• The first Indianapolis 500 race was held in 1909. As of 2010, an Indy 500 race has occurred every year, not including hiatuses in the two World Wars. Even though individual teams supply their own race car chassis for open-wheeled Indy cars, the engines are all provided by one manufacturer to insure every car gets the exact same engine and no unfair advantage. The Indy Racing League sets forth minimum requirements that Indy car engines must meet. Honda has been the supplier for all Indy car engines since 2006.
  
  

Indy Racing League Engine Requirements

• The IRL calls for a normally aspirated engine, which means power output cannot be enhanced by turbochargers or superchargers. The engine can have no more than eight cylinders which must be in a V configuration, with four cylinders on each bank. The total displacement can be no more than 3,500 cubic centimeters, or 213.5 cubic inches. The valve train can have dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The minimum dry weight of the engine with no exhaust headers, clutch, engine management system or filters attached is 280 pounds. Use of an alloy crankshaft with five main bearing caps and machined steel connecting rods are allowed. Maximum allowed horsepower is 650 at 10,300 rpm. The IRL supplies a rev-limiter to the engine manufacturer to ensure this rpm is not exceeded.
  
  

Honda Indy Engine Specifications

• The actual engine Honda supplies to all Indy 500 teams is an aluminum alloy 90 degree V8. The fuel delivery is by fuel injection that utilizes a single injector per cylinder. The pistons are forged from an aluminum alloy, while the connecting rods are forged from alloy steel. Lubrication is by a dry sump, and engine cooling is accomplished with a single water pump. The engine management system is supplied by McLaren Electronics, while the ignition is an induction system. The dry weight of this engine is 275 pounds, 5 pounds under the IRL limit.
  
  

Engine Rebuilding

• The IRL allows an engine rebuilt after every 2,000 kilometers, approximately 1243 miles, or about every third race. Honda's Indy engines have internal parts tolerance levels of plus or minus 1 percent and have a 1,400 mile serviceable life between rebuilds.