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Bryan Herta Autosport and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing have decided to part ways with engine manufacturer Lotus and the announcement was made Tuesday morning.
"Following this review, Lotus is pleased to announce in cooperation with IndyCar that, whilst it remains fully committed to IndyCar in the long term, Lotus has taken the decision to reduce the number of cars it runs from five to three for the remainder of the season. As a consequence of this decision, Lotus has made offers to Bryan Herta Autosport LLC and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC to end the agreements with them. Bryan Herta Autosport LLC will not participate in any further races as a Lotus team and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC will race one more time in Brazil next weekend," said the presse release.
Both teams expressed their dissatisfaction over the recent poor performances of the Judd-designed V-6 engines.
The first clue of the split came with the announcement that Team Barracuda-BHA would not take part in the upcoming Brazilian round next weekend. The team led by Bryan Herta wanted to focus on the Indianapolis 500 although it's unknown whether a new engine supply has been secured from Indy onwards.
As for DRR, the relationship with Lotus is much closer than Herta. and it will be difficult to land back on its feet because, besides carrying Lotus' factory black and gold livery, the team also re-named itself Lotus DRR and was said to receive at least one free chassis from the engine manufacturer.
That will leave Lotus with only three full-time teams; the two-car Dragon Racing squad and the single-car HVM Racing effort.
BHA and DRR would have to pin their hopes on being rescued by Chevrolet or Honda with an un-planned Indy lease. The IZOD IndyCar Series is surely expected to put a lot of pressure to see those two teams receive engines.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the series officials don't want to see the Indy 500 pole-sitter (Tagliani) and winning team (Herta) sitting on the sidelines without an engine when practice starts on May 12th.
"Following this review, Lotus is pleased to announce in cooperation with IndyCar that, whilst it remains fully committed to IndyCar in the long term, Lotus has taken the decision to reduce the number of cars it runs from five to three for the remainder of the season. As a consequence of this decision, Lotus has made offers to Bryan Herta Autosport LLC and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC to end the agreements with them. Bryan Herta Autosport LLC will not participate in any further races as a Lotus team and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing LLC will race one more time in Brazil next weekend," said the presse release.
Both teams expressed their dissatisfaction over the recent poor performances of the Judd-designed V-6 engines.
The first clue of the split came with the announcement that Team Barracuda-BHA would not take part in the upcoming Brazilian round next weekend. The team led by Bryan Herta wanted to focus on the Indianapolis 500 although it's unknown whether a new engine supply has been secured from Indy onwards.
 |
| Alex Tagliani. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar) |
As for DRR, the relationship with Lotus is much closer than Herta. and it will be difficult to land back on its feet because, besides carrying Lotus' factory black and gold livery, the team also re-named itself Lotus DRR and was said to receive at least one free chassis from the engine manufacturer.
That will leave Lotus with only three full-time teams; the two-car Dragon Racing squad and the single-car HVM Racing effort.
 |
| Photo: Lotus |
BHA and DRR would have to pin their hopes on being rescued by Chevrolet or Honda with an un-planned Indy lease. The IZOD IndyCar Series is surely expected to put a lot of pressure to see those two teams receive engines.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the series officials don't want to see the Indy 500 pole-sitter (Tagliani) and winning team (Herta) sitting on the sidelines without an engine when practice starts on May 12th.