A consistent, solid run from the Honda Performance Development-equipped Strakka Racing brought the British-based team top honors in the LMP1 Privateer category and a sixth-overall finish at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Strakka driving trio of Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts brought its Honda-powered HPD ARX-03c through a rain and accident-plagued event that saw a total of six hours contested under caution.  Strakka battled a two-car effort from Rebellion Racing throughout the first 18 hours, overcoming minor mechanical issues, a puncture and brief off-course excursion to split the Toyota-powered Rebellion Lolas as daylight returned to the Circuit de la Sarthe.

When Andrea Belicchi crashed the #13 Rebellion Toyota-Lola with just under six hours remaining, Strakka moved into the privateer team lead, and would hold its advantage through two rain showers in the final hours to score the inaugural official class victory for private LMP1 teams.  Only the full “works” manufacturer-entered teams from Audi and Toyota finished ahead.

The 90th running of the 24-hour racing classic was marred by a single-car crash in the opening hour that claimed the life of Danish racer Allan Simonsen, who was driving a GTE-category Aston Martin when he lost control and collided with the trackside barriers.

In LMP2, the largest class at Le Mans this year with 22 entries, the American-based Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX-03b of Ryan Briscoe, Marino Franchitti and Scott Tucker battled a variety of issues that combined to blunt HPD’s attempt at a second-consecutive LMP2 victory at Le Mans, and third in the last four years.

Running third in class after three hours on the strength of a strong opening segment from Briscoe, a punctured tire befell Franchitti and cost the Level 5 team two laps with an unscheduled pit stop.  Additional problems, including excessive crankcase pressure, resulted in more time lost as the race approached the 12-hour mark. 

The ARX-03b was eventually taken into the garage for additional repairs.  Although this marked the first in-race failure in the three-year history of the production-based Honda HR28TT twin-turbo V6 engine, the Level 5 team was able to resume running in the final hour for team owner/driver Tucker to finish on track.

This weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans also was the third round of the 2013 World Endurance Championship.  The WEC nowtakes a two-month break before continuing September 1 with the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil. 

Danny Watts(Strakka Racing HPD ARX-03a) finished 6th overall and 1stin the privateer category, first privateer win for Strakka in 2013: “It’s not really sunk in that I’ve been on the podium at Le Mans, because I’m so tired. I have to apologize to Jonny [Kane], because I missed his last race-finishing stint.  I was asleep in the back of the truck! My side hurts a little, but I’m not so much physically whacked as mentally drained.  It’s been a very emotional twenty-four hours with what happened to Allan Simonsen. I had to take the start from thirty-sixth on the grid, so there was a bit of pressure on me to stay out of trouble – which I managed to do. I went on and had a really good three-hour, forty-five minute stint which got us through all the GT and LMP2 cars. My second stint was at night and the car was consistent and fairly easy to drive. It’s great to win the LMP1 Privateers’ award, but what’s most important is that we get double points for the WEC.  I think we can kick on from here, and really take the fight to the Rebellions.” 

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on the 90th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans:  “A bit of a bittersweet day for us.  Of course, we were very happy to see another solid effort from Strakka Racing finally rewarded, with their privateer LMP1 championship, and sixth-place overall finish.  It was a wonderful result for a team that continues to impress with their consistency and excellent preparation.  But we’re a little bit disappointed with our result in LMP2, where we were seeking our third class win since 2010.  We had high hopes for the Level 5 team this weekend, but unfortunately the crankcase pressure issue prevented them from contending for the victory, but the team persevered and was back on track for the finish.  Finally, our thoughts are with the family, associates and many friends of Allan Simonsen.  While not a member of the HPD family, he was a racer, like everyone at HPD.  His loss is a loss for us all.”

In true short-oval racing fashion, Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon fought his way into the final qualifying heat race Saturday evening at Iowa Speedway, then finished fifth to lead the Honda-powered field in IZOD IndyCar Series qualifying for Sunday’s Iowa Corn Indy 250.

A unique combination of single-car qualifying and heat-race action was used to set the field for Sunday’s final short oval race of 2013.  Dixon posted the eighth-fastest speed in qualifying, which put him on the pole for the first of two semi-final heat races.  Dixon and fellow Honda driver Takuma Sato finished 1-2 in the first heat, qualifying both drivers for the final.

In the second semi, Simon Pagenaud applied pressure on early leader Ed Carpenter, but it was Graham Rahal who stormed up from seventh to take the lead with just two laps remaining.  Rahal and the second-finishing Carpenter advanced to the final, while Pagenaud finished third and just missed the cut. 

In the 50-lap final, Dixon was boxed in by traffic at the start, falling to 10th during the hectic opening lap.  Once the field sorted itself out, Dixon began reel in the competition, reaching fifth at the checkers, with Sato seventh and Rahal ninth for Honda.  Sunday’s 250-lap race starts at 3 p.m. EDT, with live network television coverage on ABC.

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara) qualified 5th, his fourth top-10 qualifying of 2013:  “We made a chassis change between Heat 1 and Heat 3, and it definitely made the car better.  I kinda got stuck behind a couple of cars at the start and had to lift, and dropped back.  But the car was working well and I could pass on both the high side and down low, so we were able to move back up.  The car was much more consistent [in the final], so I’m pretty optimistic about our chances tomorrow.”

Honda Performance Development, along with partner teams Strakka Racing and Level 5 Motorsports, returns to the Circuit de la Sarthe this week as the racing division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., seeks to extend its run of class victories and podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Since first appearing at Le Mans in 2010, HPD and its Honda-powered ARX prototypes have won the LMP2 category twice – in 2010 and again in 2012 – and finished on the class podium in all three years. 

