Engine checkpoint: Going the extra mile or 200

Via IndyCar.com

Scott Dixon surpassed the engine mileage threshold in the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet during the May 3 morning practice on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval and added 128 miles on the second engine in the four-hour afternoon session.

The three-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner wound up fourth on the combined practice speed chart at 225.881 mph (39.8440 seconds).

A. It says a lot about his crew. B. It says a lot about the manufacturer not missing a beat with engine No. 2 and the durability of No. 1.
“There is high confidence in a brand new engine and it’s business as usual,” INDYCAR director of engine development Marvin Riley said. “Every engine has been run on the dyno for an extended amount of time for quality assurance and power checked before it comes to the car.”

Tony Kanaan of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams and Team Penske’s Will Power and Simon Pagenaud with Chevrolet power joined Honda drivers Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Carlos Munoz of Andretti Autosport and Gabby Chaves of Bryan Herta Autosport in meeting the 2,500-mile engine change-out mark on Opening Day on the 2.5-mile oval.

They’ll have engine No. 2 of four allotted for the Verizon IndyCar Series season installed for the first practice May 7 of Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Others with the Chevrolet 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V-6 engine who should collect enough miles to be eligible for the second engine before the 200-mile race May 9 include Team Penske’s Juan Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves, and CFH Racing’s Josef Newgarden. It’s not as clear cut, according to Riley, for CFH Racing’s Luca Filippi (2,339 miles) and KVSH Racing’s Sebastien Bourdais (2,327 miles).

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