Ex-Toyota engineer to lead IndyCar engine development

Sansum has joined IndyCar after stints at Toyota Racing Development, Ford Motor Company, Cosworth Technology and Ilmor Engineering.

Said Frye: "Darren is someone we targeted early on in the hiring process. There is a lot happening within IndyCar’s engine program, both current and future projects. Darren's background makes him a perfect fit to lead our engine program today and into the future."

Sansum, whose first contact with IndyCar came in 2002 when he joined Ilmor as a development engineer, has overseen reliability improvements for Toyota in NASCAR, leading to the marque winning the last two manufacturers’ championships in Cup.

“What excites me about this role is that it's an opportunity to use my 25 years of engine engineering," said Sansum, 47. "It's an opportunity to help develop the sport itself and it's particularly pertinent that it's with IndyCar since that's where it started for me and it's the fastest category in North America.”

According to IndyCar’s press release, in addition to supervising IndyCar’s current engine regulations, Sansum will “play a key role in developing the next generation of engine regulations… making it attractive to new manufacturers.”

Sansum continued: “IndyCar is going in a good direction, and I'd like to help further develop that and continue going in that direction. The competition's very close between Honda and Chevrolet at the moment. I'd like to contribute to the evolution in this direction with the ultimate goal of adding manufacturers into the sport.”