In this year’s race, reigning American Le Mans Series LMP2 champion Level 5 Motorsports will defend HPD’s LMP2 crown at Le Mans. A strong driver lineup including Ryan Briscoe, Marino Franchitti and Scott Tucker will share driving duties aboard Level 5’s HPD ARX-03b, powered by the production-based HR28TT twin-turbo V6 engine found in the 2013 Acura RLX and MDX.

In LMP1, Strakka Racing will continue its battle for privateer honors with drivers Jonny Kane, Nick Leventis and Danny Watts against the two-car effort from Rebellion Racing, in addition to full-factory efforts from Audi and Toyota.  British-based Strakka, which moved up to LMP1 in the World Endurance Championship in 2012, led HPD to victory in LMP2 at Le Mans in 2010, and this year will field an HPD ARX-03c, updated for 2013 and again powered by the race-proven Honda LM-V8 naturally aspirated engine. 

In HPD’s first attempt at Le Mans, Strakka won the category and finished fifth overall, the highest-ever finishing position for an LMP2 entry.  Strakka finished six laps ahead of its nearest competitor, and set a new record for laps and miles completed by an LMP2 entry, joining the elite “5,000-kilometer club” in the process.

“Returning to Le Mans, with both LMP1 and LMP2 programs, is an enormous challenge for our engineers and associates,” said Steve Eriksen, vice president and COO of HPD. “We understand the challenge for us in LMP1: Supplying a very strong, but private team in Strakka Racing with our improved ARX-03c, against the might of full factory efforts from Audi and Toyota.  But Honda and HPD have never been afraid to take on strong competition.  As Mr. Honda said, ‘the best place to learn is at the highest level’.  In endurance racing, there is no higher level than LMP1.

“In LMP2, we expect that the proven design of the ARX-03b chassis and HR28TT turbocharged V6 engine – plus the development and engineering expertise of HPD and its technical partners– will provide Level 5 Motorsports with the tools it needs to successfully defend our 2012 class victory.  It will be an exciting race.”

Takuma Sato played a starring role Saturday at the Milwaukee IndyFest, leading a race-high total of 109laps in search of his second IZOD IndyCar Series victory of 2013.  But a yellow flag late in the race – just after his final pit stop of the day – dropped Sato to an unrepresentative seventh-place finish as Ryan Hunter-Reay was able to pit during the final caution and race on to his second consecutive victory at The Milwaukee Mile.

Sato took the lead for the first time on Lap 75 of the 250-lap contest, and was in clear command of the field in the middle stages of the race, extending his lead to as much as five seconds when running in the clear.  But struggles with lapped traffic late in his third run led Sato’s A.J. Foyt Racing team to call him in for his final pit stop early in his pit “window” on Lap 200.  Just 12 laps later, a spin by Ana Beatriz brought out the fourth and final yellow flag of the day and resulted in Sato falling to seventh place as other lead-lap cars were able to make their final stop during the caution and rejoin the field without losing track position.

Scott Dixon was one of those benefiting from pitting during the final yellow flag, and finished sixth for Honda and Target Chip Ganassi Racing.  He briefly ran fourth following the last restart on Lap 220, but was forced out of the racing line and lost two positions as a result.  Teammate Dario Franchitti made gains in the race after a troubled qualifying to finish eighth; while Justin Wilson also made up ground in the final 50 laps to finish ninth for Dale Coyne Racing.

Despite a slight gearing problem that cost him speed on the second of his two timed laps, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing’s Josef Newgarden led the Honda IZOD IndyCar Series qualifying effort Friday at The Milwaukee Mile and will start from the eighth position in Saturday’s Milwaukee IndyFest.

Other Honda-powered drivers had various issues that hindered their qualifying efforts.  Takuma Sato’s first lap was quick enough to contend for the pole, but he slid wide in Turn Three on his second lap and was fortunate not to brush the wall, dropping him down the order.  He will start the ABC Building Supply A.J. Foyt Racing Honda Dallara from 15th.  James Jakes was another driver to have a “moment” early in his qualifying run, but recovered to qualify 12th. 

Sam Schmidt Motorsports teammates Simon Pagenaud and Tristan Vautier also had gearing issues that saw them hitting the rev limiter during their runs, but qualified 9th and 10th, respectively.  Several drivers battled poor handling during their runs, including Dario Franchitti and Graham Rahal. 

Saturday’s 250-lap race, the third oval race of 2013, starts at 3:30 p.m. with live network television coverage on the NBC Sports Network.

Josef Newgarden (#67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda Dallara) qualified 8th, his second consecutive top-eight qualifying result of 2013:  “I think we could’ve run a little bit better.  We hit the ‘hard limiter’ [limiting maximum engine rpms] in Turn One and that really drags you down.  But we’ve got a really good handling car for tomorrow, and that’s when it counts.  We tuned it and made it better from our starting package, which was already good.  So we should be really strong for the race.”

On a night when tire management and consistent handling were the keys to success, Dario Franchitti and his Honda-powered Target Chip Ganassi Racing team recovered from a poor opening segment in Saturday night’s Firestone 500K and combined long runs between pit stops with handling improvements during each stop to finish sixth at Texas Motor Speedway.

Other Honda-powered IZOD IndyCar Series drivers and teams, including Josef Newgarden, Justin Wilson, James Jakes and Scott Dixon, all ran in the lead pack at times during the 128-lap contest, but all encountered problems at various times to prevent strong results.

