--- title: "Honda Could Leave IndyCar Over Rising Costs: ‘We Have Great Concern’" description: "Honda could pull out of IndyCar as an engine supplier after 2026 over rising costs and poor return on investment." date: "2023-12-10" modified: "2023-12-10" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/honda-could-leave-indycar-over-rising-costs-we-have-great-concern" categories: - "Honda News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # Honda Could Leave IndyCar Over Rising Costs: ‘We Have Great Concern’ ![]() *Getty* Honda has been supplying [IndyCar ]()with engines for 30 years, having started in 1993. But that long-running relationship could come to an end after 2026, as [Honda ]()is growing concerned over its return on investment, or lack thereof. “We have great concerns over the costs,” Chuck Schifsky, American Honda Motorsports Manager, told *[Racer ]()*in a recent interview. ![]() **Colton Herta's Andretti Motorsport IndyCar* | *Andretti Motorsport** At the moment, Honda is one of only two IndyCar engine makers, supplying more than half of all IndyCars with powerplants. Chevy supplies the rest. Each IndyCar race has 16-18 Honda twin-turbo V6s running and the cost is beginning to outweigh the return. While Schifsky isn't saying that Honda is definitely pulling out after its contract ends in 2026, he also says not to discount the possibility just because of Honda's longstanding relationship with the sport. There isn't one perfect solution to this situation. However, Schifsky suggests changes to engine regulations to potentially save Honda tens of millions of dollars, which would make its return on investment more worthwhile. Another way to help Honda is to bring in a third engine supplier, which would then allow Honda to reduce the number of cars it powers, thus saving it more money. That would help Chevy out, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjD7nHcLck4&t=1s However, Schifsky told *Racer* that if Honda and IndyCar can't figure out a way to reduce their costs, "then it’s too much money, and we will go do something else. That something else could be NASCAR or a further investment in our Formula 1 effort. Or something that isn’t motorsports at all.” While a third engine supplier would help keep Honda around, that might not be possible until IndyCar switches to [hybrid engines]() in 2024. That doesn't leave much time for IndyCar to get a deal done, though, either with Honda or a third engine supplier. Seeing Honda leave IndyCar would be shocking, and I'm not sure how fans would react, especially if it went to NASCAR or increased its F1 involvement. Hopefully, both parties can work something out to keep Honda in Indycar and the 30-year relationship alive. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()