Honda tests next gen INDYCAR Internal Combustion Engine

There is always talk about new and upcoming powerplants for racing series, and this week IndyCar started testing one of theirs. Honda has officially given the 2.4 liter internal combustion component of the next gen NTT IndyCar Series hybrid power unit, it’s on track debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Six time IndyCar Series Champion, Scott Dixon was at the wheel of the Honda test chassis operated by Chip Ganassi Racing. He put the new ICE through it’s paces on a modified version of the 13-turn, 2.6 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course layout, which plays host to two races each season on the NTT IndyCar Series schedule.

David Salters, HPD President and Technical Director, had this to say about the first day of testing, “This is an important step for HPD, Honda and IndyCar as the series moves into the electrified era, and it was a successful day but there are many more steps to take before the full, hybrid power unit debuts in 2024. The all new 2.4 liter E85 bio-fueled engine has been designed, simulated, developed, dyno-tested, manufactured and assembled by the inspiring Honda men and women at HPD in California. We set ourselves these challenges to develop our people and technology here at HPD. We are very proud of the amazing team at HPD and our Honda “challenging spirit”. There is still a very, very long list of things to be accomplished before the power unit is tested in competition, but this is certainly a major milestone for everyone at Honda Performance Development.”

Low morning temperatures on Monday delayed the start of the test, but Dixon and team Ganassi were able to complete the full list of opening day test items prepared by the HPD engineers without any issues. A second day of testing is planned with slightly warmer temperatures in the Indianapolis forecast.

Twenty five years after winning their first IndyCar Manufacturers’ Championship, Honda clinched their 10th overall and 4th consecutive NTT IndyCar Series Manufacturers’ Championship in 2021, including an emotional and dramatic, record tying fourth Indianapolis 500 win for Helio Castroneves in May and look forward to more in the future.