The Board of Directors of the Sports Car Club of America has ratified a Honda Performance Development, Inc. proposal to begin supplying Honda Formula F engines for competition in the SCCA's Formula F...]]> Engine Sanctioned by Board of Directors for Use in 2010



TORRANCE, Calif. - Nov 03 —

The Board of Directors of the Sports Car Club of America has ratified a Honda Performance Development, Inc. proposal to begin supplying Honda Formula F engines for competition in the SCCA's Formula F (FF) class in 2010.

Through its introduction to the category, HPD hopes to strengthen FF's position as the first step in American open-wheel racing.

"We look forward to launching our FF program at the outset of the 2010 club racing season," said Erik Berkman, president of Honda Performance Development. "We hope that this initial step in HPD's new grassroots motorsports initiative will help make the FF class more affordable and more competitive."

The Honda Formula F engine is based on the Fit L15A7, a 1.5-liter engine that can be installed into several existing FF chassis. Testing has shown that the Honda engine provides performance equal to the long-out-of-production "Kent" engine, while featuring a modern fuel-injected design with superior service life, improved availability and lower operating costs.

A prototype, utilizing a Swift DB-1 chassis and HPD-developed bolt-on conversion kit, made its public debut during the FF 40th Anniversary Celebration at Road America in late July. The Swift-Honda, along with a Honda FF engine mated to a Citation chassis, was also on display during last month's SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America.

The Honda FF engine has been developed by Honda Performance Development in cooperation with Sandy Shamlian of Quicksilver RacEngines. The engine was developed to equal the performance of the Kent powerplant through utilization of an HPD-developed intake restrictor plate and appropriately mapped Engine Control Unit (ECU). If additional performance adjustments are required, changes can be made to the restrictor plate and/or the ECU maps to achieve this goal.

"Many of us, myself included, have been involved in FF racing," said Marc Sours, HPD Production Division Manager and Large Project Leader for HPD's grassroots projects. "We believe that introduction of the modern, less-expensive Honda FF engine can restore interest in and raise the profile of FF to a point where it once again becomes the place for young drivers to begin their careers, and where current SCCA club racers will find economical, close competition."

Original equipment in the 2009 Honda Fit, the L15A7 is a fuel-injected, 1.5-liter, overhead cam engine, at the beginning of its current production generation. Per Honda corporate policy, a minimum of 10 years' parts support is mandated at the conclusion of production.

HPD will supply all parts from intake through exhaust, including multiple chassis conversion kits. The result will be a modern and reliable engine requiring minimal maintenance and tuning.

Specifically, HPD expects to offer FF competitors the opportunity to reduce their engine operating costs. Engine rebuilds will be reduced, while competitors should also experience a reduction in the need for top-end refreshing. In addition, crankshaft and valve-spring life should be extended dramatically; and most ignition and all carburetor maintenance will be eliminated.

The first conversion kit offered will be for the venerable Swift DB-1. This complete, race-ready package will sell for $11,750. It will include a base L15A7 engine, FF engine conversion kit (including intake, exhaust, dry sump, restrictor plate and ECU), and a bolt-in DB-1 chassis conversion kit, to permit installation of the engine without welding or other major modifications. Individual component parts will also be available for purchase separately.

Delivery of kits will begin in early February of 2010 and will follow in the order that requests are received. Deposits of $500, which will ensure a place on the delivery list, are being accepted. For more information, please contact:

Honda Performance Development, Inc.

661-702-7777

grmsadmin@hra.com

HPD is working on two additional conversion kits for the Swift DB-6 and Van Diemen (1999-current) chassis. Market release of these kits is also expected prior to the 2010 club racing season.

Beginning with its initial entry into Formula One in 1964, Honda has a lengthy record of involvement in open-wheel racing around the world. In addition to its well-known accomplishments in IndyCar, CART and Formula One competition, Honda Motor also has an extensive history as an engine supplier in lower open-wheel formulae, including Formula 3, Formula Master, Formula Nippon and Formula Dream.

Honda Performance Development (HPD) is Honda's racing company within North America. Founded in 1993, and located in Santa Clarita, Calif., HPD is the technical operations center for Honda and Acura's high-performance racing cars and engines. In addition to its new grassroots motorsports business, HPD is the single engine supplier to the IndyCar Series and spearheaded Acura's championship-winning efforts in the 2009 American Le Mans Series.