Dixon was the first to encounter difficulty, a broken rear axle component resulting in a long pit stop, followed by a brief flash fire during attempted repairs that resulted minor injuries to three Ganassi pit crew members.  Newgarden, who ran as high as second in the early laps, was caught out by a pair of unfortunately-timed yellow flags, putting him one lap down to the leaders in eighth at the checkers. 

Wilson, the 2012 Texas race winner, and Jakes, coming off a second-place finish last week in Detroit, both had long runs in the lead group.  Like Newgarden, Wilson also ran as high as second, but rapid tire wear during the closing third of the race sent him spiraling down the order to an unrepresentative 15th-place finish.  Jakes also spent the first half of the contest near the front of the field, but dropped in the final 30 laps to finish 12th.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dario Franchitti posted the fourth-fastest speed on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, leading the 12-driver Honda field in IZOD IndyCar Series qualifying for Saturday night’s Firestone 550K.

Second-year IndyCar driver Josef Newgarden qualified seventh for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, his best qualifying effort of the season, with Charlie Kimball recording his third top-10 qualifying effort of 2013.  He will start eighth for Chip Ganassi Novo Nordisk Racing.  James Jakes also continued his recent run of strong qualifying performances this year for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and will start 10th. 

Justin Wilson, the 2012 winner at Texas, will start 22nd after handling problems prevented the Dale Coyne Racing driver from posting a representative qualifying run, while Tristan Vautier (a scheduled engine change after completing 2,000 miles on his current engine) and Takuma Sato (transmission failure) elected to skip qualifying and will start at the rear of the 24-car field.

Saturday’s 228-lap race, the second oval and first Saturday night race of 2013, starts at 7:30 p.m. with live network television coverage on ABC.

Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara) qualified 4th, his third top-four qualifying result of 2013:  “There’s good speed in the car for a couple of laps [in qualifying], but I’m more interested in how the car performs over a long run. We’re running a little less downforce than last year, and some of that will go away [in the race] as night falls and temperatures cool tomorrow night.     That will be the key to the race, and where we focus our efforts [in final practice].”  

TORRANCE, Calif. (June5, 2013) –Honda-powered IndyCar racer Simon Pagenaud, winner of Sunday’s IZOD IndyCar Series race in Detroit, will make his “Race to the Clouds” debut later this month,driving a highly-modified Honda Odyssey as part of Honda’s record-setting 11-vehicle, nine-class effort at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

With support from Honda’s North American motorsports and R&D companies – Honda Performance Development and Honda R&D Americas, Inc. – the company will campaign a broad range of Honda and Acura vehicles, motorcycles and ATVs.  Pagenaudwill pilot a turbocharged, 500+ horsepower Honda Odyssey, originally developed for competition by associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama.

“This is something I’m really looking forward to,” Pagenaud said of Pikes Peak.  “I’ve done a little bit of rallying in France, and I used to watch highlights of the Pikes Peak race on television as a kid.  Our entry will be unique, to say the least!  A Honda Odyssey with power similar to an IndyCar will raise some eyebrows for sure! But with the preparation it is getting from Team Honda Research, it will be a proper race car, and I’m very excited about it.”

Modifications to the Odyssey include a turbocharged, intercooled 3.5-liter V6 engine; six-speed transmission and limited-slip differential from the Acura TL product line; racing suspension and brakes, including 19-inch BBS wheels equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires; and a full competition rollcage.

The 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year, Pagenaud started sixth in Sunday’s Indy Dual at Detroit and dominated the second half of the 70-lap contest, taking the checkers more than five seconds clear of the field for his first IndyCar Series victory.  The win also moved the 29-year-old Frenchman to fifth in the drivers’ championship standings after seven of 19 races. 

Pagenaud and his Odyssey will be entered in the “Exhibition” category, as will a Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe, driven by Sage Marie from Honda North America, as Honda showcases a diverse range of “fun to drive/ride” products in both car and motorcycle classes.  Other than Pagenaud, the entries will be piloted by Honda associates under the Honda Performance Development (HPD) and Team Honda Research (THR) banners.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will serve as Partnering Sponsor of the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the first time the company has participated as a corporate sponsor of this historic event, which celebrates its 91st running on June 30.  In addition, Honda Power Equipment will be supporting race operations, with Honda generators providing electricity and light to the pits and staging area.

Honda has competed in the 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 V6 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). In prior years, Honda set records in the EV class in 1994 and 1999 with the Honda EV Plus. This year also marks the return of advanced Honda EV technology to America’s second-oldest race, in the form of a 2012 Honda Fit EV.

In a race where a flurry of early cautions resulted in a variety of pit strategies, Simon Pagenaud and his Schmidt Hamilton HP Motorsports team played the game to perfection Sunday at the Belle Isle Park in Detroit, winning the second of two IZOD IndyCar Series races this weekend on the 2.3-mile temporary street circuit, and leading a Honda first-through-fifth sweep.

Coupled with a win by Honda-powered Mike Conway in Saturday’s weekend opener, the weekend results moved Honda back to within three points from the lead in the 2013 IndyCar Manufacturers’ Championship, after seven of 19 races. 

Starting sixth on the alternate “red” tires, which provide superior grip to the standard “black” sidewall tires but wear out much quicker, Pagenaud moved up to third behind Saturday’s winner Conway, as a total of six caution periods repeatedly interrupted the action during the first half of the 70-lap contest.  During a caution on Lap 20, Pagenaud made his first scheduled stop and was fitted with the more durable “black” sidewall primary tires. 

A long middle stint saw Pagenaud cycle to the front of the field as the race ran caution-free from Lap 37 to the finish. He built a massive lead of more than 20 seconds before his final pit stop, allowing him to resume in second place behind fellow Honda driver James Jakes.  On a similar strategy, Jakes made his final stop three laps later, promoting Pagenaud into a lead he would hold to the finish.

