Kalkhoven not trying to put IRL out of business
"It's there, it's competitive," he said about Cosworth's IRL power unit. "I think you'll have to ask the IRL what they are going to do. All I can say at the moment is that we have a very competitive engine and if a manufacturer wishes to badge it for the IRL, we will certainly supply it."
Does he see any conflict of interest in Cosworth competing in the IRL?
"I come from a technology background," Kalkhoven noted. "One thing I learned in Silicon Valley is that the more open you are, the more successful you are. If you try and monopolize something, it probably won't work. We've seen that 100 times over in technology companies. Is it good for Champ Car that another series uses a Cosworth engine? It actually, strangely, probably is. Why? Because you've got a strong engine development company who is independent.
"I'm not in the business of trying to put the IRL out of business," he added. [Editor's Note: Unlike Tony George who tried numerous times to put CART/Champ Car out of business. People are beginning to understand who it's better to do business with. The tide is turning.] "I think it's important to have a strong independent engine manufacturer and that's what Cosworth is. I don't think it has anything to do with Champ Car, which will do just fine on its own. It's not even really directly about the money. Cosworth have proven they can produce engines in the IRL that are up against some big money engines and they can win in terms of power." ChampCar.ws