Utilizing a production-based Honda HR28TT V6 engine from Honda Performance Development, paired to a new Ligier JS P2 chassis, OAK Racing Team Asia finished seventh in the competitive LMP2 class Sunday at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The all-Chinese driver lineup of Ho-Pin Tung, Adderly Fong and David Cheng produced a solid, consistent run in changeable weather conditions, including a sudden downpour in the second hour that sent several other cars off track and out of the contest. 

Of the driver trio, only Tung had previous Le Mans experience.  The Onroak Automotive Ligier JSP2 chassis was equally new, making its World Endurance Championship debut at Le Mans, as well as its first race with the Honda HR28TT V6 engine, a proven component that had previously powered the HPD ARX-03b chassis to the LMP2 victory at Le Mans in 2012.

The HPD-developed Honda engine used at Le Mans – and in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship –is derived from the Honda “J35” series of production V6 engines and includes relevant twin-turbocharger technology, along with the efficiency provided by direct fuel injection. Key production-based components utilized in the HR28TT include block and heads, direct injection fuel system, valve train components, drive-by-wire throttle, alternator, sensors, fasteners, etc. The engine even utilizes a stock Honda oil filter.

HPD’s prototype racing efforts have resulted in more than 60 victories and multiple American Le Mans Series championships.  HPD won the LMP2 title in the inaugural 2012 World Endurance Championship and won the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans inboth 2010 and 2012.  In 2013, HPD-equipped Strakka Racing claimed the LMP1 class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for private team entries.

For its debut event, OAK Racing Team Asia’s goal was to avoid unnecessary risks and successfully complete the 24 hours.  After the rain showers departed at dusk, the Ligier-Honda combination continued a nearly faultless run, delayed by only a minor off-course excursion in the third hour, a punctured rear tire just after midnight, and a brief pit stop to replace the paddle-shift compressor in the early morning hours.

As a result, the team steadily advanced through the LMP2 field, moving to 10th in class in the fifth hour, and eighth as the 12-hour mark approached, a position the team held through the remainder of the night and into the morning hours.

In the run to the checkers, the Ligier-Honda gained one more position to finish 7th in LMP2.  Late-race attrition in the quicker LMP1 category also saw OAK Racing Team Asia move up in the overall order, just missing a top-10 result with an 11th-place overall finish.

This weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans was alsothe third round of the 2013 World Endurance Championship.  The WEC now takes a three-month break before traveling to the United States for the Six Hours of the Circuit of the Americas, September 20 in Austin, Texas.

Ho-Pin Tung(OAK Racing Team Asia Ligier JS P2 Honda) finished 7th in LMP2 and11th overall: “First of all, I would like to say that was an amazing job by OAK Racing and HPD.  Just a few weeks ago, this car was just a monocoque in the workshop, without anything else attached.  In just a few weeks, they managed to build a car that was fast and reliable.  We had no issues at all during the 24 hours, so it’s really unbelievable!  For me, it’s a great result.  I think I did almost half the race, and I enjoyed every single part of it.  This is my first finish at Le Mans.  Next year, the target is going to be different; we’re going to go for [podium] positions.”

Allen Miller(Prototype Project Leader, Honda Performance Development) on this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans:  “We’re quite happy with the outcome of our first venture with the Onroak organization and the Ligier JS2 chassis.  They’ve built a very nice car that has proven to be both quick and reliable. To debut a new chassis-engine combination at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge task, yet we made it through the race pretty much ‘untouched’.  The Ligier-Honda combination definitely has more potential, and our race laps were as much as two seconds quicker than qualifying.  So we expect to see significant improvement in future races.  Other than our planned pit stops, we had only a few small issues – such as two cut tires –throughout the 24 hours.  The all-Chinese driver team did a great job of avoiding trouble in an incident-filled race.  Congratulations to them, everyone at OAK Racing Team Asia, and all the associates at HPD involved in this program.”

• Honda-powered driver qualifies second at 1.5-mile high bank oval
• First Saturday night race of 2014

In the best qualifying performance of his Verizon IndyCar Series career, Josef Newgarden led the Honda-powered field Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, and will start on the outside of the front row, second, in Saturday night’s Firestone 600. 

In his third year with the small, single-car team, Newgarden has five top-10 qualifying performances in eight races this season, and his two-lap average of 217.835 miles per hour was bested only by pole qualifier Will Power. Other top-10 Honda qualifiers today included Grand Prix of Indianapolis winner Simon Pagenaud, sixth; 2012 Texas race winner Justin Wilson, eighth; and Andretti Autosport teammates James Hinchcliffe and Carlos Munoz ninth and tenth, respectively.

Saturday’s 248-lap run, the first Saturday night race of 2014, starts at 7 p.m. with live network television coverage on the NBC Sports network.

Josef Newgarden(#78 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda) 2nd fastest in qualifying:  “I was happily surprised [to qualify second], to be honest with you.  We mainly worked on race [setups] in the morning practice; we did not trim out [for a simulated qualifying run] at all.  Tire degradation [rapid wear] is so important here, we focused on that.  So for qualifying, we just ‘threw a setup’ on the car and it was really, really fast.  Our car was fast and easy to drive.  If anything, it was a little too easy.  Sometimes that’s the case. You get a little ‘mojo’ on your side and it’s great.Normally, that bodes well for us, so I’m optimistic for the race.  The race, with five pit stops, is a whole different ballgame [from qualifying].  But this is our third year together [with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing], and I think we have just as good a chance of winning tomorrow night as anyone else out there.”