Quicksilver RacEngines (QSRE) is a private company in Frederick, MD owned and operated by Sandy Shamlian since 1973. QSRE engines have been a staple in open-wheel and sports-car racing, logging countless professional and amateur race wins and championships in the USA, England, Venezuela, Australia & Canada in classes such as Zetec F2000, Formula Continental, Sports 2000, Formula Atlantic, and FF1600.

Race Results:

Franchitti's Victory Seals His Second IndyCar Championship

In a fitting finish to the 2009 IndyCar Series championship, title contenders Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe ran away from the rest of the 23-car starting field, and battled among themselves for the race victory and drivers' championship Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Under hot and very humid conditions that tested both man and machine, Franchitti prevailed by adopting a fuel strategy that ensured he could complete the race with just three pit stops, while both of his rivals had to make a final "splash and go" stop in the closing laps. As a result, Franchitti swept into the lead for the final time on Lap 195 and held on for his fifth race win of 2009, and second IndyCar championship in the last three years.

This evening's season-concluding 300-mile contest capped another weekend -- and a fourth consecutive season -- of reliable performance for the Indy V-8 engine. Throughout 2009, a total of 40 drivers completed more than 202,210 miles of practice, qualifying and racing, with only a single in-race engine failure. That sole failure was the result of a broken alternator wire aboard Ryan Hunter-Reay's car at Infineon Raceway in August.

For the fourth consecutive season, Honda powered the entire 33-car Indianapolis 500 starting field, and for a record-extending fourth consecutive year -- and the only four times in Indy 500 history -- there was not a single engine failure. In addition, 19 of the 20 cars running at the end of this year's '500' were on the lead lap, another testament to Honda's efforts in providing reliable and equal IndyCar Series engines.

At the green, Dixon, Franchitti and Briscoe established their dominance over the field, quickly pulling away from all challengers and lapping the rear of the field as early as Lap 21. By the first round of pit stops, only 10 cars were on the lead lap and by the end of the 200-lap contest even fourth-finishing Tony Kanaan was one lap down.

Dixon and Briscoe traded the lead repeatedly through the event, but Franchitti battled handling issues in the early laps that were only cured during his first pit stop. However, by then his team had already elected to adopt a conservation strategy and -- barring a yellow-flag caution period -- Franchitti could then continue to run a safe third and wait for his rivals to make their fourth and final stops.

In the end, it was a caution-free race -- the first in IndyCar Series history -- and the average speed of 201.420 mph was the second-fastest in series history. All of which played into Franchitt's hands as the Scot followed up his 2007 championship -- he spent the 2008 season in NASCAR competition -- with the 2009 title.

Kanaan's inspiring drive from 15th on the grid to fourth at the checkers moved him up two positions in the final drivers' championship standings, to sixth, just behind his Andretti Green Racing teammate, Danica Patrick, who was eliminated from today's contest following a pit-lane collision with Dan Wheldon.

Helio Castroneves rebounded from a crash in practice, caused by suspension failure, to finish fifth; with Hideki Mutoh rounding out the top six. Luczo Dragon Racing's Raphael Matos had a disappointing run to finish 14th, four laps down, but still secured series Rookie of the Year honors.

This evening's race concluded the 2009 IndyCar Series. The 2010 season opens March 14 in Brazil, with the first domestic race taking place March 28 at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Final IndyCar Series Standings (after 17 of 17 races):

Dario Franchitti (#10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started 1st, finished 1st, fifth IndyCar Series win of 2009, 2009 IndyCar Series Champion, his second IndyCar drivers' championship; 13th career IndyCar Series victory and 23rd U.S. open-wheel racing win, all with Honda power : "Our car wasn't quite 'there' during our first stint, while [teammate] Scott [Dixon] was really, really quick. So we made the decision early to start saving fuel and go with that [fuel conservation] strategy. As it turned out, we made some minor changes at our first pit stop, and our car was really quick after that, probably as good as Scott or Ryan [Briscoe]. But now, we were commited to our strategy and we stuck with it. It was a gamble, but obviously it paid off for us in the best possible way. After the checker, we ran completely out of fuel while I was trying to do 'donuts' around the track. I told my guys I need to work on the donuts, but we were OK on the fuel strategy!