Jakes, in turn, fought off a determined challenge from Honda-powered Saturday race winner Conway in the final laps to claim a career-best second place, while Conway capped off a surprisingly competitive weekend as a last-minute replacement driver at Dale Coyne Racing by finishing third.

Although on different pit strategies, Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti ran together during the final 10 laps, as Dixon caught and passed a fuel-saving Franchitti, who completed a sweep of the top five finishing positions for Honda.  In the third Chip Ganassi Racing entry, Charlie Kimball had another strong run, leading three laps en route to a seventh-place finish.

After the first doubleheader street-circuit race weekend this year, the IZOD IndyCar Series returns to the ovals for the next three consecutive weekends, starting with the June 8 race at Texas Motor Speedway, the first Saturday night race of the 2013 season.

On Tuesday, Mike Conway was in his native England, keeping fit for his European sports-car racing program, with no firm plans to return to the IZOD IndyCar Series.  But on Saturday, Conway was in Victory Circle, heading a 1-3 finish for Honda and Dale Coyne Racing in the Indy Dual at Detroit, the first contest in a two-race “doubleheader” IndyCar race weekend on the Belle Isle Park circuit in downtown Detroit, Michigan. 

A phone call from team owner Dale Coyne, looking for a new driver for his #18 Honda-Dallara, brought Conway back to IndyCar competition, and the veteran British racer grasped the opportunity with both hands, leading 47 of 70 laps en route to his first victory since Long Beach in 2011, and Honda’s second win of 2013.  In addition, earlier on Saturday, Conway qualified on the pole for Sunday’s second 70-lap race of the weekend.

Starting on the outside of the front row, second, Conway jumped into an early lead over pole-starting E.J. Viso.  But it was Viso’s Andretti Autosport teammate, defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, who provided the strongest challenge to Conway’s hopes for victory.  But after the final round of pit stops on Lap 52, Conway was able to extend his advantage over Hunter-Reay, at one point opening up a 19-second lead before backing off in the closing laps for a comfortable, 12-second victory.

Behind his Dale Coyne Racing teammate, Justin Wilson rapidly moved up from his 16th starting position in the opening laps, taking sixth place by Lap 27.  Once among the leaders, Wilson’s Honda also proved to be as quick as Conway’s, and a second-place finish seemed possible, until a dropped wheel gun duringhis last pit stop cost him several seconds, and dropped him to third behind Hunter-Reay.

The Target Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti also produced strong races, with Dixon recovering from 15th on the starting grid to challenge Wilson for third in the closing laps and finishing fourth. 

Although Franchitti qualified on the pole, an unscheduled engine change at Indianapolis and resulting 10-position penalty left him 11th on the starting grid.  But the four-time series champion had one of the best opening stints, moving all the way up to fifth in the first five laps.  He went on to finish sixth after battling Wilson, Dixon and Helio Castroneves in the final laps.

Qualifying for Sunday’s “Dual 2” race was held this morning, with Conway securing Honda’s third pole of 2013 – and the first pole for Dale Coyne Racing in the 30-year history of the team.  Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing’s James Jakes qualified second, making it an all-Honda front row for Sunday’s second 70-lap race in this road-racing doubleheader race weekend.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s Dario Franchitti captured the IZOD IndyCar Series pole Friday in qualifying for the first of two Indy Dual at Detroit races this weekend on the 2.35-mile temporary street circuit at Belle Isle Park, as Honda drivers took seven of the top-10 qualifying positions for Saturday’s “Dual 1” race.

Franchitti rebounded from a crash in morning practice, which damaged the right front suspension of his Dallara chassis, to claim his first pole at Detroit, and 31st careeer IndyCar pole, all with Honda power.

Returning to IndyCar competition for the first time since April’s Grand Prix of Long Beach, Mike Conway qualified third for Honda and Dale Coyne Racing, with James Jakes fourth, a career-best start for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver.  Alex Tagliani rounded out the top six in his Barracuda Racing/BHA Honda, while positions 7-8-9 were taken by Honda drivers Tristan Vautier, Takuma Sato and Simon Pagenaud, respectively.

Saturday’s 70-lap race, the sixth round in the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series, is the first of a double-header race weekend in Detroit. A second 70-lap contest, the seventh round in the championship, is set for Sunday.  Both races start at 3:30 p.m. EDT, with live television coverage on ABC.

Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Dallara) pole qualifier, his 2nd pole of 2012 and 31st career IndyCar pole; Honda’s 2nd pole of 2013:  “The constantly changing conditions today made qualifying a real challenge.  I managed to get through the first wet [knockout qualifying] session, then just threw the car at the track during Q2 as the track started to dry.  The track was fully dry for Q3 [final qualifying], but still very slippery.  It was a real handful, but this track requires an aggressive style.  Thanks to my crew for repairing the car [after a crash in the practice]. The pole is their reward.”

Charging Wilson Finishes Fifth at Indianapolis

In a record-smashing race that saw new marks for lead changes, number of different leaders and average speed, Justin Wilson put on an inspiring charge that led the way for Honda in the final laps, posting the fastest race lap en route to a fifth-place finish at Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

After starting 14th, Wilson took his Dale Coyne Racing Honda Dallara into the top-10 in the early laps, but a blistered rear tire as the 200-lap race neared its mid-point dropped him to the very back of the field and forced the veteran driver to contend with an ill-handling car until the next round of pit stops on Lap 124.  Wilson spent the final portions of the race working is way towards the front of the field, reaching fifth place just after the final race restart on Lap 197, when Dario Franchitti crashed to end the race under caution.