• Newgarden stars in qualifying
• Aleshin leads rookie contingent in 9th

Taking advantage of fresh tires fitted to his Honda-powered Dallara during a late-race caution period, Simon Pagenaud fought his way to a fourth-place Verizon IndyCar Series finish in a thrilling final two laps of green flag racing in the Firestone 600 Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.

Pagenaud ran in the lead group throughout the 248-lap contest, and was one of six cars on the lead lap when the caution flag waved for the third and final time of the night with just seven laps remaining.  After sixth-place Will Power pitted for new tires during the caution, Pagenaud’s Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports team made the same call one lap later.  When the green flag waved on Lap 246, Pagenaud was able to pass the Target Chip Ganassi Racing cars of Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon on the final two laps to finish fourth.

Pagenaud’s rookie teammate, Mikhail Aleshin, finished seventh in his first appearance on a high-banked oval track to lead the four rookies in the field.  Josef Newgarden qualified a career-high second for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing and ran in the lead pack during the first half of tonight’s race, before fading slightly with handling issues to finish 11th.  Justin Wilson was another Honda-powered driver to feature during the opening third of the race, but was eliminated in a Lap 118 crash with Sebastien Bourdais.  Neither driver was injured in the race’s only accident.

• Honda-powered driver qualifies second at 1.5-mile high bank oval
• First Saturday night race of 2014

In the best qualifying performance of his Verizon IndyCar Series career, Josef Newgarden led the Honda-powered field Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, and will start on the outside of the front row, second, in Saturday night’s Firestone 600. 

In his third year with the small, single-car team, Newgarden has five top-10 qualifying performances in eight races this season, and his two-lap average of 217.835 miles per hour was bested only by pole qualifier Will Power. Other top-10 Honda qualifiers today included Grand Prix of Indianapolis winner Simon Pagenaud, sixth; 2012 Texas race winner Justin Wilson, eighth; and Andretti Autosport teammates James Hinchcliffe and Carlos Munoz ninth and tenth, respectively.

Saturday’s 248-lap run, the first Saturday night race of 2014, starts at 7 p.m. with live network television coverage on the NBC Sports network.

Josef Newgarden(#78 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda) 2nd fastest in qualifying:  “I was happily surprised [to qualify second], to be honest with you.  We mainly worked on race [setups] in the morning practice; we did not trim out [for a simulated qualifying run] at all.  Tire degradation [rapid wear] is so important here, we focused on that.  So for qualifying, we just ‘threw a setup’ on the car and it was really, really fast.  Our car was fast and easy to drive.  If anything, it was a little too easy.  Sometimes that’s the case. You get a little ‘mojo’ on your side and it’s great.Normally, that bodes well for us, so I’m optimistic for the race.  The race, with five pit stops, is a whole different ballgame [from qualifying].  But this is our third year together [with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing], and I think we have just as good a chance of winning tomorrow night as anyone else out there.”

• Last-lap move for a podium finish comes up short
• Honda drivers lock out front row in qualifying

In a race that in many ways resembled Saturday’s “Dual 1” opening race of the Detroit Grand Prix Verizon IndyCar Series doubleheader, poorly-timed caution flags and varying pit strategies left many Honda-powered contenders unable to challenge for victory in Sunday’s second race, despite an all-Honda front row in qualifying and a late-lap charge from James Hinchcliffe.

As in yesterday’s race, early yellows from on-track incidents sent many in the field to the pits as early as Lap 3, once again leading to a continuously shifting race order throughout the 70-lap contest.  At the end of the day, those on a “three-stop strategy” and pitting for the first time on Lap 11 had the advantage, led by Helio Castroneves, as the Team Penske driver scored his first win of 2014. 

Of the Honda-powered contingent, pole qualifier Takuma Sato’s A.J. Foyt team chose the right strategy, but Sato’s chances for victory evaporated when he was hit and spun on Lap 35 by Ryan Briscoe; and further contact from Marco Andretti in the closing laps resulted in an unrepresentative 18th-place finish.

For the second day in a row, Hinchcliffe started on the outside of the front row, second, but his team’s “two stop” strategy was nullified by the timing of the race’s four cautions.  On the final lap, an attempt to pass Charlie Kimball for the third and final step on the podium came up short, and Hinchcliffe slipped to fifth behind Scott Dixon.

On a similar pit stop strategy, Honda-powered Schmidt Peterson Motorsport teammates Simon Pagenaud took the checkers in sixth, while his rookie teammate, Mikhail Aleshin, finished seventh.  

• Last-lap fireworks lead to top-five run for Ryan Dalziel, Scott Sharp
• Lengthy caution period widens fuel window, ruins fuel strategy plan

The Extreme Speed Motorsports squad carried its pair of Honda-powered HPD ARX-03bs to top-seven finishes after a challenging 57-lap sprint racein Saturday afternoon’s Sports Car Classic at Belle IslePark, Round 5 of the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The #1 Honda-powered ESM entry of Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel started on the outside of the front row and ran in the lead group all day before coming home in the fifth spot. The #2 of Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek fell victim to an ill-timed caution flag that put them a lap down by the race’s halfway point, but soldiered on to collect a seventh-place result.

While struggling with tires that came up to temperature a couple of laps after those of their competitors, the ESM team found itself behind the ‘eight ball’ on starts and restarts Saturday. Once the tires reached optimal temperatures, Sharp maintained contact with the lead group through the opening stint, threatening the fourth-place Nissan Morgan of Gustavo Yacaman all the way to the first pit stop.

Starting driver Brown ran a clean opening stint and was battling with the Mazda Prototype of Sylvain Tremblay as the day’s first caution flag waved for water on the course. The caution sent most of the leaders in for fuel and driver changes and the #1 ESM Honda joined that group, as Dalziel took the fifth-place car from Sharp and returned to the fray.

The strategy on the #2 was a bit different, however. Brown stayed out until the last lap of the caution period before coming in to hand the car over to van Overbeek. The strategy was designed to give van Overbeek a chance to run the remainder of the event on one tank of fuel, while everyone else would have had make another time-consuming stop before the end of the race.

The timing of the stop put van Overbeek back on track directly ahead of the leaders, where he dropped a lap toleader Ricky Taylor just before the caution flag flew again, this time for contact involving the GB Autosport Porsche of Damien Faulkner.

The contact required a lengthy cleanup and repair of the barriers, and the seven-lap caution period eliminated any fuel advantage that the ESM Honda might have gained by fuel strategy, dooming the teamto finish a lap down to the leaders.

The #1 HPD ARX-03b Hondabenefitted from some last-lap fireworks to earn an extra position in the final order, moving up a spot to fifth after Joao Barbosa cut a tire and spun after making a pass for the lead.

Steve Eriksen (Vice President and COO, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race “With LMP2 cars having to run tires developed expressly for Daytona Prototypes, they have a distinct disadvantage on street circuits, as we saw today in Detroit and earlier this year at Long Beach.  Nevertheless, Extreme Speed Motorsports worked hard to maximize the strengths of our HPD ARX-03b Hondas, and gained valuable points for the season-long championship.  After their victory earlier this month on the natural terrain Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca road course, we’re confident about our chances as the series returns to road racing at Watkins Glen next month.

Scott Sharp (#1 Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-02b Honda) started second, finished fifth: “The car was quick all weekend long, but we didn’t think that we would be as handicapped on the restarts as we would be because of the tires.The tires took so long to get up to pressure and that held us back on the restarts, but we stuck with it and were able to salvage a good finish. The strength for us is in the consistency and reliability of the Honda engine package and we really leaned on the traction control Honda provides today, it’s just too bad that they don’t do the tires!”

• Battles Will Power for victory in another close IndyCar finish
• Strong runs for Wilson, Hinchcliffe
• Rookies Hawksworth, Munoz and Huertas impress

In his best performance of 2014, third-generation racer Graham Rahal fought eventual race winner Will Power for the final 20 laps of Saturday’s opening race of the “Dual in Detroit” Verizon IndyCar Series doubleheader weekend, making a last-lap effort that came up just 33 hundredths of a second short at the checkers. 

The Rahal Letterman Lanigan team, headed by Graham’s father, Bobby Rahal, made the right calls throughout the 70-lap contest, keeping its driver at or near the front of the field in a race that featured nearly a half-dozen different pit strategies among the 22 contestants.  When the green flag waved for the final time on Lap 60, Rahal was in third place, behind Power and Ryan Briscoe.  After dispatching Briscoe on Lap 62, Rahal closed down on Power and made several runs at the leader, but came up short in his efforts to snatch the victory.

Just behind the leaders, Justin Wilson combined excellent Honda fuel mileage with equally clever pit calls from his Dale Coyne Racing team to finish fourth, his best result of 2014.  James Hinchcliffe ran in the lead group for the first half of the race, but the timing of the race’s four cautions dropped him to an unrepresentative sixth.  Rookie Jack Hawksworth also starred, running second to early leader Helio Castroneves until a broken brake disc dropped him off the lead lap; while fellow rookies Carlos Munoz and Carlos Huertas finished seventh and eighth, respectively – the third top-10 result for Munoz this year and a career-best for Huertas.

Graham Rahal(#15 National Guard Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) started 9th, finished 2nd, best result of 2014:“I thought I was going to finally get the monkey off my back [and win] today. I knew I had a car that was as quick as [Will Power]. I knew I had one opportunity and that was on the restart.  He blocked me, which I would have done too, so I don’t blame him. I said after Indy that this team was made up of champions and that it was going to come in time. We are going to win.  I can promise you that. I was focused on the task at hand and I knew I was one of the few guys who could drive by a lot of people today. So when I saw myself in 13th place after a bad run on the reds [alternate tires], I thought, ‘This isn’t over. I can still pass these guys.’ And sure enough we went to the front. This is where our season started, right here, today.”

Justin Wilson(#19 Boy Scouts of America Dale Coyne Racing Honda) started 19th, finished 4th:“To be totally honest, I had no idea what was going on [in terms of strategy] out there today! I was just driving as fast as I could and pitting when I was told, and it all worked out really well for us.  All thanks to Mike [Cannon, engineer] and the team, they did a great job with both the strategy and the pit stops.  The track was getting seriously fast late in the race, so I think tomorrow may be another crazy race.  It’s Detroit; anything can happen!”

Mark Crawford(IndyCar Project Leader, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race:  “It was close.  We managed to move a bunch of cars to the front of the field today with some clever pit strategy and excellent Honda fuel mileage, but fell just short of victory.  It was good to see Graham Rahal turn things around today after a tough start to the season, and we saw timely, strong performances from Justin Wilson and James Hinchcliffe, and that also was encouraging.  Now we get to do it all again tomorrow, we just have to finish one position higher!”