Ten years ago this month, I was battling Juan Pablo Montoya for the CART Championship and it also came down to the final race of the year. I didn't win, but that became irrelevant when we lost my good friend, Greg Moore, that day. This win is for him."

Ryan Briscoe (#6 Team Penske Honda) Started 3rd, finished 2nd, third in the championship: "In one way, it's pretty frustrating because I think I drove the hardest race of my life today. But you know, you can't be too disappointed. We gave it everything we had and it was an excellent season for us, one of the best in my career. But both Dario [Franchitti] and Scott [Dixon] were excellent all season long, and Dario certainly earned his title. We just have to come back stronger and get them next year."

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) Started 2nd, finished 3rd, second in the championship: "It was a fantastic race and a fantastic season. Dario [Franchitti] deserved the title; he drove great all season long. Still, it IS disappointing to finish second in the championship, but it's great for Dario and just a tremendous day for Team Target. You can look back and play the 'what if' game all night long, but that doesn't change the outcome. I'm already looking forward to 2010."

Jack Spurney (General Manager, Honda Performance Development) on today's season-ending race: "It was a fantastic, three-way fight for the championship that was up for grabs until the final laps, when Dario Franchitti's fuel strategy finally paid off. For much of the race, you could see Dario was waiting patiently in third, saving fuel, until Ryan [Briscoe] and Scott [Dixon] were forced to pit for fuel. It was an incredibly clean race, the first IndyCar race in history run without a single yellow flag. Yet, there was plenty of passing and action throughout.

"Congratulations to Dario and the entire Target Chip Ganassi Racing team on their race win and 2009 championship. And equally, congratulations to Ryan and Team Penske, as well as Scott and his 'side' of the Target team, for an exciting and well-fought season. And of course, congratulations to all our associates at Honda Performance Development and our technical partners at Illmor Engineering for another stellar season of tremendous reliability and performance for the Honda Indy V-8."

Gil de Ferran's storybook retirement win, Patrón Highcroft Racing's LMP1 championship and Lowe's Fernandez Racing's record-tying eighth 2009 win were just some of the...]]> Patrón Highcroft Clinches LMP1 Title, Lowe's Fernandez Team Ties LMP2 Win Mark



MONTEREY, Calif. - Oct 10 —

Gil de Ferran's storybook retirement win, Patrón Highcroft Racing's
LMP1 championship and Lowe's Fernandez Racing's record-tying eighth 2009 win were just some of
the stories Saturday at Laguna Seca Raceway in the wild American Le Mans Series finale.

De Ferran, co-driving with young star Simon Pagenaud, hung
up his racing helmet in dramatic fashion with a sensational overall win
in the four-hour Monterey Sports Car Championships on the famed
2.238-mile road circuit. But it wasn't easy for de Ferran.

The driver of the No. 66 XM Radio Acura ARX-02a prototype
sports car was pressured by the No. 15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura
ARX-01b LMP2 machine of Adrian Fernandez for the last hour in
wheel-to-wheel action. De Ferran and Fernandez swapped the lead
several times before the Brazilian star held off the Mexican racer by just .662 seconds at the finish.

The win was the fifth of the year for de Ferran Motorsports and gave Gil a spectacular sendoff of
a stellar racing career. The de Ferran team also had a season-high seven pole positions.

The Acura 1-2-3 overall sweep was the fifth of the season for the auto manufacturer in the tenrace
ALMS campaign that saw Acura become the first car marque to win LMP1 and LMP2 driver, team and manufacturer championships in the same year.

The Lowe's Fernandez team, with drivers Fernandez and Luis Diaz, finished second overall but
took its eighth LMP2 class victory in 2009, tying the ALMS LMP2 win record set by Penske Racing in
2007 with Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas.

Third overall at Laguna Seca was the Patrón
Highcroft Racing pair of David Brabham and Scott
Sharp in the No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Acura ARX-02a.
The finish gave Brabham and Sharp the LMP1 driver
crown and Patrón Highcroft Racing the LMP1 team
title. Brabham and Scott recorded three overall wins
this year in team owner Duncan Dayton's first ALMS
point championship year.