A cool, overcast day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway produced a record 187.433 mph race average, bettering the previous record of 185.981 mph set by Arie Luyendyk in 1990.  In addition, the 68 lead changes – among a record 14 different drivers – shattered the mark of 34 set just last year.

Behind Wilson, Simon Pagenaud brought his Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports Honda from 21st on the starting grid to finish eighth, while Charlie Kimball posted another top-10 result, running ninth in his Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Other Honda drivers encountered problems in today’s 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.  Alex Tagliani was an early top-10 competitor, but dropped off the lead lap after brushing the wall on Lap 168 and having to pit for repairs.  The Target Chip Ganassi Racing duo of Franchitti and Scott Dixon suffered from gearing and handling issues throughout the race, with Dixon finishing 14th and Franchitti crashing without injury on Lap 197 to end the race under caution.

Honda-powered Simon Pagenaud of Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports led the 33-car starting field Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the traditional “Carb Day” final practice session leading up to Sunday’s Indianapolis 500.

Scott Dixon, the 2008 Indy 500 winner, finished the day fourth after leading the time sheets earlier in the hour-long session.  Dixon’s Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, Dario Franchitti, also spent time at the top of the speed charts before ending the day sixth-fastest as Honda drivers took six of the top 10 positions in the session.  James Jakes ran seventh-fastest, for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, followed by Katherine Legge in eighth for the Sam Schmidt organization, with 2011 pole qualifier Alex Tagliani rounding out the top-10 for Barracuda Racing/Bryan Herta Autosport.

The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 starts at 11 a.m. EDT Sunday, May 26, with live television coverage on ABC. 

Simon Pagenaud (#77 Hewlett Packard Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) fastest in the final practice prior to the Indianapolis 500:  “The car is really good in race trim. We are really happy with the way it used up the tires, the way it goes through its stints. Honda has done a lot of work before qualifying and after qualifying.  Honda’s mentality is to go racing and that’s exactly what they’re doing. They provided us with an engine that is clearly a lot better, so it’s a good sign for the race.”

Honda Announces Major USAC Partnership Program

Title Sponsorship of USAC National, Ignite and .25-Midget Series;Engine; Official Vehicle, ATV, and Pit Bike Programs Included

TORRANCE, Calif. (May 23, 2013) –American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced a comprehensive motorsports partnership program with the United States Auto Club (USAC), including title sponsorship of several USAC racing series and a new role as Official Engine Supplier to the Ignite Midget Series.  Implementation of these programs will begin this year, and will be fully in effect for the 2014 race season.

Under terms of the multi-year agreement, Honda will become title sponsor for USAC’s NationalMidget, Ignite Midget (to be renamed Honda Midget) and .25 Midget racing series.  Honda K24 “crate” engines, sold and distributed by USAC, will become the new spec engine for the HondaMidget Series.

Honda K- and F-series engines, also supplied by HPD,are currently being utilizedby individual teams in the USAC National Midget Series, and Honda GX-series engines remain a popular choice for .25 Midget competition. 

Honda will become the official vehicle of USAC, as well as the Official Side-by-Side and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) supplier; Official Generator and Official Pit Bike for the sanctioning body.  In addition, Honda will become the presenting sponsor of all USAC National race broadcasts,via live streaming through USAC.TV, Ustream and USACRacing.com. 

“Historically, USAC has occupied a leadership role in oval-track racing and grass roots motorsports nationwide,” said Mike Accavitti, Senior Vice President, Automobile Operations, for American Honda.  “We’re pleased to be able to greatly expand our role in USAC competition,while taking the next significant step in advancing HPD’s grassroots motorsports initiative.  We look forward to a long and successful association.”

Honda will supply USAC with Honda Civic Si pace cars for the National Midget and HondaMidget series.  Honda Side-by-Sides and ATVs also will be utilized by series officials.  Signage rights for the sponsored series, including Victory Circle, will be provided to Honda for the length of the agreement; and the iconic Honda “Circle H” logo will be placed on all Quarter Midget and Honda Midget entries. 

“USAC is extremely pleased to announce the new partnership with Honda today,” says USAC CEO/President Kevin Miller. “Honda’s new level of participation throughout USAC’s racing programs brings new energy with its national marketing footprint. USAC and Honda have partnered today to create an expanded level of excitement in the Midget racing communityand we look forward to a mutually rewarding motorsports experience for all involved.”

Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994, and has played an active role in Indy car competition– as both a Manufacturers’ Championship competitor and single engine supplier –since 1994.

In competition with other auto companies, Hondahas won sixchampionships, more than any other manufacturer.  In years of multi-manufacturer competition, Honda-powered drivers have won eight titles, again more than any other.  Honda has a total of 197 race victories in open-wheel racing, 65 in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) competition and 132 in IndyCar.

As engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series from 2006-2011, Honda supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field, and for a record-six consecutive years,the ‘500’ ran without a single engine failure.

Honda scored its first Indianapolis 500 victory in 2004 with Buddy Rice; and the 2012 race, won by Dario Franchitti, was Honda’s ninth consecutive “500” triumph – both against competition from other manufacturers and as sole engine supplier.

Founded in 1993, HPDis the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines, and competes at race circuits around the world from its headquarters inSanta Clarita, California.  The company is marking it’s 20th anniversary as American Honda’s racing arm in 2013.

In addition to its efforts in Indy car racing, HPD spearheaded championship-winning efforts in the 2009-2012 American Le Mans Series, and in the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mansin both 2010 and 2012.  HPD offers a variety of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases “fun-to-drive” products for professional, amateur and entry-level racers.

