Dakar Rally News: IndyCar Series Embraces Hybrid Era at Mid-Ohio
Lexington, Ohio, July 5, 2024 – The historic IndyCar Series is ushering in a new era as the highly anticipated hybrid power unit makes its official race debut this weekend at the challenging 13-turn, 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
In collaboration with Chevrolet and Honda, the first-of-its-kind hybrid system pairs the existing 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine with cutting-edge supercapacitor hybrid technology. A low-voltage (48V) motor generator unit (MGU) is integrated with an energy storage system (ESS), both of which are seamlessly fitted between the engine and gearbox. The MGU generates additional power that is stored in the ESS’ 20 supercapacitors, providing drivers with a surge of extra horsepower on demand.
The hybrid power unit (delivering 280 kilojoules per lap at Mid-Ohio) will be available in addition to the traditional push-to-pass system on road and street circuits (200 seconds at a maximum of 20 seconds per push at Mid-Ohio). When used in unison, this innovative package will produce over 800 horsepower, giving drivers a substantial performance boost.
So far in the 2024 IndyCar Series season, there have been six different winners in the eight points-paying races, including Pato O’Ward, Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin, Alex Palou, Josef Newgarden, and Will Power. This parity is a testament to the competitiveness of the championship, with the record for the most different winners in a season standing at 11, set in 2000, 2001, and 2014.
Veteran driver Scott Dixon leads the charge at Mid-Ohio, having won a record six times at the iconic circuit (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019). Other former winners in the field include Josef Newgarden, Graham Rahal, Alexander Rossi, Will Power, Colton Herta, and last year’s victor Scott McLaughlin.
The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2025 Civic Hybrid will go green this Sunday, July 7, at 1:53 p.m. ET, with live coverage on NBC. Fans can also tune in to the Indy NXT race earlier that morning at 11:25 a.m. ET on Peacock.
🔗 Source