• Honda seeking fourth and fifth consecutive 2014 IndyCar victories
• Manufacturer defends sweep of both Detroit rounds in 2013
• Honda drivers claim five of top 10 positions in practice

Honda-powered drivers led the way in Verizon IndyCar Series practice Friday for the Dual at Detroit doubleheader race weekend, with Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay leading the morning practice session, and finishing the day fifth overall, while 2013 Detroit winner Simon Pagenaud paced the afternoon session and the day.

Honda drivers claimed five of the top 10 positions, with Takuma Sato seventh fastest for A.J. Foyt Racing, James Hinchcliffe eighth for Andretti Autosport, and Graham Rahal rounding out the top 10 for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

Simon Pagenaud(#77 Schmidt Peterson Hamilton Motorsports Honda) quickest in Friday practice:  “Detroit is a great track, I really love it.  You have to able to cope with the different track surfaces, asphalt and concrete, and be comfortable sliding the car.  It’s breathtaking after spending the last three weeks in Indianapolis.  [Winning here] last year was such a big day for us, the team really ‘went up a gear’ as a result and since then we’ve been competitive everywhere we go.”

Honda, Ryan Hunter-Reay Win the Indianapolis 500

• Second Honda Indy victory in last three years
• 10th Honda Indy triumph since 2003
• Honda powers four of top-six finishers

Honda-powered Ryan Hunter-Reay won Sunday’s 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, edging Helio Castoneves by six hundredths of a second in the second-closest finish in “500” history.

After running for the first 300 miles at the fastest pace in “500” history, a late-race red flag set up a six-lap shootout to the finish, with Hunter-Reay, Castroneves and the Honda-powered car of Marco Andretti in contention for the victory.

Hunter-Reay and Castroneves traded the lead repeatedly in the final six laps, with Andretti stalking less than a half-second behind.  Charging into the first turn at the start of the final lap, Hunter-Reay swept past Castroneves on the outside of Turn One in a thrilling maneuver.  The pair ran nose-to-tail throughout the final three corners, but Castroneves was unable to find the speed needed to complete the pass before the checkers.

Hunter-Reay’s victory was the first Indy 500 triumph in his IndyCar career, but the second for Honda in the last three years.  Honda’s last win was in 2012 with Dario Franchitti.  Honda has now won 10 Indianapolis 500s since 2003 – four (out of a possible six) times with multi-manufacturer competition; and six as sole engine supplier to the series from 2006-2011.

Andretti, Hunter-Reay’s Andretti Autosport teammate, led for 20 laps and finished just 25 hundredths of a second behind the winner.  During the closing laps, the third-generation racer twice challenged for second, but fell back after each attack as Castroneves successfully defended.

Carlos Munoz, the rookie star of the 2013 “500”, and NASCAR star Kurt Busch made it four Honda-powered Andretti Autosport machines in the top six at the finish.  But front-row starter James Hinchcliffe was eliminated in a multi-car accident on Lap 175.  Grand Prix of Indianapolis race winner Simon Pagenaud ran solidly in the lead pack during the first 100 laps, but had his efforts blunted by a cut tire, leading to an unscheduled pit stop. 

After starting 14th, Justin Wilson was running seventh on Lap 191 when Townsend Bell crashed exiting Turn 2, which resulted in race officials stopping the race while the track wall was repaired.  Debris from Bell’s car damaged Wilson’s Dale Coyne Racing Honda, taking him out of contention. 

The race ran at a record-breaking pace of more than 212 mph for the first 425 miles, and also seta new mark for completingthe first 150 laps without a caution flag.  Although there were a total of five caution flags in the final 50 laps – and a red flag on Lap 192 to set up the final dash to the checkers – the 21 laps run under caution tied a record for fewest yellow-flag laps, set in 1976.  Even with the late-race cautions and 10-minute red flag period, Hunter-Reay’s winning average speed of 186.563 mph is the second-fastest in Indianapolis 500 history, bested only by Tony Kanaan’s winning average of 187.433 set in last year’s race. 

Rookie Aleshin Leads Honda Effort at “Carb Day” in Indianapolis

18Honda drivers qualify for 98th running of the Indianapolis 500

Led by impressive rookie Mikhail Aleshin, Honda-powered drivers claimed five of the top 10positions Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the traditional “Carb Day” final practice prior to Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Driving for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Aleshin posted the fifth-fastest speed around the 2.5-mile oval in the hour-long practice, followed by Andretti Autosport’s Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti in sixth and seventh, respectively.  Former pole qualifier Alex Tagliani was eighth-fastest for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, with teammate Josef Newgarden rounding out the top 10.  The 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 25, with live television coverage on ABC.

Mikhail Aleshin (#7 SMP Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) 5th fastest in in practice:  “My car was really good today. I think Schmidt Peterson Motorsports is working hard right now, and it’s helping me feel prepared for my first Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. We were very fast in traffic today during practice. I think we’ll have a good chance during the race, we¹re just going to have to be ready to fight and stay out of trouble.”

• Engine paired with Crawford FL15 carbon composite chassis
• Next step in Honda development ladder from karting and Formula F

Honda Performance Development is pleased that it has been selected to supply Honda’s production 2.4-liter, four-cylinder Honda K24 engine to power the new Formula Lites chassis being produced by Crawford Composites for a new racing series promoted by High Performance Group. 

