Indy Racing League

The Indy Racing League, better known as IRL, isThe current generation chassis however, are
the sanctioning body of a predominantly Americandesigned to accommodate the added
based open-wheel racing series. Its centerpiece isrequirements of road racing. Drivers report that
the Indianapolis 500. The IRL is owned by Hulmanthe cars are particularly demanding to drive on
and Co., which also owns the Indianapolis Motorroad courses, especially when compared to GP2
Speedway complex. The IRL was founded inand Champ Car chassis.
1994 by Tony George and began racing in 1996.Indy Racing League officials have confirmed that
It was created with a breakaway group ofthe series will continue to use the current batch
drivers from CART, which had sanctioned Indyof Dallara and Panoz chassis for the balance of
car racing since 1979, who incidentally, had brokenthis season (2006). Both manufacturers have
away from USAC. George blueprinted the IRL asserved as chassis manufacturers with the
a lower-cost open-wheel alternative to CART,IndyCar Series since 1997 and their current
which had come to be technology-driven andthree-year chassis suppliers' agreement was
dominated by a few wealthy multi-car teams,signed in 2003. The series currently has no
much like Formula One. Ironically, the IRL hasconfirmed chassis contracts for 2007. By the end
come full-circle and is much like the CART seriesof the 2006 season, all full-time teams were using
it sought to separate from. The IRL is, itself,Dallaras for oval races.
dominated by a few wealthy teams, mainlyThe Engines
consists of foreign-born drivers, and is a mix ofStarting in 1997, IRL cars were powered by 4.0L
ovals and road/street courses.V8, methanol burning, production-based,
The IRL developed a consistent engine packagenormally-aspirated engines, produced by
and chassis rules which have produced some ofOldsmobile (under the Aurora label) and Nissan
the closest finishes in any racing series. Ironically,(badged as Infiniti). That engine formula was
the series is now dominated by many of thereplaced by a 3.5L format for 2000, at which time
same wealthy multi-car teams that oncethe requirement for the block to be
dominated CART.production-based was dropped. This formula was
The series initially raced exclusively on oval tracks,used through 2003. In 2004, the displacement
as the league was founded partly in response towas further reduced to 3.0L, in an attempt to
the increasing prominence of road and streetcurb top speeds. In 2006, the series switched to
courses on the CART schedule. In 2005, thea new fuel blend. For one season, the cars would
series abandoned its unofficial ovals-only stance,burn a 90%/10% mixture of methanol and
and added three road/street course eventsethanol. For 2007, the engines will utilize a 100%
(Watkins Glen, Infineon and St. Petersburg). Forethanol fuel, and displacement will be increased
2007, two more road/street events (Mid-Ohio andback to 3.5 L.
Belle Isle) were added.Historically, Honda, Toyota and Chevrolet
In its inception, the series and George himselfcompeted for the engine supply business. In a
were widely ridiculed by members of the mediamajor development announced by Chevrolet on
and some CART competitors. The IRL's earlyNovember 4 2004, Chevrolet stated that it would
seasons consisted of sparse schedules, mostlybe ending its IRL engine program effective with
unknown drivers, and novice-level teams, even inthe end of the 2005 season, citing costs that
the Indy 500. Eventually the schedule expanded,exceeded value, according to then-GM Racing
and caliber of drivers improved. The IRL began toDirector Doug Duchardt. "The investment did not
draw teams from CART starting in 2000,meet our objectives," he was quoted as saying.
contributing to the latter's bankruptcy in 2003.In November 2005, Toyota company officials
The League consists of two series, the premiereannounced the company's withdrawal from
IndyCar Series (usually considered synonymousAmerican open-wheel racing and the immediate
with the Indy Racing League) and the Indy Prodiscontinuation of its IRL program. The company
Series, which is a developmental series.in the past stated a dissatisfaction with the
The Carsinvestment returns in the series, and at the same
IRL is not an open formula, but neither is it atime, Toyota Racing Development is preparing for
one-make or "spec" series. Instead, chassis andentry into the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in
engine manufacturers apply to the League to2007. This has left Honda as the sole engine
supply cars for three year cycles. Currently,supplier to the IRL through 2009. Whether this
Dallara and Panoz provide the chassis, while Hondaconstitutes a serious blow to the series or just
is the sole engine provider. A third chassisanother change remains to be seen.
manufacturer, Falcon, once held the rights toCurrently, IRL engines are rev-limited to 10,300
produce a chassis for IRL events, but as norpm and produce approximately 750 hp at that
orders were ever made, no Falcon IRL rollingrevolution regime. The Honda HI5R engine is a
chassis were ever completed, and the companynormally aspirated, fuel-injected, aluminum alloy
has since ceased to exist. Riley & Scott producedcylinder block V-8 with a displacement of 3.0 liters
IRL chassis from late 1997 to 2000. In the series'(183.1 in3). The valve train is a dual overhead
first season, 1996, old CART chassis were used.camshaft configuration with four valves per
Superficially, IRL cars closely resemble those ofcylinder. The crankshaft is made of alloy steel,
other open-wheeled formula racing cars, withwith five main bearing caps. The pistons are
front and rear wings and prominent airboxes.forged aluminum alloy, while the connecting rods
Originally, the cars were unique, being designedare machined alloy steel. The electronic engine
specifically for oval racing; for example, the oil andmanagement system is supplied by Motorola, firing
cooling systems were asymmetrical to accounta CDI ignition system. The engine lubrication is a
for the pull of liquids to the right side of the cars.dry sump type, cooled by a single water pump.