INDIANAPOLIS – When told the Verizon IndyCar Series will be changing its engine specifications to provide more power in 2021, Helio Castroneves stopped in his tracks. “I might have to stick around for this,” he said, laughing.

For as long as people have raced automobiles, they’ve wanted more power. In 2021, INDYCAR drivers will get their wish.

The announcement Saturday morning that the series and its engine manufacturers will unveil a larger, more powerful twin-turbocharged V-6 engine was met with a positive response from drivers. The current 2.2-liter platform will be expanded to 2.4 liters in 2021, providing an increase of approximately 100 horsepower. When using the push-to-pass feature that gives an additional horsepower burst on road and street courses, the new engines are expected to generate more than 900 horsepower.

“There’s never a downside to more power,” said four-time series champion Scott Dixon from Chip Ganassi Racing. “We already step up the power for (Indianapolis 500) qualifying to get the numbers we want to see. I don’t see why we shouldn’t do that for the races.”

Drivers and teams have been asking for more power for years, but that isn’t the only reason for the change. INDYCAR wants to attract more manufacturers to the sport while keeping the platform relevant for its current manufacturers, Honda and Chevrolet, and sales of their production automobiles.

“That's the trend in our industry right now – small displacement, direct-injected, boosted engines,” said Jim Campbell (at left in photo at top), General Motors vice president, performance vehicles and motorsports. “That technology translates to what we do in the showroom. … We'll continue to learn, start at a new point with this new engine, and continue to take those learnings and drive them to the production side of our propulsion systems.”

As expected, drivers are fully on board with going faster.

“It’s awesome,” said third-year driver Spencer Pigot of Ed Carpenter Racing. “That’s what we’ve all been wanting is more power when we put our foot down. Not that these things are slow, by any means, but the more, the better. We all like the challenge of added horsepower, and I think INDYCAR is going in a great direction. It’s an exciting time for our sport.”

The effort to attract manufacturers has been ongoing. From 2006 through 2011, Honda Performance Development was the sole engine supplier. Chevrolet rejoined the series in 2012 with Lotus when the current 2.2-liter turbo platform was introduced. Lotus dropped out after the 2012 season, but Chevy and Honda have remained steadfast since.

Jay Frye, INDYCAR’s president of competition and operations, said other manufacturers are closely watching the direction the series has taken, especially regarding the universal aero kit introduced this season.

“There's certainly other manufacturers that we treat as if they are one of our current manufacturers,” said Frye (middle in photo at top). “They're aware what we're doing, where we're going. We get their input, their feedback. Does that mean it's happening or imminent in any way? No. They think we're in a good place, on a good path.

“The car piece is the first. That started with the aero kit, universal car now for '18, '19 and '20. The (2.4-liter) engine piece will be extended to 2026. When we talk to folks, if you look at it in that regard, it actually turned out to be there's 10 total years to the plan. We're sticking to the plan.”

Officials of both current manufacturers say they welcome additional competitors, and feel as if the aero kit and new engine platform will help attract them. 

“We welcome competition,” said Art St. Cyr (at right in photo at top), president of HPD. “We think this engine is a good platform to bring in not just Chevy and Honda, but other manufacturers as well. We look forward to competition. We think this is a really good formula.”

So, too, does Castroneves, who has transitioned from a full-time, front-running INDYCAR role for two decades to sports cars this season, but is back at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month to try for a record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 victory in the No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet on May 27.

“It will be great,” said Castroneves, who turned 43 on May 10. “Our cars are meant to be fast, and driving skills play a big factor in this whole scenario. I would love to drive it. I can only imagine driving one of these with 900 horsepower. It will separate the brave from the stupid.”