Racing
John Oreovicz, Autos, Open-Wheel 7y

Chip Ganassi Racing will switch to Honda engines, bodywork in 2017

AutoRacing, IndyCar

Chip Ganassi Racing announced Friday that its Verizon IndyCar Series team will switch to Honda engines and bodywork in 2017, reuniting a combination that produced 77 race wins and nine Indy car championships between 1996 and 2013.

Ganassi's switch from Chevrolet to Honda should improve the balance of competition between engine manufacturers in the IndyCar Series. Since aero kits were introduced in 2015, Chevrolet bodied cars have won 24 of 32 races, including 14 out of 16 in 2016.

"The Honda-Ganassi association is one of the most successful in the history of Honda's North American racing programs," said Art St. Cyr, president of Honda Performance Development. "We welcome the return of our partnership, and look forward to returning to Victory Circle together in 2017."

"We've had a long and successful relationship with Honda over the years and we look forward to getting it back on track," team owner Chip Ganassi added. "I feel a little like I am going home after having previously spent 12 years with them.

"Much of our organization's success has been with Honda power in our cars so we are all very excited."

Drivers who won Indy car championships driving Honda-powered Ganassi entries include Jimmy Vasser, Alex Zanardi, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, and Scott Dixon.

Four-time IndyCar series titlist Dixon returns to anchor what is expected to remain a four-car Ganassi attack in 2017. Charlie Kimball has been confirmed for at least one other Ganassi car, while the status of 2016 drivers Tony Kanaan and Max Chilton has not been resolved.

Dixon won the 2015 IndyCar Series championship for Ganassi in a Chevrolet.

"Chip Ganassi Racing has been a great partner of ours, with a championship last year and what they've contributed this year," said Mark Kent, director of racing for General Motors.

The Ganassi team's move to Honda for 2017 is expected to result in at least one current Honda team swapping over to Chevrolet, with A.J. Foyt Racing and Dale Coyne Racing the most likely candidates.

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