Formula Lites is a new professional racing series, headed by motorsports veteran and HPG principals Dennis McCormack and Ryan Arciero, and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing.  Scheduled to launch at select events in 2014, with a full schedule of events planned for 2015, the series is aimed at developing young, professional drivers.

“We couldn’t be more impressed with this Formula Lites car and their plans for the series,” said Jeff Barrow, HPD manager, commercial motorsports.  “In working with HPG and Crawford Composites, it was their goal to keep costs down and reliability up.  I’m happy to say that our production Honda K24 engine will meet their requirements for cost and reliability, and at the same time provide great power to this fantastic looking car.  I would expect that many of our current Honda Racing Line participants would love to get behind the wheel of one!”

Created by a design team led by Crawford Composite’s Andy Scriven at the company’s Denver, N.C. headquarters, the Formula Lites carbon composite chassis is built to current FIA Formula 3 technical regulations, including state-of-the-art electronics and an in-house designed paddleshift transmission system. 

“Crawford Composites is absolutely delighted to have one of our long-standing partners, Honda Performance Development, providing the engines for the new Crawford FL15,” said Max Crawford, president of Crawford Composites.  “HPD produces some of the top engines in motorsports, and their long-standing commitment to auto racing has been tremendous.  Together, the Crawford FL15 will be exceptionally affordable and, at the same time, a high tech vehicle enabling young drivers to continue to elevate their racing skills in the new Formula Lites series.”

Series organizer High Performance Group is headed by racing veteran Dennis McCormack, who began his motorsports career in 1968.  Working his way up through the ranks as a mechanic, crew chief, team manager and eventually an Indy car team owner with the formation of McCormack Motorsports. 

“We are pleased to announce HPD as the official engine supplier to the Formula Lites series,” said Dennis McCormack.  “HPD is a leader in motorsports development and has a history of promoting grass roots racing.  Their commitment to Formula Lites will give drivers an opportunity to take the next step in professional racing.”

• Opening Day for Indy 500 preparation, qualifying set for May 17-18 
• Oval practice follows 1-2 Honda finish at Saturday’s Grand Prix of Indianapolis

Ryan Hunter-Reay led the way for Honda and his Andretti Autosport team in Opening Day practice Sunday for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama race winner posted the fifth-fastest speed, an average of 222.124 mph, as 24 drivers took to the historic 2.5-mile oval in the first of six days of practice in preparation for the Memorial Day weekend classic.

E.J. Viso, substituting for an injured James Hinchcliffe, recorded the sixth-fastest speed in his Andretti Autosport Honda.  Hinchcliffe sustained a concussion when struck by debris from a collision ahead of him on the track during Saturday’s inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the speedway’s infield road course.  He will undergo further medical evaluation later this week.  The Grand Prix was won by Honda’s Simon Pagenaud, with Hunter-Reay finishing second. 

Other Honda-powered drivers to run today at the speedway included Kurt Busch – the former NASCAR champion making his first attempt at the “500” – Marco Andretti and Carlos Munoz, all driving for the five-car Andretti Autosport organization; Schmidt Peterson Motorsports’ Jacques Villeneuve, making his first appearance since winning the “500” in 1995; Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s Graham Rahal and Oriol Servia; Josef Newgarden and Alex Tagliani, both driving for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing; and A.J. Foyt Racing’s Takuma Sato and Martin Plowman.

Practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway continues through Friday.  First-round qualifying for the coveted Indy pole takes place on Saturday, May 17, with live television coverage on ABC.

• 1-2 finish for Honda-powered Simon Pagenaud and Ryan Hunter-Reay
• Superior fuel mileage paves Honda’s “Brickyard” victory

Simon Pagenaud became the fourth different Verizon IndyCar Series winner in as many races Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as the Honda-powered driver combined both speed and fuel mileage to claim his first victory of 2014 at the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

Starting fourth, Pagenaud successfully avoided a multi-car crash at the standing start that eliminated his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports teammate, Mikail Aleshin, and fellow Honda driver Carlos Munoz ,when pole-qualifier Sebastian Saavedra stalled at the line, resulting in a eight-lap caution period to begin the race.

Once the green flag flew on Lap 8, another impressive performance from rookie Jack Hawksworth saw the Honda-powered Bryan Herta Autosport driver pass early race leader Ryan Hunter-Reay in Turn One, with Pagenaud following through into second.  The trio continued to lead the way for much of the 82-lap event, losing the advantage only when multiple cautions led the field to split into two separate pit-stop strategies. 

Hawksworth’s chance for victory faded on Lap 61, however, when a communication miscue resulted in him staying on track when others on the same strategy pitted.  That moved Pagenaud and Hunter-Reay to the front of “their” group, while Helio Castroneves led a group of four Chevrolet-powered cars on the alternative pit strategy.  One by one, the Castroneves-led group was forced to pit, starting on Lap 69, as Pagenaud and Hunter-Reay moved to the front, and then held off their challengers to the Lap 84 checkers. 

Video News Releases from this month’s action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedwayare being posted on a newly created “Honda Racing/HPD Trackside” YouTube channel produced by the Carolinas Production Group.  CPG will be providing video highlights following Honda racesduring 2014.  The videos can be found at:youtube.com/hondaracingtrackside.

With the completion of the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, the focus of Indy car drivers and teams now turns to the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500, with activities on the famed 2.5-mile oval beginning Sunday with Opening Day of practice for the May 25th event.

