Crossing the Pond: Racing in America

Thursday, March 25. 1999
Crossing the Pond: Racing in America
In my last newsletter I chronicled Honda’s original foray into F-1 and their subsequent domination at the pinnacle of international motorsports. After Honda’s retirement from F-1, they embarked on a gradual increase of their motorsports involvement here in America. During the 1991, 1992, and 1993 seasons nobody could beat Parker Johnstone in his Acura powered Spice/Comptech Camel Lights GTP car. Running a modified V-6 from our NSX sports car, this Acura won an unprecedented 3 straight drivers and manufacturers championships.

In 1994 Honda entered the CART PPG World Series as an engine supplier for the same reasons Mr. Honda emphasized long ago: “Use racing to train up-and-coming engineers.” For example, the chief engineer of the 3.0 CL engine was the chief engineer of the Formula One engine program. The CART engine program continues to pay dividends today. Honda powered cars have won three consecutive CART drivers titles. In 1996 the title went to the Target-Ganassi Racing Team and driver Jimmy Vasser. The 1997 and 1998 titles went to his teammate Alex Zanardi. But 1998 didn’t start off that good, in fact the first race was won by Michael Andretti with Ford power. The second race would be at Honda’s home track: Motegi.

The Motegi motorsports complex is owned and operated by Honda, has been in the planning stages for ten years, and could be viewed as the culmination of Mr. Honda's vision. On the morning of the first race, Nobuhiko Kawamoto the president of Honda (now retired) anonymously stopped by the paddock to visit his teams. The following is quoted from Autoweek: "...the former Honda Formula One engineer asked Chip Ganassi, "how is everything here?" Ganassi looked Kawamoto straight in the eye and said, "I can answer that in two words: more power." And he wasn't talking about electrical outlets in the garage."

Honda did not win that race, Ford did, the highest placing Honda was Gil de Ferran in third. Because of this failure - at their home track - that Kawamoto promised changes immediately. "Mr. Honda once hit one of his engineers on the head with a hammer," Kawamoto is alleged to have said, "and I will do the same if I have to. There are too many middle men between the drivers and the engine builders. The key to performance is communication. I want the drivers talking directly to the engine men. There will be more power."

Those words were prophetic, for in the 17 races remaining in the ’98 season, Honda won 13 of them! Alex Zanardi finished his CART career with his second consecutive title and Honda drivers finished in the top three places in points - again! In five short years of competition Honda has developed into the powerhouse of CART racing.

The dedication to winning and the desire to Finish First is leading a whole new crew of engineers to stretch their imaginations to find new answers to old questions. These young engineers are getting pretty used to winning, and when they return to passenger car duty they will bring that passion to the consumer products we offer for you. Ultimately this is why we race. To provide a better product for you.