IRL Rules Changes Will Cut Costs

INDIANAPOLIS — IRL IndyCar Series competition costs will be reduced this season, thanks to less expensive Honda engine leases and a bump in the operating budget subsidy from the league.

That was the news in this week's winter meeting in Indianapolis. The league's 15th season begins March 14 on a street circuit in São Paulo, Brazil.

A season lease for the Honda Indy V8 will cost $935,000 — approximately half the cost compared with 2005 and $27,000 less than last year, according to the league. One-off entrants in the Indianapolis 500 have several options, including a full package (800 practice miles and the 500-mile race) for $150,000, compared with $225,000 last year.

Indy competitors may purchase an additional engine for Carburetion Day, and the race costs an additional $60,000. A partial lease, which provides an engine for the last two days of practice and the two qualifying days, is $90,000.

Honda, the sole engine supplier for the series since 2006, will also offer several discounted package deals through the course of the season.

The league will bump participation checks to at least $1.3 million, an incremental hike from last year's $1.24 million per entrant.

Helio Castroneves, who became a three-time winner of the Indy 500 in 2009 and became a father later in the year, received his championship ring and unveiled the new Borg-Warner Trophy.

In other news:

• •The league will abolish the automated fuel-management system previously used. Drivers will have to use manual throttle moderation to conserve ethanol.



• •Competitors were told that Volkswagen, which participated along with Audi, Porsche, Fiat and Honda in discussions about the league's future engine rules package, is not likely to take part in IndyCar racing — not yet, anyway. "I think it is not realistic for the moment that the VW group will do it," VW Motorsport Director Kris Nissen said.



• •Townsend Bell, who finished 4th in last year's 500, has a ride with Sam Schmidt Motorsports for this year's 500-mile race.



• •Two preseason test sessions are scheduled, a road course session February 24-25 at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama, and an oval session May 3-4 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

Inside Line says: Critics continue to lambaste U.S. open-wheel racing, but the IRL soldiers on. — David Green, Correspondent