Honda driver Ryan Hunter-Reay believes the Chevrolets weren’t showing their full potential during testing for the 100th Indianapolis 500 after Honda posted the top four fastest lap times Tuesday and the top two fastest lap times Wednesday.
Honda drivers were 1-2-3-4 for lap times on the Day 1 of Indy 500 testing and 1-2-5 on Day 2. As Motorsport points out, Honda was also 1-2-3-6-7-10 on the combined sheets, with Andretti Autosport’s Marco Andretti posting the fastest lap yet on Monday at 228.978 mph.
“I’m just waiting for them to turn the wick up,” Hunter-Reay told Motorsport when asked about Chevy’s unusual lack of pace during practice. “I’m not sure when that’s coming.”
Team Penske’s Will Power, who was the fastest Chevy driver in practice with a lap of 227.773mph, played down the accusations, saying he doesn’t think Chevy will have the same edge this year as they did in 2015.
“I think the cars are a little slower this year for sure, and the Hondas look strong, very strong,” he said. “We wish that we didn’t use the domed skids and we had the strakes now.”
Power added that he thinks it’s “hard to tell,” if Chevy will be able to close the apparent gap to Honda come race day, but Hunter-Reay is convinced the bowties will certainly be fighting for top positions.
“Once the boost gets turned up, everything changes,” Hunter-Reay said. “You have different torque curves in these engines, different — where some are better in other areas, and it’ll be all over the place. Come Friday, yes, absolutely expect Ganassi, Penske, Carpenter, these guys all to be up in the mix.”
The 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 will go green on Sunday, May 29th at 12:19 p.m.
Comments
Indy Car should have never let Honda back in. They should have let chevy keep running there sorry butts over. Stop letting the japs in. If Honda can’t keep up thats there problem
Good for Chevy! This is as old as racing it’s self. If they would be fast right from day one, Honda would scream foul and the rules would be changed. If Chevy hasn’t shown their hand, hopefully they wait til the race, then it will be too late. Gentlemen, “Start your engines!”
I have suspected they were laying back. This is how it used to be.
They have had the best cars but you have to use care as you can not stink up the show too much or the rules change. Just ask the Corvette guys.
The fact is Indy and GM needs Honda in the series. If there is no one to beat then what is the point? The cars are spec car like already at least the engines give them some personality.
To have a successful series anymore and to keep MFG’s involved they have to work to keep balance in the race if not everyone bails out. The loser because they can’t win and often in time the winner as there is no point racing yourself.
Technology and cost have ended the run what you brung type competition. It is sad but it is the reality of it all.
What I would like to see done is the rules changed to put the driver more in charge of the car. Take away down force and make them drive the cars and use the brakes. Sure it would be slower but it would even things up and really show case the drivers with control and those who just got in with a rich sponsor.
Might even see a lot more American Sprint Car drivers return.
How about the return of high tech front engine roadsters? Only Production Engines of choice, limit the size, no turbos or superchargers and open to imganiation.
Roadsters are a problem. They would have to be tall high center of gravity and the heat from the engine would not be what the drivers like. Also the balance would be way off. I would love to see old roadsters tried but I just don’t see it happening today.
Now I have been a big promoter of going back to more stock based production engine. Just make sure they do not go the route where the stock block rule let Benz do they did with the Ilmore Push Rod Beast. When making rules you have to consider Penske and others with deep pockets as to how much and how far they will go to win.
Right now I would love to see a production block V6 be used and if it is offered with twin turbo then you could use it. Also a Turbo 4 would not be an issue. Lets face it the Offys were turbo charged 4 cylinders and were one of the most competitive engines at the speedway. They even sounded good.
I think the cross promotion would be a benefit for the MFG, Now understand all of them would be heavily modified to survive the long races with high RPM just as NASCAR. So I am not sure you would save much Money as it would still be expensive. .
Another way to limit power is to limit fuel. It is a difficult balance as it was tried before and teams would run out.
To be honest when i saw rumors of a production TT V6 in the Vette I though how it would be neat if they could take an Indy engine and make a street version of it.
Ford is already there with the GT so we could even see more MFG enter. They also could keep the rule to where a IMSA engine could run but just change the fuel away from gas for safety. Others like Mclaren has a similar engine as will Ferrari soon.
Just something to consider.