Ilmor CART/IRL motor
04-25-2002, 06:44 PM
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2002 C230 K
Ilmor CART/IRL motor
Apparantly, there is a rumor floating around F1 circles that one potential reason there is some trouble with Ilmor's MB motors this year is that DaimlerChrysler is distracting them by having them design and build a new motor for Chrysler to use in CART and IRL (these series will have roughly the same engine formula, with subtle differences, from 2003). This seems like kind of a stupid waste of resources when success on the world stage of F1 is much more important. Especially, considering that here in the US, NASCAR is king - and Dodge is doing pretty well for Chrysler in that series.
If anything DaimlerChrsyler should have just given additional funds to the Oreca team (which ran the super succesful Vipers at LeMans and in the ALMS) to run in the prototype division of the ALMS (below, I've included a picture of the LMP900 prototype in 2001 - not a bad looking machine - this year Oreca has switched to Judd V10s). This would seem to be more valuable, especially as Cadillac and Audi are bigger competitors for Chrysler in the new-car market, as opposed to CART/IRL competitors Chevy and Ford - the US companies whose names will be on the cam covers in 2003 (along with Toyota and Nissan/Infiniti - and probably Honda). Although with both GM and Ford likely to compete in IRL/CART next year, it does make some sense for Chrysler to be there as well. Another thing to consider is that Ilmor does have an American division in the US, which may be developing the new US motor, independent of the British operation responsible for the F1 motor.
Cheers, BT
If anything DaimlerChrsyler should have just given additional funds to the Oreca team (which ran the super succesful Vipers at LeMans and in the ALMS) to run in the prototype division of the ALMS (below, I've included a picture of the LMP900 prototype in 2001 - not a bad looking machine - this year Oreca has switched to Judd V10s). This would seem to be more valuable, especially as Cadillac and Audi are bigger competitors for Chrysler in the new-car market, as opposed to CART/IRL competitors Chevy and Ford - the US companies whose names will be on the cam covers in 2003 (along with Toyota and Nissan/Infiniti - and probably Honda). Although with both GM and Ford likely to compete in IRL/CART next year, it does make some sense for Chrysler to be there as well. Another thing to consider is that Ilmor does have an American division in the US, which may be developing the new US motor, independent of the British operation responsible for the F1 motor.
Cheers, BT