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (May 22, 2013) –Featuring a state-of-the-art driving simulator rarely seen outside of Formula One, Honda Performance Development officially opened its Indiana Tech Center Wednesday, in the Indianapolis suburb of Brownsburg, Ind.

Driver-in-the-Loop [DIL] simulator technologyhas been employed successfully by HPD’s sports-car racing programsince 2007 at a facility in England.  HPD’s new Tech Center brings that capability to themid-west, a location centralto the American racing community.

A DIL Simulator can save racing teams both time and money, as extensive test programs can be run through the simulator, with the team’s driver at the wheel and engineers monitoring “lap times”, prior to going to the expense and time-consuming process of actual on-track testing.

“Because [setup] changes can be done so quickly, the DIL Simulator allows you to run through many more [chassis geometry and track condition] changes than you could perform with an actual race car,” said Gil de Ferran, Indianapolis 500 winner, Indy car champion and now a consultant to HPD.  “It also allows you to perform experiments that would be completely impractical – or highly expensive – on an actual race car.”

Design and construction of this latest-generation DIL Simulator began in the summer of 2012, and a site in the Indianapolis suburb of Brownsburg was selected for its central location and proximity toracing teams and drivers.

After construction and initial testing, the DIL Simulator was installed at the new HPD Tech Center in Brownsburg and began operations earlier this month.  In the future, in addition to Honda-powered IndyCar and sports-car racing teams, the Simulator and HPD Tech Center facilities will be available for use by teams taking part in other series.HPD offers in-house engineering support for drivers and teams utilizing the DIL Simulator.  Customized simulations can be established to meet the specific needs of the teams.

“Similar to the decision to design, develop and build the new Acura NSX in Ohio, the HPD Tech Center is another example of Honda bringing R&D activities to the heart of the North American motorsports community, said Steve Eriksen, HPD vice president and chief operating officer. “This is a development tool that will bring benefits to all of our motorsports activities, through a focus on total vehicle performance encompassing both engine and chassis.”

The HPD DIL Simulator provides a cost-effective means of testing chassis setup changes, aerodynamics, engine mapping and future development paths, prior to turning a wheel on the race track.  It also allows teams to replicate and experience many on-track situations, including changing track temperatures, surface grip, air temperature and wind direction/strength.

The Simulator provides an opportunity for drivers and engineers to strengthen their working relationships and understanding of one another, without the expense and time required by on-track testing.  In addition, drivers can learn circuits and configurations prior to arriving at a newtrack.  It can also be used as a coaching tool, and aid in driver development programs.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the Honda racing company within North America.  Located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines. The company is marking it’s 20thanniversary in 2013.

As one of three engine suppliers to the IZOD IndyCar Series, Honda won the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with driver Dario Franchitti; and has scored 197 race victories in both CART and IZOD IndyCar Series competition since 1994.

HPD takes part in both the American Le Mans Series–where the company swept all manufacturer, engine, team and driver awards in the 2012 ALMS LMP1 and LMP2 categories–and the FIA World Endurance Championship, winning the inaugural LMP2 championship during a year where it again took anLMP2 class win at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans, the company’s second class win at Le Mans in just three consecutive attempts.

HPD offers a variety of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases “fun-to-drive” products for professional, amateur and entry-level racers.

Second-year IZOD IndyCar Series driver Josef Newgarden led the field Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the final day of qualifying for next weekend’s Indianapolis 500.  Newgarden’s four-lap average of 225.731 mph, posted shortly after the historic 2.5-mile oval opened for qualifying at 12 p.m. EDT, put his Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda at the top of the final nine qualifiers who successfully joined the 33-car starting field today.

Graham Rahal also posted a four-lap qualifying average of just over 225 mph for the second-fastest run of the day and will start from 26th, while reigning Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 with a run of 224.873 mph and will start from the inside of the 10th row, 28th.  

Other Honda-powered qualifiers in final “Bump Day” qualifying included Ana Beatriz, 29th, and her Dale Coyne Racing teammate, Pippa Mann on the outside of the 10th row, in 30th. Another Indy 500 rookie, Conor Daly, bounced back from a heavy crash on Thursday to qualify 31st for A.J. Foyt Racing; while Katherine Legge ran only her first practice laps for this year’s race this morning, but still claimed the 33rdand final starting spot in a Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda.

IZOD IndyCar Series activities at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway resume on Friday with the traditional final practice session, known as “Carb Day”.  The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 starts at 11 a.m. EDT Sunday, May 26, with live television coverage on ABC. 

Josef Newgarden (#21 Century 21 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda) qualified 25th, fastest in the final day of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500:  “We’re in the show, so it’s good!  We had a little bit of a bobble yesterday [in first-day qualifying] and we weren’t able to show our representative speed.  But we did a little bit better today and I think we have even more to come for the race.  We’ve got a lot of confidence going into our second ‘500’”.

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development): “Congratulations to the second-day qualifiers, and to the Sam Schmidt team for getting its third car prepared and in the show for Katherine [Legge].  A number of Honda-powered cars put in considerable mileage today, which demonstrated good reliability.  The hard work for HPD will continue throughout this week, as we prepare to give our teams the best possible shot at winning next Sunday’s race.”

Veteran Canadian Indy car driver Alex Tagliani led the Honda effort in “Pole Day” qualifying Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and will start 11th in next weekend’s 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.  Tagliani’s four-lap average of 227.386 mph was almost a full mile per hour faster than the 2012 pole speed of 226.484 mph, set by Ryan Briscoe, yet still missed the making the final “Top Nine Shootout” by just one-tenth of a mile per hour.