Hunter-Reay sets top time, but penalized for crash
 Honda drivers to start second, third and fourth

A pair of rain showers during Verizon IndyCar Series qualifying Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for Saturday’s inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, resulted in mixed fortunes for several Honda drivers.  They included Ryan Hunter-Reay, who lost his best times as a penalty for crashing in the closing minutes of final-round qualifying, dropping him from the pole to third in the 25-car starting field.

Rookie Jack Hawksworth will start on the outside of the front row, a career-best second, for Bryan Herta Autosport, with Simon Pagenaud qualifying fourth for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports after leading the final practice session on Friday morning.

The fourth round of the 2014 season, and first IndyCars on the 2.439-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, starts at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday, with live television coverage on ABC.

Jack Hawksworth(#98 Bryan Herta Autosport Honda) 2nd-quickest in qualifying: “We started the season out quite strong [qualifying 8th at St. Petersburg and 5th at Long Beach], but haven’t had the results to show for it.  There have been glimmers of potential, but we’re not quite there yet.  Hopefully, tomorrow is the day when we do it [win].”

• Honda drivers claim seven of top 10 positions in practice
• Rookie Aleshin, veterans Hinchcliffe, Rahal and Hunter-Reay quick for Honda

Verizon IndyCar Series practice began Thursday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for Saturday’s inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis, with Honda-powered Simon Pagenaud posting the second-fastest time around the 2.439-mile road course laid out inside the grounds of the famed 2.5-mile oval.

Times fell throughout the day as drivers and teams learned more about the newest layout on the IndyCar circuit, a revision of the road course previously used by Formula One, sports cars and MotoGP.  Scott Dixon bettered Pagenaud in the final minutes of the afternoon practice to claim top honors for the day, while Mikhail Aleshin led the five rookies in the field, posting the fifth-fastest time in his Schmidt Peterson Honda. 

A quartet of Honda-powered veterans rounded out the top ten, led by James Hinchcliffe in sixth, and followed by Graham Rahal, Barber race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay, Justin Wilson and Marco Andretti, seventh through tenth, respectively.  Activities continue Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedwaywith a final practice session, followed by Firestone Fast Six qualifying that will set the 25-car field for Saturday’s 82-lap race.  The fourth round of the 2014 season starts at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday, with live television coverage on ABC.

Simon Pagenaud(#77 DHL Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) 2nd-quickest in Thursday practice:  “This is a very nice track.  It’s flowing, has good rhythm and – best of all – it’s in Indy!  It’s also definitely the smoothest road course we race on, so congratulations to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a job well done.  The track also will be a great one for passing.  I think the start and every restart should be exciting on Saturday.”

First victory of 2014 for HPD ARX-03b Honda and Extreme Speed Motorsports•
Ryan Dalziel, Scott Sharp contend until sidelined by transmission failure
 First sales of 2015 HPD ARX-04b coupe also announced

The Honda-powered HPD ARX-03b of Johannes van Overbeek and Ed Brown, the quickest car on track over the final 40 laps of Sunday’s Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, chased down the competition and posted the first TUDOR United SportsCar Championship victory of the 2014 season for HPD and Extreme Speed Motorsports. 

The fourth round of the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship got off to a strong start for HPD and the Extreme Speed team, as van Overbeek claimed the pole in Saturday’s qualifying, shortly after HPD announced the sale of the first two ARX-04b Honda coupe chassis to ESM for the 2015 season.

Starting driver Brown ran a clean opening stint, pitting from fourth place to hand the car over to van Overbeek for the remainder of the two-hour contest.  Turning the fastest laps of the race, van Overbeek enjoyed a clear track during his first stint, emerging in third place after his final scheduled pit stop on Lap 49.  Passing the Action Express Corvette DP of Joao Barbosa on Lap 58, van Overbeek then began tochase the Wayne Taylor Racing Corvette DP of race leader Jordan Taylor. 

The two contenders ran nose-to-tail for a half dozen laps, until van Overbeek took advantage of a minor slide by Taylor and claimed a lead he would not relinquish over the final 15minutes.  Once in front, van Overbeek extended his advantage to nearly six seconds at the checkers.

The HPD-developed Honda engines used in the TUDOR championship are derived from the Honda “J35”series of production V6 engines and include relevant twin-turbocharger technology, along with the efficiency provided by direct fuel injection. Key production-based components that are utilized include block and heads, crankshaft, direct injection fuel system, valve train components, drive-by-wire throttle, alternator, sensors, fasteners, etc. The engine even utilizes a stock Honda oil filter.

Extreme Speed’s second LMP2-style prototype, the #1 HPD ARX-03b Honda, was started from third byteam owner/driver Scott Sharp and stayed in the thick of the lead battle through the first round of pit stops, when Sharp handed the car over to co-driver Ryan Dalziel. Running third, Dalziel was forced to park the HPD after 41 laps with suspected transmission failure. 

Steve Eriksen (Vice President and COO, Honda Performance Development) on today’s race win:  “What a great day for HPD and Extreme Speed Motorsports, with ESM converting yesterday’s pole into today’s victory in a flawless run from both Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek.  It was great to see Ed Brown score his first win as a driver in LMP2 as Ed and Patron have been integral components of HPD’s success in Le Mans prototype racing in America for a number of years.  This was the perfect way to capoff a great weekend of racing, not to mention the exciting news that our new ARX-04b coupes will be a part of ESM’s future successes in the 2015 season.”

