MAY 27, 2005

Mario Illien and Honda

Mario Illien is expected to leave Ilmor at the end of the current year, following the completion of the takeover of the firm by Mercedes-Benz. Illien's future is being discussed.

Mario Illien is expected to leave Ilmor at the end of the current year, following the completion of the takeover of the firm by Mercedes-Benz. Illien's future is being discussed but there is one part of the business which does not concern Mercedes-Benz, Ilmor Inc., still being owned by Illien, Roger Penske, DaimlerChrysler and the estate of Paul Morgan. Ilmor Inc. is involved in preparing Honda engines in the Indy Racing League and is also believed to be involved in the development of the Dodge engines which are used by the Penske South team in the NASCAR Nextel Cup. The team is currently running Rusty Wallace, Travis Kvapil and Ryan Newman.

We hear that Illien may now concentrate his efforts on the two US programmes although there is some doubt as to how long Honda will remain in the IRL.

It will be interesting to see what happens in NASCAR as well as Penske has recently bought out with partners in Penske South and is rumoured to looking for a future in NASCAR with Toyota.