“Won’t Be Around Much Longer”- NASCAR Fans Pass Harsh Verdict on Indycar Amidst Japanese OEM Honda’s ‘Exit’ Narrative

Things aren’t looking good for IndyCar. Right now, there are two engine manufacturers in the open-wheel racing competition, Honda and Chevrolet. However, that may soon be reduced to one as the Japanese manufacturer is seriously considering exiting the series for NASCAR or a better investment in Formula One. The reason for the change of heart? Money.

IndyCar has been the most popular and premier division of North American open-wheel racing for decades now. Honda has been a part of the competition since 1994. However, the 3 decades-long partnership may come to an end in 2026 when the current contract runs out. The lack of a third engine manufacturer has caused the Japanese manufacturer to bear the cost of supplying half of the 27-car field and it’s getting too much.

Honda reveals NASCAR aspirations for the future

According to RACER, American Honda Motorsports Manager Chuck Schifsky explained that the reason they would not renew their contract with IndyCar beyond 2026 would be the cost of supplying half the field. He also believes the reason IndyCar does not have a third engine supplier is cost. “If we were to choose not to renew, that 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: 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,” Schifsky said.

Honda has a significant footprint in the world of motorsports today, with investments in several different competitions, including Formula One. Chuck Schifsky said that if they decide against renewing their IndyCar contract, they will look to try their hand in NASCAR, which would be quite an interesting development.

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“We’re looking for a wholesale change to the engine regulations so that we can eliminate fives and tens of millions of dollars of annual technical costs because if we don’t, then it’s too much money, and we will go do something else. That something else could be NASCAR or a further investment in our Formula One effort. Or something that isn’t motorsports at all,” he added.

Honda’s exit will be a hefty loss for IndyCar, as they will only be left with one engine supplier. NASCAR fans recently shared their opinions on the matter on Twitter, and they have predicted a bleak future for the open-wheel racing competition.

Fans slam IndyCar as engine supplier ponders exit

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One fan made a comparison between NASCAR and IndyCar, showing the stock car racing competition in a good light, especially after they bagged the $7.7 billion TV deal recently.

“People love to hate on NASCAR for every little single thing, but during the off season, they’re celebrating a new $7.7 billion TV deal while Indycar is struggling to get any good news,” they commented.

The loss of Honda may spell the end of IndyCar, according to some fans, a prediction that will haunt series owner Roger Penske if he doesn’t find a solution or another engine supplier soon.

“Indy won’t be around much longer,” one fan commented.

“Indycar is scre**d then,” opined another.

Another fan suggested that Roger Penske should invest in the sport for its growth to attract more engine suppliers in a scathing comment.

“Message to the series from Honda. @IndyCar need to grow.  With the F1 exposure in the US, do you need to fund IC anymore?  If Cadillac gets into F1?   Time for Penske to stop nickel and diming.  Need to invest for growth for a few years or don’t bother,” they commented.

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Another user believes that Honda’s exit will kill the competition in the series, which is never a good thing. “Indycar will suffer if they have to run all Chevys. Competition is usually good for the sport,” they wrote. How do you think Honda’s exit will affect the IndyCar series? Let us know your thoughts.