Johannes van Overbeek (#2 Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD ARX-02b Honda) pole qualifier, finished 1st, first win for HPD in the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and 70th victory for the HPD chassis:  “From the outside, it probably looked pretty easy, but inside is another story. I was more nervous when Ed [Brown] was in the car, he did a great job and put us in a great spot, and then I got in. I tried to be clean and knock off good laps, and I figured if I kept doing that and stayed clean, we’d be toward the front when the race neared the end. There were no yellows; my hat is off to all the drivers out there. I could not be happier. This is my home race. I thought I was cursed at this track because I’ve come so close to winning so many times. To win with Ed, Tequila Patrón, ESM and Honda, it is just fantastic.”

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (May 3, 2014) –Honda Performance Development today announced the sale of two new HPD ARX-04b Honda coupes to Extreme Speed Motorsportsfor an ambitious 2015 racing program that may include the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

The ARX-04b is fully compliant with the latest ACO LMP2 regulations, and exceeds the safety standards of the new enclosed-cockpit configuration.  The new design is eligible for competition in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series.

“Extreme Speed Motorsports and Tequila Patrón are very excited to continue our relationship with Honda and HPD with the new 2015 ARX-04b coupe,” said Scott Sharp, Extreme Speed Motorsports owner/driver.“It is hard to believe that the current HPD base race car is now seven years old and still running strong; that is a testament to its with a huge emphasis on performance, safety and aerodynamics.

“We firmly believe this new racing machine will provide ESM with a strong platform to be a leader in sports car racing for many seasons!  We’re looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the ARX-04b and experiencing the latest version of the Honda power and performance.”

Powered by the production-based Honda HR28TT twin turbocharged V6 engine, the new ARX-04b utilizes the latest in closed-cockpit prototype technology developed by HPD and Wirth Research.  The pairing has already proved to be a winning combination, with success in INDYCAR, the American Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship, including LMP2 and LMP1 Privateer class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The proven 2.8-liter twin-turbo, direct injection, production-basedHonda HR28TT V6 powerplant, developed from the “J35” family of V6 engines found in several Honda and Acura passenger vehicles,now includes a regulation compliant drive-by-wire throttle system and turbo fresh air valve system, eliminating turbo lag and providing improved reliability and performance.

Founded in 2010, Extreme Speed Motorsports will enter its sixth season at the start of 2015.  Led by Sharp, the team’s driver roster includes Ed Brown, Ryan Dalziel and Johannes van Overbeek.  ESM is slated to compete in the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, and is considering making its first attempt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“We are very pleased that Extreme Speed Motorsports has chosen our new HPD ARX-04b LMP2 Coupefor their 2015 racing program,” said Steve Eriksen, vice president and COO of HPD.  “Our association with Scott, Ed and Tequila Patrón goes back to 2008 with our ARX-01 chassis.  We’re looking forward to continuing our successful partnership and assisting ESMwhen it makes its first run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where HPD has twice scored LMP2 class wins in the last four years.”

“Tequila Patrón is looking forward to continuing our relationship with Honda and HPD,” said Ed Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer at The Patrón Spirits Company, and ESM driver. “We’ve won races and championships with HPD dating  to 2008, and this is a great next step in that relationship. Tequila Patrón is the leader in top-quality spirits and Hondais a top performing manufacturer, soit’s a natural fit for both Tequila Patrón and HPD to move ahead with the new coupe. We’re looking forward to racing the new ARX-04b, branding it with the Tequila Patrón and Extreme Speed Motorsports banners.”

The ARX-04b features energy-efficient technology combining low drag with high fuel efficiency, “quick change” lightweight front and rear bodywork, 75-liter total fuel capacity, and the innovative Honda safety interlock refueling system, designed to reduce the potential for pit-lane fires resulting from cars leaving the pit box with the fuel hose still attached.

1-2 finish for Honda-powered Andretti Autosport
Honda drivers claim six of the top eight finishing positions
Weather issues delay start, shorten race

Ryan Hunter-Reay bounced back from disappointment two weeks ago at the Grand Prix of Long Beach – when the 2012 crashed out of the race while challenging for the lead – to score a resounding Verizon IndyCar Series victory Sunday at the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, leading a 1-2 finish for Honda and Andretti Autosport. Teammate Marco Andretti finished second.

In a race delayed more than two hours, after severe storms moved through the Birmingham, Alabama, area just prior to the scheduled race start, Hunter-Reay proved to be more than capable of adapting to changing track conditions throughout the 1-hour, 40-minute event, taking advantage of a mistake by early leader Will Power to claim an advantage he would maintain –except during routine pit stops – the rest of the day.  It was Hunter-Reay’s second consecutive triumph at the challenging Barber Motorsports Park circuit, and the first win of 2014 for Honda.

For his part, Andretti gained three positions, from 10th on the starting grid, in the opening lap.  Once the field changed over to dry weather, “slick” tires at the first round of pit stops, Andretti’s Honda Dallara became even faster, passing Scott Dixon and Power to finish second, his best result of the season. Simon Pagenaud continued his strong early-season performance, recovering from an opening-lap off-course excursion to finish fourth; while sixth-place Justin Wilson led a three-car formation of Hondas at the finish, just ahead of James Hinchcliffe and Josef Newgarden, as Honda drivers claimed six of the top eight finishing positions.

