Wheldon signing brings Honda power to Ganassi source: irl.racing-live.com Honda and Target Chip Ganassi Racing, partners for four consecutive championship-winning seasons in the late 1990s, are renewing their association for a supply of Honda Indy V8 engines in the 2006 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, officials with the team and Honda Performance Development announced today. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Target Chip Ganassi Racing and Honda combined for 30 race wins in the Champ Car World Series from 1996 through 1999, plus 24 pole positions. Ganassi drivers won four consecutive CART drivers' championships during that period, starting with Jimmy Vasser in 1996, followed by Alex Zanardi 1997-98 and Juan Pablo Montoya in 1999. In addition, Zanardi was series Rookie of the Year in '96, while Montoya took the honor, along with the title, in '99. Honda won the CART (Champ Car) Manufacturers' Championship in three of those four seasons - 1996, 1998 and 1999 - with the Ganassi team contributing the majority of Honda's race victories in each of those seasons. "We're delighted to renew our association with the Ganassi organization," said Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development. "We had a very successful relationship with them in CART, and look forward to renewing our partnership in the IndyCar Series. Honda is pledged to the long-term success and growth of the Indy Racing League. Our renewed partnership with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing will help us achieve these goals." Honda joined the IRL in 2003, after nine years of CART competition. Last month, Honda re-affirmed its commitment to IndyCar racing and the Indy Racing League, agreeing to continue supplying engines to teams competing in the series through the 2009 season.
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