Second in a series source: indycar.com / by Dave Lewandowski From behind the digital display control panel - which resembles a youngster's video game dream -- of the durability dynamometer cell at Honda Performance Development, Robin Laqui begins running a program that simulates an engine's jaunt on the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Close your eyes and the visitor can take a vicarious ride along as the engine is put through its paces: downshift entering Turn 1 three-abreast, a spasm of power in the short chute before all 650 horses kick to generate 220-plus mph is reached on the long backstraight ... Whew! The durability dyno at the sprawling Santa Clarita, Calif., facility has an array of ancillary equipment - from gearbox and fluid supply lines to a controlled air line to simulate the temperatures and airflow on the racetrack. It's one of five humming to test engines from design to racetrack readiness. At HPD, which will be the exclusive engine supplier to the IndyCar Series in 2006, associates who design, develop, produce, test, prepare and rebuild the HI6R Series Indy V-8 are all about quality control. Of course, that's what teams have come to expect from Honda, which has won the past two series championships and Indianapolis 500 titles. "It's clear Honda is committed to working with the league as a partner to continue building value in the IndyCar Series," Indy Racing League president and COO Brian Barnhart said. "As we look ahead to the 2006 season, there will be minimal changes to the technical specifications of the Honda Racing Indy V-8, and that is a tribute to the specs we have now. The reliability and performance we have witnessed has been outstanding."
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