Nine Honda-powered drivers made successful qualifying runs today around the historic 2.5-mile oval, with Justin Wilson qualifying 14th to lead the three-car Dale Coyne Racing effort.  Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti will start 16th and 17th, respectively.  In 2012, Franchitti went on to win his third “500” after starting 16th.

IZOD IndyCar Series points leader Takuma Sato will start 18th for Honda and A.J. Foyt Racing, followed by Charlie Kimball in the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, 19th.  After being knocked out of the field – the first 24 positions of the 33-driver grid were set in today’s qualifying runs – James Jakes dramatically “bumped” his way back into the field in the final minutes of qualifying, and will start 20th in his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda.

Simon Pagenaud, making his second “500” start for Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports, qualified 21st, while 2012 pole qualifier Briscoe rounded out the first-day qualifiers for Honda, and will start 23rd in his NTT Data Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

Action at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway continues tomorrow with a morning practice session, followed by final “Bump Day” qualifying to set the final nine starting positions for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.  Television coverage, beginning at 11 a.m. EDT, will be provided by the NBC Sports Network. 

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development): “Obviously, we came here shooting for the pole, but came up short.  We’re all racers at Honda, and today’s results are very disappointing.  But we’ve got a pretty good record of winning here [at Indianapolis, with nine consecutive race victories], and hopefully we’ll be drinking milk again next weekend.   We have to knuckle down and keep fighting.  That’s what we did in 2012, and that’s what we plan to do again this year.”

Alex Tagliani (#98 Barracuda Racing/BHA Honda) qualified 11th for the second consecutive year at the Indianapolis 500:  “I’m very pleased with the team. The boys had somewhat of a rough week, but worked really hard to make sure that we had a strong car.I’m super confident with the car that we have for the race. I’m also very pleased with how Honda improved during the week of practice. They responded really well to what I was asking from the engine for my qualifying run. Honda worked with us to make sure we had a fair chance to fight the competition, and I’m pleased with the way they responded.”

Dario Franchitti, three-timeand defending Indianapolis 500 winner and a four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion, led the Honda-powered field Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on “Fast Friday”, the final day of practice prior to qualifying for this year’s 500-mile race.

Franchitti had posted the ninth-quickest speed, 227.080 mph, around the 2.5-mile oval when a thunderstorm brought an end to the day’s activities just after 3 p.m.  He also was quickest overall in practice on Wednesday.

Takuma Sato, the current IZOD IndyCar Series championship points leader and winner of last month’s Grand Prix of Long Beach, posted the 10th-fastest speed today, despite running only 14 laps during the abbreviated day.

Action at the speedway continues tomorrow with a morning practice session, followed by Pole Day qualifying to set the first 24 starting positions for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.  Television coverage, beginning at 11 a.m. EDT, will be provided by the NBC Sports Network. 

Takuma Sato(#14 A.J. Foyt Racing Honda): “Today was quite straightforward. On ‘Fast Friday’ we have higher boost andonly look for the qualifying set up. After the first run we made some goodprogress and the second run was quite satisfying. We were not able toexplore more due to the rain but I think we’re in quite good shape. We’llreview the details tonight and fine tune the ABC Supply car tomorrow morningto prepare for qualifying. It was short but quite a good day.”

Honda to Participate in the FIA Formula One World Championship

16 May 2013

Honda will be in charge of the development, manufacture and supply
of the power unit, including the engine and energy recovery system,
while McLaren will be in charge of the development and manufacture of
the chassis, as well as the management of the new team, McLaren Honda.

From
2014, new F1 regulations require the introduction of a 1.6 litre direct
injection turbocharged V6 engine with energy recovery systems. The
opportunity to further develop these powertrain technologies through the
challenge of racing is central to Honda’s decision to participate in
F1. Throughout its history, Honda has passionately pursued improvements
in the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and in more recent
years, the development of pioneering energy management technologies such
as hybrid systems. Participation in Formula 1 under these new
regulations will encourage even further technological progress in both
these areas. Furthermore, a new generation of Honda engineers can
experience the challenges and the thrills of operating at the pinnacle
of motorsport.

Commenting on this exciting development, Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said:
“Ever
since its establishment, Honda has been a company which grows by taking
on challenges in racing. Honda has a long history of advancing our
technologies and nurturing our people by participating in the world’s
most prestigious automobile racing series. The new F1 regulations with
their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater
development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our
participation in F1. We have the greatest respect for the FIA’s¹
decision to introduce these new regulations that are both highly
challenging but also attractive to manufacturers that pursue
environmental technologies and to Formula One Group², which
has developed F1 into a high value, top car racing category supported by
enthusiastic fans. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to
Mr. Jean Todt, the President of FIA¹ and to Mr. Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One Group²
who showed great understanding and cooperation to help realise our
participation in F1 racing. The corporate slogan of Honda is “The Power
of Dreams”. This slogan represents our strong desire to pursue and
realise our dreams together with our customers and fans. Together with
McLaren, one of the most distinguished F1 constructors, Honda will mark a
new beginning in our challenges in F1.”

Also, Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of McLaren Group Limited said；
“The
names of McLaren and Honda are synonymous with success in Formula One,
and, for everyone who works for both companies, the weight of our past
achievements together lies heavily on our shoulders. But it’s a mark of
the ambition and resolve we both share that we want once again to take
McLaren Honda to the very pinnacle of Formula One success. Together we
have a great legacy – and we’re utterly committed to maintaining it.”

