Ganassi vows to help other Honda teams after switch from Chevrolet
Chip Ganassi Racing has promised to be "unselfish" in working with fellow Honda IndyCar teams following its switch from Chevrolet for the 2017 season
The series powerhouse announced its move back to Honda - with which it has a rich history - on Friday after three years with Chevrolet that included winning the 2015 championship with Scott Dixon.
Ganassi managing director Mike Hull dismissed suggestions the move gives Honda a big-hitting rival to challenge the dominant Penske-Chevrolet partnership, which won 10 out of 16 races this year and took Simon Pagenaud to the championship.
"I read the words 'power team' and that does a disservice to every team on the grid, whether they have a Honda or a Chevrolet," Hull told Autosport.
"There are quality teams on both sides, no matter what Penske or Ganassi chooses to do there is plenty of depth on the grid.
"We are very willing and unselfish with the share of information and how to make the process better for us, the manufacturer and the other partners [teams].
"Our expectation is each of the Honda teams will accept us because we will accept them and help each other fight.
"All the teams that represent Honda have really good drivers driving for them.
"Honda have made great gains - they worked very hard."
Ganassi will get its first taste of the latest Honda package on Thursday next week when Tony Kanaan tests for the team at Gateway, which returns to the IndyCar schedule for 2017.
"We have the first page of the library here in terms of parts to get a car on the ground and get to Gateway and we will fill in all the blanks as we move along here in the next few weeks," Hull added.
However, he would not comment on speculation over Kanaan's future, with the Brazilian yet to conclude a deal for 2017 to stay at the team.
Hull admitted the decision to switch back to Honda came as a result of Ganassi reassessing its manufacturer tie-up, having initially made the move to Chevrolet to have a consistent partner across IndyCar and NASCAR.
"It seemed like the right thing to do with our relationship in NASCAR at the time," he said.
"Sometimes you instinctively make decisions in racing that affect your outcome.
"Chevrolet and Honda are both good partners, and with Honda we understand each other's strengths and weaknesses and we work well together.
"We felt it was time for us to re-evaluate the landscape with a manufacturer in IndyCar racing and the fact Honda are committed for a long period of time like we are seems to match well."
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