JULY 18, 2003

GM asks for engine change

GM Racing has asked the Indy Racing League to approve a change in its engines. The new Chevrolet IRL engine was designed by Cosworth and originally designed to carry a Ford badge. The new engine will be known as the "Generation IV" Chevrolet. The IRL is not expected to turn down the application as it wants to see the US manufacturer more competitive against Honda and Toyota. The first new unit could be raced at the end of the this month.

The announcement is good news for Cosworth which will be able to save a number of jobs which might have had to be axed if more work had not been found. Cosworth has suffered somewhat in recent months because of the cutting back of engine supply and rebuilds in F1 and CART.

Cosworth will eventually be supplying all five Chevrolet teams: Panther, Red Bull Cheever Racing, Team Menard, Hemelgarn Racing and Dreyer & Reinbold.

Toyota and Honda have run all the IRL races so far this year.