Two Teams Dump Lotus

[cosworth151]

Struggling engine manufacturer Lotus is loosing two of its four IndyCar teams. Bryan Herta Autosport and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing are both leaving the Lotus camp. That leaves only Dragon Racing and HVM using the Lotus-badged Judd designed engines. Neither teams has said if they will go with Chevy or Honda.

The engines have been down on power and had reliability issues. Lotus has also had trouble delivering the number of engines needed by the teams.

The engine swap will bring other changes at Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. The team changed its name to DRR-Lotus and carries the Lotus black & gold colors.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120424/INDYCAR/120429899#ixzz1t3GlQTrV

[Jericoke]

The Lotus name just seems to be a plague of confusion in motorsports.

I don't believe in any sort of afterlife... but I do believe that Mr. Chapman is back from the grave, and haunting those who would misappropriate his legacy.  (Although surely he'd approve of Kimi?)

[F1fanaticBD]

He might bless Kimi to be the Next Jim (Its pretty easy task of replacing a few letters)...

[lkjohnson1950]

Are they sure they will get engines? Last I heard, SFR almost didn't get to run because no one would give her an engine.

[Dare]

How well planned is it when you change the specs and don't make sure there will be enough engines to go around

[Jericoke]

How well planned is it when you change the specs and don't make sure there will be enough engines to go around

I hate to say it, but NASCAR got it right with the 'Car of Tomorrow'.  The roll out was gradual.  Taking years to develop and line up the suppliers, and then phased in over time, rather than suddenly every race using the new car.

Hell... it's probably not too late to let teams run last year's cars at Indy.