Veteran Insider Dissects Honda’s NASCAR Absence Amidst the Japanese OEM’s IndyCar Dilemma

Japanese automobile giant Honda Motor Corp. has dropped a bombshell about its future in IndyCar being uncertain, with production costs skyrocketing beyond its reach. With the rumors of Honda’s departure making rounds on the internet, popular racing journalist and enthusiast Adam Stern delivered the harsh reality of things. Speaking on The Money Lap podcast hosted by Parker Kligerman, Stern elaborated on the current situation while also unearthing the possible reasons why the manufacturer has not ventured into the world of stock car racing.

Adam Stern reveals Honda’s indecisiveness about IndyCar and NASCAR 

Two and three. For anybody wondering, those are the number of engine suppliers/manufacturers in IndyCar and NASCAR currently. While the North American open-wheel racing giant has Honda and Chevrolet supplying its teams with the motors, NASCAR has Ford, Chevy, and Toyota in the fray taking care of that responsibility. 

Now, since their entry in IndyCar in 1994, Honda has been a powerhouse, supplying engines and supporting half of the cars on the grid. But as reports suggest, the manufacturer is planning to pull the plug, weighing on its future in the promotion, after its contractual obligation ends in 2026. 

As per Adam Stern, several factors contributed to this. One significant aspect is the changing automobile industry, starting with F1’s push for a downsized hybrid power trainpower train. With IndyCar also moving in that direction with the current 2.2 L V-6 platform transitioning to a hybrid setup, Honda is really considering other means. Additionally, the responsibility of supplying engines to 13 different full-time entries next year is certain to burden them financially with reduced returns. 

Reflecting on this very aspect, Stern elaborated on why the manufacturer is reluctant to step into the Stock Car racing scene in NASCAR. He said, “There’s a lot of things, I mean we’re seeing NASCAR trying to change before our eyes so we know that they’re trying to take that all in and you know how NASCAR is repositioning their brand.“

The journalist summed up the factors that are making other manufacturers hesitant to try their luck in NASCAR. With the stock car racing organisation still at crossroads about their vehicles’ future, OEMs like Honda have also found themselves in a precarious position unable to decide the future. Taking notes from the manufacturer’s side, Stern said, ” I think there’s also the elements of trying to figure out the future engine formula and you know, is NASCAR going to be hybrid? Is NASCAR going to be electric? What are these car companies going to do?

“It’s really interesting to see how, the kind of state of confusion to a certain degree in the car industry is trickling down that I think plays as well into Honda trying to figure out where they want to go,” the journalist added.

With confusion cropping up, the Japanese manufacturer themselves shed some light on the position it finds itself in with regard to IndyCar and stock car racing.

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Honda’s precarious position and its IndyCar dilemma

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The manufacturer was straight, expressing its “great concerns” over its future in IndyCar. But does that translate to a possible NASCAR entry? Well, the company’s American Manager, Chuck Schifsky explained the organization’s stance on the same. He was pretty direct about the company’s position about pulling out of IndyCar, saying, “If we were to choose not to renew, that(costs) would be the reason why. And it’s easy to see. We don’t have a third manufacturer, and there’s a reason for that.”

As the official provided further insight, he indicated how the manufacturer’s investment to return ratio is failing to be profitable. He mentioned, ““It has to do with the cost. If the return on investment matched up with the investment, we’d have a number of other manufacturers involved.”

Aug 26, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup cars on display for fans before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY SportsOn a positive note, Schifsky didn’t dismiss a potential NASCAR entry if things fall right. He said, “That something else could be NASCAR or a further investment in our Formula One effort.” 

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So if in case, the Japanese OEM decides to close its ties with IndyCar, then we certainly can expect a massive announcement. With Stern’s in-depth analysis and the manufacturer’s admission side by side, one cannot overlook the probability that Honda might as well make an entry into NASCAR and be the promotion’s fourth manufacturer, giving fans an exciting prospect to look forward to. We’ll just have to wait and see when that happens.