The Indy Racing League's future becomes more clear by the day, as the premier IndyCar Series jockeys into just another "spec" series similar to GP2 and the Champ Car World Series source: A Feature at paddocktalk.com by Anne Proffit With the recent accommodation that Toyota will not return in 2006 for a fourth season as promised, Honda has been left to field the entire grid with motive power. Robert Clarke, head of Honda Performance Development (HPD) has revealed an extended agreement with Ilmor Engineering's American and UK-based enterprises, giving Ilmor the pact it had hoped for. Chevrolet's final race - after parent company General Motors had been part of the League since its initial 1996 race - came at the California Speedway season finale. Honda saw the writing on the wall early this time and began to make preparations for the inevitable, announcing at Fontana it would stay with the League through the 2009 season. Tire supplier Firestone will also continue its long-standing commitment (active since 2000) to the Indy Racing League, as will Italian chassis constructor Dallara. Though Panoz future is less certain. Since late last season, IRL president Brian Barnhart has cast aside attempts by the American tub builder, Elan Motorsports Technologies (EMT) to gain parity with different front wing and undertray revisions.
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