Team Lotus to enter Indy 500?

Racecar Engineering is reporting that Lotus will be entering the 2010 Indianapolis 500 under the ‘Team Lotus USA’ banner.

Lotus38

Motorsport Director Claudio Berro told highly regarded British publication Motorsport News “the Indycar dream is very real for us. We are talking to an existing team about forging an alliance. The American marketplace is very important for Lotus and there is a pedigree and history at the Indy 500. When people think of Lotus they think of competition and racing, it is important that we get back to putting that message across. The Indycar programme is a big project and we need to join with an existing team to begin with, because that is the easiest way in terms of logistics. We only have a few weeks to sort the deal out because the start of the season is very close. The reunification of Champ Car and Indycar makes it much simpler for us and it is an area we are excited about. To run the Honda engine is not a problem in the first instance, even there we have history. The Indy 500 is iconic and it will only do the Lotus brand good to be there.”

Lotus has a proud tradition at the Indy 500 including a 1965 win for the Lotus 38 which was first mid-engined car to win the race. Further announcements about their current Indycar plans are expected next month.

[via Racecar Engineering]