Dragon Racing gets green light for Indy engine switch
Eric Mauk
Another chapter to Lotus’ disappointing foray into Indy Car racing was written today as Jay Penske’s Dragon Racing squad was granted an exemption by the sanctioning body to abandon the Lotus powerplants in favor of Chevrolet engines.
Dragon Racing had been battling for most of the month in an effort to get out of its deal with Lotus,and was finally able today to get rookie Katherine Legge on track to run her Rookie Orientation Program at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The green light finally came to change manufacturers only after long negotiations took place at the Speedway over the last two days.
Both Legge and her teammate Sebastien Bourdais were able to get track time today as they prepare for this weekend’s qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. The engine change means that nearly half of the expected 33-car will be wearing the Chevrolet bowties- which has been the engine to have to this point of the 2012 season. Chevrolet has dominated the IZOD Indy Car Series season to this point, winning each of the first four races and powering each of the top four drivers in the series standings.
“The addition of Dragon Racing’s two cars to the Chevrolet roster for the Indianapolis 500 is a strategic enhancement to our already strong stable of teams and drivers,” said Chris Berube, Chevrolet IndyCar Program Manager. “The efforts put forth by our combined Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 teams will seamlessly continue for the biggest race of the year.”
The Dragon duo will have one more day of practice leading into Saturday’s qualifying sessions, which get underway at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The final grid will be set with Sunday’s qualifying, which runs from Noon to 6 p.m.
Share Or Save This Story
Title battles and bittersweet farewells headline packed 54-car Petit Le Mans grid
Sebastien Bourdais joins DragonSpeed Corvette lineup in GTD Pro return at Petit Le Mans
Le Mans race-ending Cadillac failure is a “dagger in the heart” – Sebastien Bourdais
How Penske could stay in Formula E after DS’ exit
DS Automobiles to pull out of Formula E after 2025-26 season
Guenther to race alongside Vergne at DS Penske in Formula E
Has George Russell hit his stride too late? 'With this form I would have been in the fight'
F1 pundit slams Franco Colapinto's "outrageous" Baku crash but rejects Lando Norris's race ban call
How an “informed gamble” enabled Toyota to beat Alpine in the Fuji 6 Hours
Sebastian Vettel gives update on F1 future as he opens up on life after retirement
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
You Ask The Questions: David Malukas
Top 10 Ganassi IndyCar drivers of all time
Alex Palou still unstoppable as Nashville win edges him closer to fifth IndyCar title
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments