Herta had development engine

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. The people at Honda Performance Development provided Bryan Herta with what they call the latest iteration of the current engine specification for the Indy Racing League event at Michigan International Speedway. That's engineering-speak for, they gave Herta's team an updated version of their Honda engine. That wouldn't be such a big deal, except only two other drivers had the latest version of the Honda engine for the Michigan race.

The brain trust at Honda Performance Development are not willing to divulge who the other two drivers were, but to say the least, they were pleased with Herta's performance at Michigan. Herta, driver of the No. 7 Honda-powered entry for Andretti Green Racing, won his first race of the year and his first race in nearly three years. He also won the pole and led 159 of the 200 laps in the Michigan race two weeks ago. It was a dominating performance, one that was not lost on Robert Clarke, president of the Valencia-based Honda Performance Development. "This was our latest specification of development and will be introduced to all cars as quickly as possible," Clarke said. Whittier News

08/02/05 Rumor has it that Herta was using a Honda development unit in his Andretti Green Racing entry at Michigan last weekend and TOYOTA are a little worried about race wins for the rest of the year. If true this would explain why no one could pass him.