broken, they just have a price.

And Chevy is chomping at the bit anxious to steal Honda's best team.

“The IndyCar Series continues to deliver some of the best on-track competition in motorsports today," Chevrolet’s director of motorsports competition Mark Kent told Motorsport.com. “The depth of driver talent continues to increase every season. The addition of Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso to the IndyCar driver roster is an exciting possibility for the Series.

“Chevrolet currently has a tremendous line-up of race and championship-winning teams and drivers in the Verizon IndyCar Series. We previously enjoyed success with Andretti Autosport, including winning the driver’s championship with them and Hunter-Reay in 2012. Therefore, if the opportunity presented itself, we would certainly be open to discussions with Andretti Autosport regarding them again partnering with Chevrolet."