Cosworth Engines powering GM's in IRL
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Cosworth Engines powering GM's in IRL
I don't follow IRL or CART closely, but i thought this was interesting. Actually, i was surprised. Thoughts? Last i heard, the deal was done.
"A blue oval wrapped in a bow tie wouldn't end Cosworth's relationship with CART. But a new engine formula might"
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=08357007
"Sleeping with the enemy: Cosworth engine is a last-ditch effort to make Chevy competitive"
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=08184178
Competitive or not, i think Chevy should have just stayed in-house and not go outside for an engine supplier. Gm has no shortage of $$$, so why not try and build a more efficient/better engine? I always thought that half the reason corporation participated in racing was the marketing behind it, and what good of a marketing are you going to get when the heart of your race cars are from another manufacturer (this case rival Ford-Cosworth)?
"A blue oval wrapped in a bow tie wouldn't end Cosworth's relationship with CART. But a new engine formula might"
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=08357007
"Sleeping with the enemy: Cosworth engine is a last-ditch effort to make Chevy competitive"
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=08184178
Competitive or not, i think Chevy should have just stayed in-house and not go outside for an engine supplier. Gm has no shortage of $$$, so why not try and build a more efficient/better engine? I always thought that half the reason corporation participated in racing was the marketing behind it, and what good of a marketing are you going to get when the heart of your race cars are from another manufacturer (this case rival Ford-Cosworth)?
Last edited by RiceEating5.0; Jul 24, 2003 at 01:08 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 578
From: N. Providence, RI
Sam Hornish and the other Chevy drivers will debut the cosworth-derived engine at Michigan this week, iirc...GM racing was pretty much in a league of its own in IRL with the Oldsmobile-badged engines a few years ago and the Chevy engines now. They pretty much dominated Infiniti, who ran off last year...The bad news is Toyota and Honda came in, and i knew it was a bad sign when almost ALL the top-notch chevy guys (Castroneves) turned to Toyota.
The move was neccessary, because anyone who's watched IRL or Indianapolis has watched GM Racing get absolutely raped, and I'm talking no cars finishing in the top 12-15. Early in the season, GM admitted a 30-40(!!) horsepower defecit to their rivals. GM can start from ground-up again during the off-season, but they're getting embarrassed and need a quick fix this minute to at least be competitive. Cosworth's expertise should be the key, and rememnber, Cosworth wasn't bought by Ford until a few years ago, iirc. Before then, they were their own company selling their wares and knowledge to anyone who paid.
All this points to a different problem: the outright demise of open-wheel racing in the U.S., which an increasing number of people don't seem to care about. How important was it to chevy to be competitive in IRL? (Not very) How many commercials had you seen in the past celebrating GM's succes at NASCAR compared to IRL? ...If it was their NASCAR engines that were down 40HP to rivals, I bet they'd lock all their engys in a room and not let them out until they got a solution...Please let the powers that be see the light, and merge IRL and CART again so it can again be the premiere racing series
The move was neccessary, because anyone who's watched IRL or Indianapolis has watched GM Racing get absolutely raped, and I'm talking no cars finishing in the top 12-15. Early in the season, GM admitted a 30-40(!!) horsepower defecit to their rivals. GM can start from ground-up again during the off-season, but they're getting embarrassed and need a quick fix this minute to at least be competitive. Cosworth's expertise should be the key, and rememnber, Cosworth wasn't bought by Ford until a few years ago, iirc. Before then, they were their own company selling their wares and knowledge to anyone who paid.
All this points to a different problem: the outright demise of open-wheel racing in the U.S., which an increasing number of people don't seem to care about. How important was it to chevy to be competitive in IRL? (Not very) How many commercials had you seen in the past celebrating GM's succes at NASCAR compared to IRL? ...If it was their NASCAR engines that were down 40HP to rivals, I bet they'd lock all their engys in a room and not let them out until they got a solution...Please let the powers that be see the light, and merge IRL and CART again so it can again be the premiere racing series
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 578
From: N. Providence, RI
What used to be Indycar split in 1995, when Tony George split off to start his own series, the IRL...He cited skyrocketing costs as a problem, among others...Long story short, both are half-baked series that are self-serving and are only destroying themselves...For example, IRL runs ONLY oval tracks, while CART is only road courses...WTF?
Autoextremist.com has had some wonderful in-depth rants about how the split has hurt both sides...they have another one this week.
Autoextremist.com has had some wonderful in-depth rants about how the split has hurt both sides...they have another one this week.
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Posts: 6,165
From: Sterling Heights, MI
I cannot find the article right now, but there was a big article in yesterday's Detroit Free Press about Chevy's new IRL engines. They are in fact a joint venture between Chevrolet and Cosworth. It is even referred to as the Gen IV Chevy V8. 
A big deal was made about its 50 HP upgrade over the old engine.
A big deal was made about its 50 HP upgrade over the old engine.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 71
From: Long Beach, CA
I remember reading about a Chevy Indy engine that was either 2.6 or 3. something, I can't remember in Car Craft or magazine equalvilent. Why would GM go to a company now owned by FORD?? They should keep it in-house, I mean, look at Olds! They did pretty good with that Aoura 4.0 V8 in CART. Also, IRL and CART are the last thing I think about when I hear Chevrolet.
BUT, Cosworth did work with GM, even created the Cosworth Vega in the middle 70's. Doesn't Callaway engineering build race motors for other companies?
in Car Craft or magazine equalvilent. Why would GM go to a company now owned by FORD?? They should keep it in-house, I mean, look at Olds! They did pretty good with that Aoura 4.0 V8 in CART. Also, IRL and CART are the last thing I think about when I hear Chevrolet.BUT, Cosworth did work with GM, even created the Cosworth Vega in the middle 70's. Doesn't Callaway engineering build race motors for other companies?
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Posts: 578
From: N. Providence, RI
The open-wheeled racing series is obsessed with changing rules every year. IRL uses a n/a 3.5L V8 putting out about 670 HP, while CART, who only uses Ford engines, uses 2.65L Turbo V8's putting out a little more HP
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