Volkswagen Plays Down IndyCar Entry

Kris Nissen, the head of Volkswagen Motorsport has put to rest, for the time being at least, hopes regarding a possible Volkswagen take at the IndyCar program. Despite the fact that VW, together with Audi, Porsche and Honda, have entered talks with IndyCar for future engine-rule packages, set to be introduced in 2012, Nissen says it is unlikely VW will enter the series in the near future. The main reason, as expected, is financial related.

"I am not 100 per cent sure of the latest status. But I think it is not realistic for the moment that the VW group will do it," Nissen told Autosport. "First of all, all parts of the group have motorsport activities already, and we need to look closely at the budgets for these. We need to concentrate on what we are doing."

Nissen also hinted VW's reluctance to commit to IndyCar is fueled by the yet unstable state of the series and of the automotive industry as a whole.

"Also IndyCar needs to settle down, and it looks like it is getting better. America needs to settle down, the car market needs to be stable again."

Currently, IndyCar machines use Honda-powered Dallara chassis designs, who are six years old. From 2012, the vehicles will get a new set up, with the same chassis but with different and diversified engines and turbochargers.

Back in November, rumors pointed to VW eyeing yet another US program, NASCAR. At the time Volkswagen motorsports' Hans-Joachim Stuck was rumored to have entered talks with NASCAR officials, after being seen at Homestead.