The Patrón Highcroft team suffered through
a tough two-week span by building a new Acura from
scratch at Petit Le Mans after a horrific crash involving
Sharp. Then a flu bug hit the team's crew that
saw several of the team members on the sidelines
entering the Laguna Seca race.

The Lowe's Fernandez team also collected
the Michelin Green X Challenge prototype win as well
as the Green X series championship.

ACURA QUOTES: GIL de FERRAN (#66 XM Radio de
Ferran Acura ARX-02a): "It certainly wasn't an easy win
today. I was driving hard to hold off Adrian [Fernandez] and
trying to save fuel. Coming into the weekend, there were
several thoughts going through my head. But once I was in
the car, I thought only about winning the race. I had a job to
do here. I didn't really think about my last race until I shut
off the engine. Then I had a lot of thoughts about my career.
Simon drove fantastic today and gave us a big lead.
But Adrian wasn't about to give us an easy win. He was
tough. I am just glad it is over now. It was a dream weekend
for me."

SIMON PAGENAUD (#66 XM Radio de Ferran Acura ARX
-02a): "The XM Acura felt so good today. I could drive it
fast. I was able to open up a good margin, about a minute. I
was nervous at the end, because I knew Gil would be tight
on fuel to finish. But the crew did a great job of controlling
the fuel management and we won our fifth race this year."

ADRIAN FERNANDEZ (#15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura
ARX-01b): "What a great way to finish a super season. I
knew our car would be fast in the race, and we might have a
chance for the overall win. I could see Gil was saving fuel,
and I was pressuring him. I just came up a bit short. But
overall, it feels great to tie the LMP2 win record and score
the driver and team championships. It was super."

LUIS DIAZ (#15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura ARX-01b): "We
have had one of the best seasons in ALMS history with eight wins and two championships. It has been a thrill to
drive with my racing hero, Adrian. He gave me an opportunity to race with a great team and a super manufacturer in Acura. I couldn't ask for a better situation. Today was a spectacular way to finish our season."

DAVID BRABHAM (#9 Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a): "We had a few problems today. But our
team's plan was to get to the finish line. If we could do that, we would win the championship. The past two
weeks have been very hard on our team with the crash and flu. But they are professional and put together a
super effort to bring Patrón, Acura, Michelin and the entire operation a championship season."

SCOTT SHARP (#9 Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-
02a): "I can't believe it is over. It was tough season racing in
the LMP1 class. The de Ferran team is one of the best and,
to beat them, really feels good. This team put in long hours
and never made a mistake to get us back in action each
week. The effort at Petit to built a new car was phenomenal.
Then, here at Laguna Seca, the flu bug hit everyone hard. But
the team worked together and gave us a title tonight."

On Friday morning, hundreds of parts were strewn around the Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura garage area. A new Acura ARX-02a prototype tub had just arrived at Road...]]> Fernandez, Diaz Score Team and Manufacturers' Titles For Lowe's And Acura



CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Sep 26 —

On Friday morning, hundreds of parts were strewn around
the Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura garage area. A new Acura ARX-02a
prototype tub had just arrived at Road Atlanta by special charter from
Southern California.

By Saturday evening, drivers David Brabham, Scott Sharp and
Dario Franchitti had driven the newly-built No. 9 Patrón Highcroft Racing
Acura ARX-02a sports car to sixth overall in the rain-shortened Petit Le
Mans classic, the ninth stop in the 10-race American Le Mans Series.

A brutal practice crash involving Sharp left the primary Acura
completely destroyed and the team's LMP1 class title hopes in jeopardy.
But a monumental effort by the 20-person Patrón Highcroft crew built a
new Acura in roughly 20 hours in the Road Atlanta paddock area.

The sixth-place finish extended to Patrón Highcroft team's point lead to 21 over the de Ferran
Motorsports team entering the season finale set for October 10 at Laguna Seca Raceway.

The Patrón Highcroft contingent, with Brabham starting from the pit lane after missing qualifications,
might have had trouble maintaining the LMP1 point lead with a lightning-fast Gil de Ferran battling
the factory cars of Audi and Peugeot. De Ferran drove his No. 66 XM Satellite Radio Acura ARX-02a to
the second overall position by Lap 42. But, seven laps later, de Ferran Motorsports hopes went sliding
into the mud, as Gil was hit from behind by Clint Field and his Lola. The de Ferran squad repaired the
Acura in only 13 minutes, but the delay hurt the team's chances to gain points on the Patrón team.

