If Andretti (???) does split AGR into a 2-car team, they have got to go against the grain and tell whomever is effing up AOWR to bugger off and bring back the Toyota engine and the Swift (or any other) Chassis.

If Formula Nippon is making use of the Swift .017 chassis and 3.4/3.6L NA Toyota and Honda V8 engines, why can't IRL do the same and just turbocharge the piss out of those engines to bring HP back up to-at least-800/900 HP and return the terrific moan of the lamented popoff-valve to American Open Wheel Racing.

Hell, Penske Racing and Target Chip Ganassi have nascar links with Dodge and Chevy respectably, why not have them create a 3.5/3.6 liter, fuel-injected, Turbo V8 engine based off of their nascar engines.

I believe a 3.5/3.6 liter, turbocharged hemi-head Dodge V8 Indy car engine pushing 800-900 hp (at the minimum) would be awesome to herald the rebirth of the technologically advanced Indycar racing we fans know and love.

But that's just me.

KW

IRL doesn't WANT 800-900 horsepower.

Let's just assume that anything with more than 750 horsepower equals death and try to not to ask 'what if'. It makes the racing a lot more palatable.

Great idea. Except Dodge and Chevy just went bankrupt and someone has to pay to design, develop and test those motors. The Nippon is a pretty car. Do we really want a supposedly elite series using a junior formula's car? Perception still means something.

Last we knew the turbo's were coming in the next few years. I believe they will. 2 liter (I think) turbo 4 or turbo 6, probably the 4. I would rather they used a twin turbo, but beggars can't be choosers.

smuff76 - 17 August 2009 08:41 AM

Great idea. Except Dodge and Chevy just went bankrupt and someone has to pay to design, develop and test those motors. The Nippon is a pretty car. Do we really want a supposedly elite series using a junior formula's car? Perception still means something.

Last we knew the turbo's were coming in the next few years. I believe they will. 2 liter (I think) turbo 4 or turbo 6, probably the 4. I would rather they used a twin turbo, but beggars can't be choosers.

FNippon is no less top tier than the IRL.

the only valid argument in you rant is that the Formula Nippon chassis are similar in design to the current Indycar and are built for a similar engine. However, I don't think Swift is ready to prepare an oval package or than any team would bother switching chassis right now. But, hey, it IS a better looking car than the current Dallara.