Jean Todt, President of FIA said;
“I
am very happy to hear about Honda’s important decision to return to
Formula One with McLaren from 2015. The introduction of the new power
train next year, in the form of a 1.6 litre, 6 cylinder engine with
direct injection and energy recovery, is a very exciting challenge and
demonstrates a vision for the future of the sport. I am sure that Honda
will become a strong contender in the years to come. ”

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Group said;
“It
is a great pleasure to see Honda back in Formula One. Their engine
technology and passion for motor sports make them a natural Formula One
contender.”

Level 5 Dominates LMP2 As HPD Sweeps Again

In a four-hour event that included multiple lead changes and unintentional contact late in the race that helped decide the contest, the Muscle Milk Pickett Racingduo of Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf prevailed to win an exciting American Le Mans Series Monterey at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, taking their HPD ARX-03c Honda to the overall and LMP1 victory over the Toyota-powered Lola of Rebellion Racing and drivers Nick Heidfeld and Neel Jani.

In addition, Level 5 Motorsports made it a clean prototype sweep for Honda Performance Development-equipped teams in California, claiming a 1-2 finish in LMP2 for drivers Marino Franchitti, Scott Tucker and Ryan Briscoe in their pair of HPD ARX-03b Hondas.  This weekend’s victories at Laguna Seca followed wins in April at the Grand Prix of Long Beach for Muscle Milk Pickett and HPD-equipped Extreme Speed Motorsports in the LMP2 category, the second consecutive season that HPD has swept both California rounds of the American Le Mans Series.

Starting third, Graf quickly passed the Mazda-powered Lola of Chris Dyson to move into second behind Rebellion’s Heidfeld, setting up a race-long duel around the hilly, 2.4-mile Laguna circuit.  The pair swapped the lead both on track and in pit lane, including a pair of thrilling passes by the Muscle Milk HPD entering the famous Laguna Seca “corkscrew”.  The deciding moment came with just over 37 minutes remaining in the contest, when leader Luhr and Rebellion’s Jani, who was just behind, split their way around a slower GTC class Porsche.  Luhr passed on the left, and Jani on the right, then the pair made heavy side-to-side contact as they prepared to enter the right-hand Turn 3. 

At first, it appeared the Luhr’s HPD had received the brunt of the collision, as he continued in second place with visible damage to the right front fender.  But soon it became apparent that Jani had damaged his left front tire, and he was forced to pit for a replacement before continuing to a second-place finish. Now back in the lead, Luhr took the checkers for Muscle Milk Pickett Racing’s second victory of 2013, an early lead in the LMP1 championship, and his own American Le Mans Series-record 43rd race win.

In LMP2, Level 5 romped to a 1-2 finish in their HPD ARX-03bs after early race problems hobbled the similar cars from Extreme Speed Motorsports.  Level 5 owner/driver Tucker started in the team’s #551 HPD, then handed it off to Franchitti, who went on to the win.  Briscoe started the team’s #552 HPD, which also enjoyed a trouble-free run to second with Tucker driving the final stint. 

A pair of punctures blunted the LMP2 challenge of Extreme Speed’s #01 HPD and starting driver Guy Cosmo, although the team and co-driver Scott Sharp persevered to finish third in class.  Teammates Ed Brown and Johannes van Overbeek battled electrical issues that ended their race after 64 laps.

After a two-race swing through California, the American Le Mans Series has a one-month layoff as several leading teams – including Level 5 – take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.  The series resumes June 6 with the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut.

At Le Mans, HPD will field single-car efforts from World Endurance Championship regulars Strakka Racing in the LMP1 privateer category, and Level 5 in LMP2.  The 2013 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place on June 22-23.

Lucas Luhr (#6 Muscle Milk Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03c) 1st in LMP2 with co-driver Klaus Graf:  “In sports car racing, it’s not always about who has the quickest car in perfect conditions, but it’s who has the quickest car under all circumstances – like in traffic.  I took a big risk when I had to get by [Rebellion Racing driver Neel Jani], but for me it was clear that was our only chance and I took it.  Later on, we had a coming together, but [it was not intentional], it was just an unlucky race situation.  I have to pay a big compliment to our team.  It’s so comforting to come into the pits and you know not to worry, that the guys will get it done, that the right decisions have been made.  As a driver, inside the car you don’t always get the [full] picture and you get fired up.  But our engineer Brandon [Fry] is the calmest.  He was on the radio and said ‘Don’t worry. We got it buddy’.  A big thanks to them; it’s an awesome win.”

Marino Franchitti(#551 Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX-03b) 1st in LMP2 with co-driver Scott Tucker:  “It was a perfect weekend and a great way for Level 5 to bounce back after a tough weekend at Long Beach.  Especially going into Le Mans, this is what we needed.  The guys have been working day and night preparing for this race.  Scott [Tucker], myself and Ryan [Briscoe] have worked really hard with the engineers on the setup of the car and I think it showed today.”

Roger Griffiths (Technical Director, Honda Performance Development) on Saturday’s double victory at Laguna Seca:  “Congratulations to both Muscle Milk Pickett Racing for their exciting overall win at Laguna Seca and to Level 5 for their 1-2 finish in LMP2.  LMP1 is proving to be very competitive this year, but we welcome the challenge at HPD and Muscle Milk/Pickett Racing is doing an incredible job.  In LMP2, Level 5 had a nearly flawless weekend, although Long Beach winners Extreme Speed encountered issues with tire punctures on one car, while the other suffered a reccurring issue in the wiring that the team and HPD will investigate.  Level 5 has again demonstrated why it is one of the top teams in LMP2 worldwide, and the team should be well-prepared for next month’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, as HPD seeks its third class victory in our fourth appearance at this great event.”