TSN.ca Staff // 11/21/2005 10:40:47 AM
Honda will apparently have to service and supply every team in the Indy Racing League in 2006. According to a report on SpeedTV.com, Toyota is expected to confirm this week that it is pulling out of the open wheel series one year earlier than anticipated.
"I don't have anything I can confirm for you, that's pretty much where it's at," Jim Aust, president and CEO of Toyota Racing Development told Robin Miller of SpeedTV.com over the weekend.
Sources say Toyota informed the IRL it was not planning on doing any engine development next year, it's final one with the open-wheel series. Barnhart then approached Honda about the possibility of servicing and supplying all of its teams in 2006.
Penske Racing, one of Toyota's top teams, has already announced a switch to Honda power for 2006 while Chip Ganassi was widely expected to make the move to Honda as well.
Honda has already committed to supplying engines to the IRL through 2009 but it was planning on being the sole supplier starting in 2007. General Motors pulled out of the series at the end of the 2005 season.
Toyota is rumored to be ramping up its efforts to go NASCAR racing in 2007. It is currently competing in the Craftsman Truck Series.
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