IndyCar - Chevrolet Takes 2012 Engine Manufacturer Championship

SONOMA, Aug. 27, 2012: Packaged with a new chassis for 2012, engine manufacturer competition returned to the IZOD IndyCar Series after a six-year absence as Chevrolet, Honda and Lotus are supplying consumer-relevant 2.2-liter, turbocharged V6 engines powered by E85.

Chevrolet clinched the Manufacturers' Championship as Ryan Briscoe won the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Chevrolet supplied 15 of 27 engines to the starters in the 85-lap race on the 2.385-mile, 12-turn road course. It has won nine of the 13 IZOD IndyCar Series races.

"We congratulate Chevrolet on clinching the 2012 Manufacturers' Championship," said Randy Bernard, CEO, INDYCAR. "In a year that saw the debut of a new car, the return of engine competition and some of the fiercest racing this sport has seen in decades, our hats are off to Chevrolet, its teams and drivers on a job well done."

Indy car racing runs deep in Chevrolet's history, dating to co-founder Louis Chevrolet joining brothers Gaston and Arthur in competing in the Indianapolis 500. The cars they designed won the 500 Mile Race in 1920 and '21.

Mario Andretti was the first driver to win with Chevrolet power, taking the checkered flag at the Long Beach Grand Prix in April 1987. On May 29, 1988, Rick Mears gave Chevrolet its first Indianapolis 500 victory.

Jim Campbell, U.S. Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports, said Indy car racing is integral in Chevrolet's continuing efforts to define itself as a global automotive leader. Its IZOD IndyCar Series engine, featuring direct injection, turbocharging and renewable E85 fuel, are key technologies in several Chevrolet production cars on the streets and in the design phase.

"Chevrolet is proud to race in the IZOD IndyCar Series in 2012, and honored to win the Manufacturers championship with the Chevrolet direct-injected, twin turbo IndyCar V6," said Jim Campbell, US Vice President Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. "The key to developing the best combination of power, durability, fuel economy and driveability in the Chevrolet Indy V6 has been teamwork with the drivers, crew chiefs, team owners and our engineering partners. There is still more racing to go this season, and the team remains 100% focused on finishing strong."

Chevrolet powers the IZOD IndyCar Series cars of championship contenders Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan, James Hinchcliffe and Briscoe as the fierce competition continues at the Grand Prix of Baltimore on Sept. 2. Power leads the title chase by 36 points over Hunter-Reay. The season finale is Sept. 15 at Auto Cub Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

""This IZOD IndyCar Series Manufacturers' championship for the Chevrolet IndyCar V6 engine is the culmination of a great team effort," said Mark Kent. Director, Chevrolet Racing. "From concept to race track, Chevrolet Racing engineers, Ilmor, Hitachi, Borg Warner, our Chevy teams and others put a race and championship-winning product in place in just over a year. To reap the rewards of this dedicated effort in our first season back in IndyCar is gratifying. We are very proud of this achievement and thank everyone involved for their contributions."

Chevrolet-powered victories this season:

Streets of St. Petersburg - Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) Barber Motorsports Park - Will Power (Team Penske) Streets of Long Beach - Will Power (Team Penske)

Streets of Sao Paulo - Will Power (Team Penske) Milwaukee Mile - Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport) Iowa Speedway - Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport) Streets of Toronto - Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport) Streets of Edmonton - Helio Castroneves (Team Penske)

Raceway at Sonoma - Ryan Briscoe (Team Penske)