Andretti Autosport will return to Honda power in 2014 as part of a multi-year agreement, team owner Michael Andretti announced.
“We look forward to working with Honda again; for us, it’s like being back home. I have no doubt that together we will see great success,” Andretti said.
The Indianapolis-based team has competed as part of Team Chevy the past two seasons, winning the IZOD IndyCar Series championship in 2012 with Ryan Hunter-Reay.
“We’d like to thank Michael Andretti and the entire Andretti Autosport organization for their partnership in IndyCar Series competition during 2012 and 2013,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “We would like to thank the Andretti Autosport drivers for their on-track achievements that contributed to Chevrolet clinching the 2012 manufacturer championship.
"We wish them well and look forward to spirited competition in the future.”
Before the return of manufacturer competition in 2012, Andretti won series championships with Honda in 2004 (Tony Kanaan), 2005 (Dan Wheldon) and '07 (Dario Franchitti) as well as Indianapolis 500 victories in 2005 and '07 with Wheldon and Franchitti, respectively.
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Since its inception in 2003, Andretti Autosport has claimed 48 IndyCar Series victories, including 39 with Honda. For the 2014 season, both Honda and Chevrolet will provide 2.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engines fueled by E85 for the IndyCar Series.
“We’re extremely happy to welcome Michael Andretti and his Andretti Autosport organization back into the Honda Racing family,” Honda Performance Development president Art St. Cyr said. “The Andretti organization played a major role in Honda’s success during the previous era of manufacturer competition in Indy car racing, and we’re looking forward to adding more victories and championships to an already impressive total.”
Honda has been a fixture in North American open-wheel racing since 1994 and has played an active role in the growth of Indy car racing – as both a Manufacturers' Championship competitor and the sole engine supplier – since joining the series in 2003.
Kanaan recorded Andretti Autosport's and Honda's first IndyCar Series victory in 2003 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Honda became engine supplier to the entire IZOD IndyCar Series in 2006, and supplied racing engines to the full, 33-car Indianapolis 500 field each year from 2006-11.