The Lowe's Fernandez pair of Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz, seven-time LMP2 class winners
this year, did not enjoy another winning effort this time, finishing second to the Mazda of Marino Franchitti,
Butch Leitzinger and Ben Devlin. But the podium finish gave the Lowe's Fernandez operation the
LMP2 team championship and Acura the LMP2 manufacturers' crown.

Fernandez and Diaz had clinched the LMP2 drivers' title at the Mosport event last month. The
Mexican stars will attempt to tie the LMP2 season win record at Laguna Seca. Timo Bernhard and Romain
Dumas captured eight LMP2 races in 2007 for Penske Racing.

Petit Le Mans Overall Results

1. PEUGEOT 908 No. 08

2. PEUGEOT 908 No. 07

3. AUDI R15 No. 2

4. AUDI R15 No. 1

5. ORECA No. 7

6. PATRÓN HIGHCROFT ACURA ARX-02a No.9


David Brabham, Scott Sharp, Dario Franchitti

18. LOWE'S FERNANDEZ ACURA ARX-01a No. 15

Adrian Fernandez, Luis Diaz

ACURA QUOTES: DAVID BRABHAM (#9 Patrón Highcroft
Racing Acura ARX-02a): "We obviously didn't get the
chance to try many changes in the warm-up, so it took
awhile to get comfortable in the car. Once I played with the
traction control, I was able to get the car a lot better during
the stint. I was able to move through the field and once I
was on slicks, the car felt really good."

SCOTT SHARP (#9 Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-
02a): "I had a good double stint but I was certainly super
conservative. We didn't want to take any risks at all. It was
great to get back in the car, and I am so grateful to the guys
for all their hard work. To build up a new car so quickly is
just amazing, and the car has been perfect all day. It is a
real credit to the guys."

DARIO FRANCHITTI (#9 Patrón Highcroft Racing Acura
ARX-02a): "The conditions out there were just terrible,
probably as bad as I have ever seen. I nearly crashed while
following the safety car. You get these rivers running across
the track down to the esses. It is unfortunate for the fans.
The Patron Highcroft crew is beat up after working all day
and night to get the Acura ready. They did a great job."

ADRIAN FERNANDEZ (#15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura
ARX-01b): "You never want to finish a race like this for the
fans' sake. Nevertheless, we are happy about clinching the
team and manufacturers'. Unfortunately, we didn't show
what we could do today due to the problem with the steering.
When I jumped in the car, there was something really
wrong. So we needed to stop and change the steering unit."

LUIS DIAZ (#15 Lowe's Fernandez Acura ARX-01b): "We
had been facing some type of electrical problem since
Thursday. The team did a good job setting up the car, but
we didn't discover the exact problem until the race. We
would have loved to have won Petit, but it is great to come
away with the team and manufacturers' championships."

GIL de FERRAN (#66 XM Radio de Ferran Acura ARX-02a): "This event was very disappointing for our XM
Radio Acura de Ferran team. We ran as high as second today and the car felt very good in the early portion of
the race. But to get taken out by a car [Clint Field] that was a lap down was ridiculous. That move took us of
contention for a podium here, as well as our championship hopes. ALMS gave him a penalty, but it took us completely
out of the race. The first incident caused other problems for the car, too. It was very frustrating to have
the race play out that way."

SIMON PAGENAUD (#66 XM Radio de Ferran Acura ARX-02a): "This was a tough race for us today. I really
thought the car was going to be able to run with the Audis and Peugeots, especially in the rain. And Gil got the
car moving up well. It's a shame that the Field car drove into Gil in the early stages of the race. It basically took
us right out of contention. I feel sorry for the fans, too. The rain was really tough on the teams and the fans.
They would have seen a tremendous race. Now, we have go to Laguna Seca and win the race."

SCOTT DIXON (#66 XM Radio de
Ferran Acura ARX-02a): "I feel badly
for the team. I made a rookie mistake
in the rain. I wasn't able to test with
the Acura in the rain. I was just pushing
too hard and got the car into the
curbing. We had a fast car today but it
wasn't in the cards for the de Ferran
team today. I really enjoy working with
Gil's team and driving the Acura."