Pedrosa to ride pneumatic valve at Indy
Added on Monday, September 8th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Pedrosa to ride pneumatic valve at Indy
Dani Pedrosa will use Honda’s pneumatic valve engine at Indianapolis this weekend as he starts life as a Bridgestone rider.
The Spaniard, who has seen his title hopes end in recent rounds following a string of poor results, will take to the track for the first time in a competitive event on Honda’s new pneumatic valve engine as he looks to end the season on a high.
Honda’s new generation RC212V has been run competitively by Nicky Hayden since round eight at Donington Park but Pedrosa persisted with the older spring-valve engine amid doubts over its reliability and fuel consumption.
But with Pedrosa now preparing for 2009, Honda have rung the changes, with the decision coming just a week after Pedrosa’s shock switch to Bridgestone tyres following his sharp criticism of Michelin.
Pedrosa tested the Bridgestone-shod pneumatic valve engine at Mugello last week, shaving more than a second off his best race time and the same combination will be given an opportunity to show what can be achieved in a competitive environment at the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday.
Speaking about the move, Pedrosa said: “Indianapolis will be a very important weekend for us, but it’s hard to say much about the track because we know so little about it.
“My first test with Bridgestone went well. After leaving Misano we have worked with the data in order to make the best possible start at Indy. We only have four hours of practice on a completely new circuit, with new tyres and a new machine, so we will have to work very hard to make sure we get the best out of the package on race day.
“I have heard that the track isn’t very grippy and it seems like there are quite a few tight and slow corners, so handling of the machine will be important.
“Anyway, we will do our best as always. And it will be good to ride in front of the American fans after I had to pull out of the Laguna GP due to the injuries I got in Germany.”
Honda team manager Kazuhiko Yamano seemed less concerned about the Indianapolis circuit, which was at the centre of the Michelin F1 tyre controversy in 2005, claiming that the element of the unknown can prove to be a levelling factor.
“Everybody starts from zero point at Indy,” said Yamano
“Dani got a good feeling from his new tyres and the pneumatic-valve engine at the Misano tests, so now we look forward to more progress.
“At Indy he will need all his ability to set-up a machine quickly.”
