Honda denies it is throttling back

The Japanese manufacturer equips the Jordan and BAR F1 teams but has failed to score a point in four F1 races in 2002, sparking claims that it will sacrifice the CART programme which is nearing its end.

"That will not be the case," commented Akio Aoki, Honda's CART engine development project leader. "We will not stop developing engines after Motegi. Because this is the last year in CART for us, it is therefore very important."

Aoki's comments were backed up by Honda Performance Development President Tom Elliott, who also serves as Vice-President of Honda's North American operations.

"Mr. Aoki is right," Elliott said. "This year is very important to us. We will continue development on the engine. We want to go out running just as hard and producing similar results to what we have for the last few years."

Honda powered drivers have won the CART title every year since 1996.

All five of the engineers who have led Honda's CART engine program since its inception will be in attendance at Twin Ring Motegi for Saturday's 500km Champ Car race. Four will watch the race from the pits working with Honda teams, while Kazutoshi Nishizawa, who currently serves as Honda's head of powerplant technology development, will observe the race from the grandstands.