The Offy: IndyCar's DFV

As is always the case in racing, new arguments pop up regularly. Ideas come about the invariably receive both praise and criticism. Some ideas are good, some are not.

In recent weeks, Bernie Ecclestone's medal system has been met with much criticism from F1 fans. Even people who agree with his reasoning can't seem to support the idea.

But far from the big controversies in F1 is a smaller one slowly gaining momentum amongst IndyCar fans. No, not the switch to Brazilian Ethanol that's being forced by the imminent collapse of the US Ethanol industry, I mean the engine talks for the 2011 IndyCar.

It seems increasingly likely that from 2011, IndyCars will use turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Although most fans want turbos, many have voiced disdain for choosing a more road-relevant four-cylinder. The reasons given have ranged from inability to create enough power, to reliability questions, even to the idea that racecars should NEVER have similar engines to road cars.

But most simply feel that four-cylinder engines are for feeder series, like the Atlantic Championship.

To this, I simply say....Has the world forgotten about the Offenhauser engine?

The 251.92 cubic inch four-cylinder engine was first built in 1933, and was a competitive engine at Indy well into the 1970s.

Why was the engine so great? Well, it was reliable. The "Offy" won the Indy 500 a remarkable 27 times—more than 25% of all the Indy 500s ever run.

But it was also powerful. In 1959, an Offy-powered midget car was entered in a Formula Libre race at Lime Rock Park by Roger Ward, and shockingly to all present, the car went on to win the race.

Later versions of the Offy were capable of producing close to 800 horsepower.

Most importantly...It was affordable. Privateer teams could easily get an Offy, plonk it in a car, head over to Indy, and be competitive.

I never got to see the Offy race—I was born the year Offenhauser closed down: 1983. But as a racing fan, the legacy of the Offy has always intrigued me, and I consider it to be quite simply the greatest engine ever built. Period.

With four-cylinder engines seemingly the future of IndyCar racing, its a good idea to look back at the Offy and realize that if such an excellent engine could be made way back then, it should be no problem for a superior one to be built in modern times.

The Offenhauser was to IndyCar what the Cosworth DFV was to Formula One. It has a legacy that should never be forgotten, and which thankfully hasn't been. Had the Offy never been built, I doubt four-cylinders would even be under consideration right now.

So bring on the turbo fours in 2011, and let the legend of the Offy live on!

Does anyone know if an Offy will fit in a Chiron LMP3?