Ryan Hunter-Reay(#28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda) started 11th, finished 1st, 1st win of 2014 and 2nd consecutive win at Barber; 12th career IndyCar victory:”“With the rain and the wet conditions on how we started out there, it was tough. Then we went to the Firestone reds[dry-weather slick tires], and man…on [the still] wet surface, it wasreally tough just to keep the car on track. Once we got out front, though, we started checking out, and the carwas a dream to drive. This is why we race.  I can’t thank the team enough.  It’s a shame the race ended under yellow, but we won with a Honda at the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama…how cool is that?”

Marco Andretti(#25 Snapple Andretti Autosport Honda) started 9th, finished 2nd:“I just put my head down and looked forward; awesome job by Andretti Autosport. The Snapple car didn’t have much for Ryan [Hunter-Reay], so we definitely need to hit the drawing board and see how he kicked my butt today. I was driving blind today.  I didn’t have a radio, so the only way I knew when to pit was when I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Ryan stop, and thought ‘I guess I’m coming in the next lap’. It was definitely a blind race, but I just had my head down and tried to hit my marks.”

Mark Crawford(IndyCar Project Leader, Honda Performance Development) on today’s racewin:  “After showing so well throughout the practice and qualifying sessions this year, it’s great to finally get a win to go with the speed the Honda engine has already demonstrated.  The engines obviously worked very well in far-from-ideal conditions in the race.  Congratulations to Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and the entire Andretti Autosport team on an excellent effort and result today.  Ryan made it almost look easy out there, but we know it wasn’t!  Now it’s on to Indianapolis!

Honda drivers claim three of top five positions in practice•
Defending race winner Hunter-Reay quickest in both sessions•
23 cars separated by just 1.1 seconds

Ryan Hunter-Reay(#28 DHL Andretti Autosport Honda) quickest in Friday practice:  “The track was good today, although it’s quite a bit hotter [temperatures] than we’re used to seeing here, so we had to constantly adapt to the changing conditions.  The forecast is for it to continue warming up as the weekend continues, so finding the right setup for qualifying will be a moving target, but I expect all four Andretti Autosport Hondas to be at the front tomorrow.”

Honda to participate as sponsor and race participant, and support the introduction of new safety improvements to the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

TORRANCE, Calif., April 24, 2014–
As a further extension of its growing commitment to grassroots racing in North America, Honda announced today that it is making a major commitment to the 2014 running of the legendary Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, as both a sponsor and race participant, with plans to field products in sevendistinct race classes.  In addition, Honda will be working with the AMA and the Pikes Peak sanctioning body on improvements which will provide new levels of safety to theMotorcycle / ATV / UTV / Sidecar competitors.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will return as the Partnering Sponsor for the 2014Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second time the company has participated as a corporate sponsor of the legendary race event.The 92nd running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will take place on Sunday, June 29.

In addition, Honda Power Sports will be the official ATV / UTV of the event, showcasing its latest products to support the sanctioning body. 

“Pikes Peak presents us with a unique opportunity to showcase Honda’s diverse product lineup and to energize Honda fans around the world, as we work to further strengthen Honda’s presence in racing at all levels,” said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development, the racing arm of American Honda.“Our associates will be working hard between now and Race Day to prepare this diverse field of race vehicles and showcase the Honda Racing Spirit.”

This year also represents the first time a competitor at Pikes Peak has worked with the sanctioning body to improve overall safety at the historic event.  Showcasing its global commitment to safety, Honda has worked with the AMA and the Pikes Peak sanctioning 
body to implement the race-proven technology of AirFence Provided by RoadRacing World Action Fund on key corners of the course.  The AirFence has been successfully used in professional motorcycle racing worldwide and promises to enhance the 92ndrunning of the Pikes Peak hill climb.

With support from Honda’s North American R&D and motorsports companies – Honda R&D Americas, Inc. and Honda Performance Development, Inc. – the company will campaigna broad range of Honda and Acura vehicles, as well as Honda motorcycles and ATVs.Honda will showcase its diverse range of fun-to-drive/ride products and will field products in seven race classes, building upon the unprecedented level of involvement in 2013.

Along with vehicles developed and piloted by Honda’s North American associates under the banners of Honda Performance Development (HPD) and Team-Honda Research (THR), Honda is also supporting 2011 Pikes Peak Rookie of the Year and second-placeoverall finisher Romain Dumas in his own entry of a Honda-powered Norma RD Limited prototype chassis in the Unlimited class.

As a further extension of Honda’s sponsorship effort, Honda Power Equipment will be supporting race operations, with Honda generators providing electricity and light to the pits and staging area. Honda Power Sports will also be providing Honda ATV / UTV products to support the sanctioning body during race week. 

Honda has competed in the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on a less ambitious scale in the recent past. In 2011, Honda campaigned a Fit hatchback that was built and piloted by Honda engineers from North America.In 2012, the company fielded an Acura NSX powered by an ALMS P2 twin-turbo V-6 engine supplied by Honda Performance Development (HPD), and outfitted with an ex-Le Mans body and wide-body kit, with support from members of the Ohio-based Honda of America Race Team (HART).Prior to that, Honda set records in EV class in 1994 and 1999 with the Honda EV Plus. In 2013, Honda competed in 10 distinct racing classes with 11 vehicles – the most of any single O.E.M.in the history of Pikes Peak.  At this event, Honda is continuing its efforts to showcase its racing spirit and its commitment to safety.  This year also marks the first time Hondawill be supporting Romain Dumas with Honda power to challenge the Unlimited class.