Well, a few weeks after we all laughed off the odd rumor that was sparked by Mike Wallace about Richard Petty Motorsports moving to Honda in the near future, there are now reports that NASCAR executives who were in Indianapolis for the Indy 500, actually met with representatives with Honda in their racing hauler.
According to Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern, NASCAR big wigs who were in on the meeting included NASCAR President Steve Phelps and Steve O’Donnell.
This news comes on the heels of a report from IndyCar reporter Marshall Pruett this week that said NASCAR is seriously considering moving to hybrid engines as soon as 2021.
Honda, you would figure, would certainly be interested in a hybrid racing power plant.
According to the report, NASCAR and Honda have declined to comment on the meeting (surprise).
Of course, this doesn’t mean anything is happening with Honda coming to NASCAR, but it sure makes Wallace’s rumor seem a lot closer to reality than it did a couple of weeks ago.
A group of @NASCAR executives who traveled to @IMS last Friday during Indy 500 weekend were seen spending time inside @Honda‘s hauler, per people familiar.
➖ Scope of meeting unknown.
➖ Execs on trip included @StevePhelps and @ODSteve.
➖ NASCAR and Honda declined comment. pic.twitter.com/ibg1xLlxRe
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) May 29, 2019
Might as well close the doors now if they are looking at hybrids. Hybrid racing costs are astronomical Most racing series are moving away from hybrids. Including IMSA which is part of the NASCAR family. Audi and Porsche reportedly have spent $200 MILLION a year on their hybrid LMP1 teams.