IndyCar Series bids Clarke adieu

Robert Clarke

Robert Clarke, who has been the guiding force at Honda Performance Development since its inception in 1993, began a new chapter with the company Jan. 2 that will allow a smooth transition for his successor, Erik Berkman. Clarke, a 27-year Honda associate, will hold the executive advisory role until his retirement June 30.

"Robert's been a good open-wheel supporter and a fan of Indy car racing and that's a great tribute to him in itself," said Brian Barnhart, president of the competition and operations divisions of the sanctioning Indy Racing League. "He's very much responsible for an unbelievable increase in the level of performance and reliability in regards to engines in Indy car racing in the last decade.

"The performance and reliability of the Honda engine is unparalleled, and that's much to Robert's credit. The fact that we've run the last two Indy 500s without an engine failure, and it's the only two Indy 500s ever without an engine failure, speaks much to this."

The Honda Indy V-8 will be the power plant for all IndyCar Series cars during the 2008 season, including the 92nd Indianapolis 500.

HPD's operations have expanded from an engine-rebuild and trackside-support operation to a self-sufficient motorsports R&D company of more than 125 associates. HPD's activities include engine design and development, prototype- and production-engine manufacturing, chassis R&D, material analysis, and race team support.

For the 2007 season, all IndyCar Series cars ran on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol – a first in motorsports and no small feat of transition for an engine manufacturer. For the previous three-plus decades, methanol had been the fuel of choice.

"Robert has guided HPD in a strategically right direction to allow us to capitalize so that we could introduce 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol," IndyCar Series senior technical director Les Mactaggart said. "It's been a very enthusiastic response from HPD from a league standpoint."

Added IndyCar Series technical director Kevin Blanch: "With all the knowledge and experience he brought and the people he was able to put around him, the transition was seamless. Anytime you do something major like that, you expect there to be two or three times to run the car and get it sorted out. We ran the car the first time and had zero problems. They're able to accomplish just about anything you ask them to. They have a no-lose attitude, so when they bring a product out they've spent the time and effort to make sure it was superior right out of the box. A lot of times you have to spend time in development."

In its first three years of IndyCar Series competition against multiple manufacturers, Honda drivers and teams compiled an unmatched record of two Indianapolis 500 victories, two Manufacturers' Championships (2004, '05) and 28 race victories. Resting on its laurels won't do for Clarke and HPD associates.

"Robert loves open-wheel racing and wants it to reach its full potential," said Terry Angstadt, president of the commercial division of the Indy Racing League. "He, in a very positive way, pushed the IndyCar Series to try to be as good as it can be in terms of competition, technology and forward thinking about the business."

Undoubtedly, Clarke will continue to present concepts and plans over the next six months as he gets Berkman up to speed. Berkman, a 25-year Honda associate, most recently had been executive engineer, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., based in Raymond, Ohio. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University, and began his Honda career at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc. in Marysville, Ohio, in 1982.

"Robert has been instrumental to the success of the IndyCar Series," Andretti Green Racing co-owner Michael Andretti said. "He has always been a strong supporter of the series, its drivers and especially to Andretti Green Racing's IndyCar Series and ALMS programs. Robert's accomplishments at Honda will be difficult to match." IRL PR