Lotus allowed to upgrade IndyCar engine

Series regulations provided one mid-season window in which manufacturers could submit a request to make performance upgrades to components that are otherwise frozen. According to the rules, the manufacturer must be able to demonstrate that has more than a 2.5 per cent deficit in power in order for its request to be considered.

Lotus has sought assistance from external engineering companies in its effort to identify the work that needs to be done to make its engine more competitive. It submitted its request for permission to upgrade last Monday, and Lotus IndyCar manager Olivier Picquenot confirmed at Iowa Speedway that IndyCar has given the green light.

"Lotus has been working with outside engineering firms, in conjunction with Mr John Judd [whose company builds the engines] and his enterprise," he said.

"The purpose is to get some outside help to assist in the new development plan for the Lotus engine in IndyCar. Everyone has been working well together and looking to make some quick progress in a concrete way. Now that the IndyCar Series has given us permission to improve the engine performance, things will be moving soon."