Ferrari In the Cart Series: It Very Nearly Happened

Ferrari is the only team that has competed in every season of Formula 1 since the drivers championship was brought in 1950 (yes, I am aware they didn't actually take part in the first race despite being entered).

The team has won more championships (drivers and constructors) than any other. More wins, more fastest laps, more points, more pole positions, the records just go on and on. Formula 1 without Ferrari to many seems impossible. They are part of the very fabric of the sport.

Ferrari, however, hasn't always got on with sports governing body (FIA) and has left many people wishing that they would leave the sport. Being an elite team, they don't like having weaker teams such as Hispania and the other new teams in the sport.

They have also disagreed with the FIA on many of the various rule changes that have been implemented over the seasons. Ferrari will put up very strong objections to anything they feel that will damage the sports reputation or their interests.

In other words, Ferrari isn't worried about treading on other people's toes to get what they feel is right for them or the sport.

Over the past few years, the FIA and FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) have led to threats of a breakaway series being put forward on more than one occasion. One of the leading forces behind this threat have been Ferrari.

If you go back 24 years or so, Ferrari, some believe came incredibly close to leaving the sport. Not only did they threaten to leave the sport, but they threaten to join the CART series. In other words, Ferrari could be competing in the IndyCar series now if events had gone very slightly differently.

During the mid 80's, the speeds of Formula 1 cars were getting very high. The cars were getting dangerously fast and some of the turbo charged cars. Some power figures of the time suggested in qualifying trim cars had over 1,000 brake horsepower.

Also, safety was still pretty basic, so the mix of a huge power and limited safety equipment made Formula 1 a very dangerous sport. The FIA wanted to bring speeds down, so they proposed a change on the engine rules.

They put forward the rule that all engines should be V8s. Previously there were V6, L4, and V8 engines used in Formula 1. Ferrari were users of V6 turbo charged engines and a V12 engine was also being worked on around this time.

Ferrari did not want to use V8 engines and were livid at the FIA's idea. To compound this Enzo Ferrari was incredibly tired of the politics and off the track in fighting which did, and still does, sadly on occasions, dominate the sport.

Enzo Ferrari wanted to win the Indy 500 to go with all of the world championships in Formula 1 they had already won. He wanted Ferrari to become as big in America as it was in Europe. Winning the Indy 500 would push the Ferrari name even more in the United States.

So, Ferrari was angry at Formula 1 and wanted more exposure in the United States. Leaving Formula 1 and entering the CART series was not only logical, but something Ferrari was looking to do.  

In 1985, they got hold of a CART machine (believed to be a March) and took it pieces looking for more knowledge and understanding of CART cars.

In 1986, the Ferrari 637 was a car developed by Ferrari for the CART season. The car was tested quite thoroughly at the Fiorano test track with Michele Alboreto at the wheel. It performed well and was considered to be an innovative car with very promising wind tunnel numbers.

The 637 was unveiled to the press to huge fanfare. There had been rumors for a while before hand but for Ferrari to acknowledge them as true and to have a car ready was truly stunning.   

The Ferrari was meant to make it's debut at the Laguna Seca event that year. Then suddenly the FIA under pressure changed its mind. The engine plans were changed heavily. Now the FIA was proposing to allow any type of engine as long as it was a three and a half liter engine.

Ferrari was much happier with the new engine plans and the CART project was done. Ferrari, once again, committed itself to Formula 1. As a direct result of the new engine regulations, we saw the development of the now legendary Ferrari V12.

A great deal of speculation exists about whether Ferrari really did plan to enter CART or whether it was just a ploy to get the FIA to change its plans. Many people believe that Ferrari never truly intended to try and enter CART. Some believe that they did really mean to enter the sport and the FIA had to do everything they could to prevent losing them.

The fact went as far as building a car and hiring several people to run the CART series does suggest that Ferrari really did intend to leave the sport.

Whether it was meant to actually happen, in the end or not, will be debated forever.