Honda to Pull Out of CART After 2002

The unraveling of CART as a major open-wheel motor racing sanctioning body continued Friday with the announcement that Honda, one of the series’ three engine builders, will leave after the 2002 season.

In a strongly worded statement, Tom Elliott, president of Santa Clarita-based Honda Performance Development, said Honda “can no longer put its trust in the CART rule book or those who administer it ... [and] cannot work in an environment where the sanctioning body has such little regard for its engine manufacturers.”

CART last week announced a rules change for 2003 that would eliminate turbocharged engines in favor of a normally aspirated 3.5-liter engine formula, similar to ones used by the Indy Racing League.

Elliott said that it was Honda’s understanding before the CART announcement that series rules prohibited making major changes before 2004.

The Honda defection added to the woes of CART this season, which included the cancellation of a race in Brazil for financial reasons and another one at Texas Motor Speedway after drivers complained that speeds were too high for a safe race.

Industry sources said Ford Cosworth is expected to make a similar announcement before the end of the year, leaving Toyota as the sole engine supplier in 2003.

Honda, which will continue through next season, furnishes turbocharged power plants for nine drivers, including series champion Gil de Ferran of Team Penske. Since joining CART in 1994, Honda has won 60 races and 60 poles in 143 races and has also won five consecutive drivers’ titles.

Honda’s departure will have a major financial impact on CART as the Japanese manufacturer is the primary sponsor of Sunday’s Honda Grand Prix of Monterey and the Honda Indy 300 on Oct. 28 in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

In a related announcement, former CART champion Jimmy Vasser was introduced as the new driver for Team Rahal, replacing 1999 Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack, who earlier had signed with Chip Ganassi for next season.