Supply Chain Issues Delay IndyCar Hybrid Powertrain

2022 - St Petersburg GP

Due to ongoing global supply chain challenges with some hybrid system components, IndyCar has delayed the debut of the 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with hybrid technology to the 2024 season, the series announced.

Due to the delays, the NTT IndyCar Series will continue to use the current 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine for the 2023 season, series officials said.

“We are pleased with the pace of the technical development of the 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 hybrid as we prepare it for competition,” said IndyCar President Jay Frye. “We are very encouraged by the progress our team and our partners have made, but an immediate decision needed to be made to ensure we are prepared for the 2023 season utilizing our current 2.2-liter engine package.

“Thanks to our great partners at Honda and Chevrolet for working through this challenging supply chain situation. We are going full speed ahead with the 2.4-liter hybrid engine and cannot wait to have it on track in 2024.”

The development of the 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 engine with hybrid technology will provide 800 horsepower as a baseline, with the addition of the hybrid system giving the powerplant an additional boost of 100 horsepower to ultimately produce 900.

“We are proud of the hard work and level of commitment by our engine group, along with our teams and partners, in the development of the Chevrolet 2.4-liter engine for our IndyCar program,” said Mark Stielow, director, GM Motorsports Competition Engineering. “We were certainly excited to have it on track next season. Chevrolet remains fully committed to the NTT IndyCar Series, and we look forward to debuting our future engine package in 2024.”

“We are very excited to get the electrified era of IndyCar Series racing underway,” said David Salters, president and technical director, Honda Performance Development. “We have finished development and dyno testing of our new internal combustion engine, and once the hybrid system component supply chain issues are sorted, we’ll begin track testing of the new hybrid power unit.”

The first on-track test of the new IndyCar Series 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 will come later this month at Sebring International Raceway. Development, testing and work to incorporate the hybrid component will continue throughout the year, the series said.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.