Not worth the Cost: Chevy decides to drop its IRL program after the 2005 season
Posted Date: 11/4/04

General Motors officials finally decided that the reward of being in the Indy Racing League wasn’t worth the cost.

In a decision expected for months (and maybe since Toyota and Honda joined the IRL prior to the 2003 season), GM announced Nov. 3 that it will not extend the contract to keep its Chevrolet brand in Tony George’s series. The 2005 season will be Chevy’s last.

Honda and Toyota previously announced commitments to remain in the IRL through 2006.

GM Racing director Doug Duchardt cited television ratings and event attendance that were either “flat or down” as reasons why GM is pulling out. Another reason is Honda’s massive investment that produced 14 wins in 16 events in the 2004 season, including the top-five three of the championship standings.

“Bottom line, it is what it is,” Duchardt said.

Said IRL official Ken Ungar: “While we are disappointed, we understand that General Motors has to deal with its own competitive issues, both on and off the track.”

This much we know about Chevy in 2005: Panther Racing, the closest thing GM has to a factory team, will remain with the engine manufacturer through the close of business. With Pat Patrick in charge, Patrick Racing likely will do the same. After that, who knows. Cheever Racing and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing also used Chevys in the 2004 season, but team officials said they have not made decisions regarding 2005.

GM was one of the IRL’s original engine manufacturers when the first equipment package debuted in 1997. GM’s engines, then badged as Oldsmobile, dominated Nissan’s Infinitis by winning the first 34 races.

Since Toyota and Honda came on board, Chevy hasn’t been able to keep pace. The manufacturer hasn’t won a race or a pole in more than a year, and its drivers led only 40 laps in 2004. Chevy won only three races in 2003, all with its two-time league champion, Sam Hornish Jr.

It is conceivable that Chevy’s engineering partner, Cosworth, which is for sale, will continue supplying IRL engines in 2006 if it finds an auto manufacturer to align with. Duchardt said GM is not interested in joining the Champ Car World Series, which has Ford as its lone engine supplier.

GM was one of the IRL’s original engine manufacturers when the first equipment package debuted in 1997. GM’s engines, then badged as Oldsmobile, dominated Nissan’s Infinitis by winning the first 34 races.

Since Toyota and Honda came on board, Chevy hasn’t been able to keep pace. The manufacturer hasn’t won a race or a pole in more than a year, and its drivers led only 40 laps in 2004. Chevy won only three races in 2003, all with its two-time league champion, Sam Hornish Jr.