ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Both Chevrolet and Honda have outlined updates and goals for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season.
From their pre-race, and preseason releases:
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The 2016 goal for Chevrolet Racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series: leave St. Petersburg with another “W” to kick off the season in pursuit of a fifth consecutive Manufacturer Championship. But the competition will be strong and the field tighter than ever.
CHEVROLET AERO KIT UPDATE:
One of the primary criteria for Chevrolet’s return to IndyCar competition in 2012 was the ability to design and engineer an Aero Kit that created differentiation from the competition. The 2015 introduction of the Chevrolet-specific Areo Kit accomplished that goal with components that included front and rear wing elements, “coked” side pods with wheel wedges and rear wheel guards to deliver Chevrolet IndyCar teams the right combination of drag and downforce coupled with optimum engine performance from the reliable and successful Chevrolet 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged, direct injected V6 engine fueled by E85.
The Aero Kit introduction with integrated Chevy V6 engine netted Team Chevy 10 Series wins, 16 poles, a fourth consecutive Verizon IndyCar Series Manufacturer Championship, Scott Dixon winning the Driver Championship and Montoya taking Chevrolet to Victory Lane in the Indianapolis 500. After four seasons of competition, the number of wins for Chevrolet stands at an amazing 43 in 68 events since the start of 2012. In 2015, Chevrolet IndyCar drivers were awarded every Verizon P1 pole award.
Provisions in the 2016 Verizon IndyCar rulebook allow the manufacturers to continue to bring upgrades and enhancements. For Chevrolet, the goal remains the same – to give the Chevy teams the on-track tools needed to win races and championships. Chevrolet, in conjunction with its technical partners, has developed a strategic plan to rollout upgrades to the allowable three regulation boxes of the Chevrolet Aero Kit. For the St. Petersburg street course race, fans will see all new rear wheel guards on the Chevrolet entries.
“Per IndyCar rules, there are three ‘boxes’, or areas, of the aero kit which can be changed for the 2016 season,” said Mark Kent, Director of Motorsports Competition for Chevrolet. “For Chevrolet, it is important that we continue to provide our teams with the correct balance of aerodynamic drag, downforce, engine performance, reliability and efficiency that has resulted in us winning the last four IndyCar Manufacturer Championships. Therefore, we plan on taking full advantage of this opportunity to further improve our aero performance and will implement staged changes to all three aero kit boxes. Chevrolet will introduce new rear bumper pods at the St. Petersburg race. We will update the other two ‘boxes’ later in the season.”
CHEVROLET INDYCAR V6 ENGINE UPDATE:
For 2016, Verizon IndyCar Series Engine Regulations continue to provide Chevrolet the opportunity to design and upgrade the Chevy IndyCar 2.2-liter V6 engine – the goal always being to provide Chevy teams and drivers improved power, reliability and fuel efficiency. The 2014 and 2015 upgrades, including the integration into the Chevy Aero Kits, remain in effect plus the opportunity for the Chevy engineers and technical partners to design and implement upgrades to ports, camshafts, fuel system and installation – including a new, lighter exhaust system and a new wastegate with improved actuator cooling and valve head design.
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HONDA AERO KIT, ENGINE UPDATES:
Featuring a talented full-season lineup, updated Honda Indy V6 engine and enhanced aero kit bodywork, Honda opens the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series this weekend, seeking its seventh competitive manufacturers’ championship and 11th Indianapolis 500 victory.
The manufacturer and its Honda Performance Development racing arm will present an impressive lineup at Sunday’s season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, including 2012 series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay, five additional Indy car race winners and a trio of promising rookie talents.
All will utilize the twin-turbocharged Honda Indy V6 engine, which is designed, manufactured, developed and maintained by HPD. Designated the HI16RTT, the engine is designed to meet the Verizon IndyCar Series’ technical regulations for 2016. The updated engine is mated to a Dallara DW-12 chassis that also features updated aero kit bodywork for all 12 Honda entries in St. Petersburg.
“We’ve been encouraged by the performance of the Honda Indy V6 and the other improvements we’ve made during the off-season,” said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development. “We believe we have a great lineup of teams and drivers, including a good balance of proven race winners and promising new stars. We’re looking forward to the start of the 2016 season on the streets of St. Petersburg, and taking on the challenge presented by our competition in the battle for the Manufacturers’ Championship, and for victory in the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in May.”