INDY RACING LEAGUE: HONDA EXTENDS ITS DEAL WITH IRL CHEVROLET, TOYOTA LEAVING RACING SERIES.

Byline: Tim Haddock Staff Writer

FONTANA - Honda will be supplying engines to Indy Racing League teams through 2009, it was announced Saturday at California Speedway.

Whether any other engine manufacturers will join Honda in the IRL is yet to be determined.

Honda made its commitment to the IRL as Chevrolet and Toyota are preparing to leave the open-wheel racing series. Chevrolet is gone after the 2005 season. Toyota will leave after 2006. As it stands, Honda will be the sole engine supplier to the IRL when the 2007 season starts.

``Clearly we have a focus on open-wheel racing,'' said Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development. ``In this decision process, there was no other consideration. The only discussion was whether to stay or leave.''

Lack of competition and the ability to supply every driver in the series with an engine are two of the main concerns for Honda Performance Development, which is based in Santa Clarita, and the IRL. But both were confident Honda would be able to meet the demands of the IRL teams.

``We welcome competition,'' Clarke said. ``Then again, we understand that we may be the only manufacturer involved. We're OK with that.''

Brian Barnhart, president and chief operating officer of the IRL, said the series is actively pursuing other manufacturers to join the series.

``We've been contacting all of them,'' Barnhart said. ``As (Clarke) stated, it's his preference to have competition. At the same time, it's our preference to have competition as well.

``At this point in time, we don't have any other manufacturers who have taken up the challenge of taking on Honda and their participation in the Indy Car Series.''

Clarke said he sees some advantages to being the only engine supplier in the series.

``Our desire is to be involved in a series we view as the pinnacle and the premier open-wheel racing series,'' Clarke said, ``and see that as maybe a priority over the need to have competition.''

Barnhart said teams and drivers will be using equipment that is equally competitive, and that would be another advantage to having one engine supplier in the IRL.

``If there is no competition in 2007, there are some short-term benefits to that as well,'' Barnhart said. ``And it certainly gives you the opportunity to equal supply, equal performance, to reduce some costs and reduce some barriers of entry into the series.''

In three years of IRL competition, Honda and its drivers and teams have won the past two IRL championships (Tony Kanaan and Dan Wheldon), the past two Indianapolis 500s (Buddy Rice and Wheldon) and 27 Indy Car Series races.

Honda drivers have also won the past three rookies of the year (Wheldon, Kosuke Matsura and Danica Patrick).

``I am very excited about Honda's decision today as it brings stability and continuity to a very competitive racing package,'' said Tony George, chief executive officer of the IRL. ``We look forward to continuing our partnership with Honda. We're encouraged by their multi-year commitment to the IRL and their willingness to assist us in growing the series both on and off the track.''

Tim Haddock, [phone]

timothy.haddock(at)dailynews.com