You must remember that Honda originally was going to go with it's own factory team ala' Toyota but the key guy (chief engineer or designer I think) died right when they were pulling everything together. The BAR and Jordan programs were last minute efforts to stay in the game.

For what it is worth a brand new engine is being developed as we speak and will be ready for BAR for the 2003 season.

 

Kevin, there aren't exactly that many "major league" series. I suppose we could throw in the Mugen success in F3/F3000 too if we want to get really thorough. But as a whole, I don't think any manufacturer has had any more success in both amateur and high level racing series as Honda in the last 50 years. Maybe Porsche, because between the 911s racing in various series and the 908/917/962 they've won a lot of races, and BMW has to be up there too, but neither of those companies has had Honda's success in the very top levels (IMO) of racing - CART and F1.

Bieg, that was Harvey Postlethwait, and he was a major player within the Honda racing ranks and really pushed for an independent team. His death was a major blow. I don't know exactly when Williams and BMW got tied up either. They have been out of the picture by the time Honda decided to look for another team.

And XHawkeye, what can I say? You're statements about Honda v. Toyota are unfounded, unless you're simply believing the occasional media commentator who knows zero about how much power the engines are making. The recent spate of failures is unfortunate, but as you advance the technology, things sometimes go wrong. Considering this engine evolution only has a couple more races to go (and a new engine is already in testing for next year), who's to say what things Honda is trying?

I really love it when people get all worked over the end result of a process they have no clue about. Yes, engine failures are bad, but to sum up the whole season or the company by an isolated string of events (new engine evo - engine failures) is silly. Honda, especially with Jordan, has had a decent year this year. Were it not for early season bad luck, Fisi would likely be much higher in the points standings, although certainly not in position to challenge the big 3, but then, no one is just yet. Give it time.

UL

 

Dress it up in any panty hose you like, can anyone ever remember such a spectacular and consecutive string of engine failures in the long history of F1? In the end, Honda just might come up with an engine. To date, they're making boat anchors.

PS. I know BS when it's steaming in the pasture...

 

Didn't Montoya's engine blow up or fail several times this year? I remember one race when both BMWs blew up. They're getting close to making boat anchors too. BTW, I'm not talking about blow-ups during tests (that's what tests are for), these were during the races...

 

I don't understand this obsession with the engine failures. It means nothing!! The ideal race engine *should* blow up just as the driver crosses the finish on the last lap. If it doesn't, that means the team could (should) have been running it more aggressively to make more power.

So Honda miscalculated and the engines blew a few laps early. So what? As I said before, all it shows is that they're aggressively going after points and wins, and not just a nice easy finish 3 laps down. Races are where you let it all hang out, and that's exactly what Honda's doing (finally!).

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ultimate lurker

[B]



Bieg, that was Harvey Postlethwait, and he was a major player within the Honda racing ranks and really pushed for an independent team.