Porsche, Audi looking into IRL

The IndyCar series had invited a number of engine suppliers, along with current supplier Honda, to work on developing a four cylinders- inline - turbocharged engine for the series to be used starting in 2011.

Rumours that the meeting was held secretly are false, as reported in a past issue of RaceCar Engineering Audi, Porsche, Lola, and Alfa Romeo were invited to give feedback to the IRL for future engine development.

Porsche competed in CART in both 1989 and 1990 campaigns, even managing a victory with Teo fabi in '89 but the German Manufacturer quit after it ran into controversy with the other teams when it constructed its own carbon fibre car.

Alfa Romeo, had also a go at CART in 1990 and 1991 but it also ended abruptly after it was unable to develop a proper engine due to the fact that the engine designer started out from an old Ferrari engine that they tried to convert to no avail.

Audi, owned by Volkswagen, is the only engine supplier who has never participated in either CART or IRL series. Still, the German manufacturer has had tremendous success in the Le Mans 24H and in the American Le Mans series. Although Volkswagen has supplied engines for F3 the old 1.8T producing 200bhp which was more than enough for these lightweight cars similiar to Formua Ford in design.