Lotus to return to Indy

[Josh1985]

Now let's see how this can somehow be spun into a negative on this forum. :D

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/indycar-lotus-back-to-indy/

[F1boat]

No doubt CART fans will say that it is a sign of a dying series.
On a serious note, this is good news. Lotus is a big name and it is cool to say that F1 team competes in Indy :)

[TURN3]

Hopefully it is a good sign but you're both too late, see silly season thread from 2 days ago.

[V12]

Now let's see how this can somehow be spun into a negative on this forum

OK here goes - A "Lotus" entry with a Dallara chassis?!?

Sorry :)

[Mark in Oshawa]

Lotus with a Dallara? It would be news if it was Lotus with a Lotus, but alas, the idiots running Indy car racing have not figured out people MIGHT want to see THAT.

[champcarray]

I really don't understany why Lotus Group (the car company) wants to be inolved in Indy. I look forward to learning more.

[Chris R]

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/pruett-triple-stint-1222/P2/

scroll down for a story about the last Lotus attempt at Indy....

It is th closest thing I can come to as a "negative" :p

[Jag_Warrior]

I really don't understany why Lotus Group (the car company) wants to be inolved in Indy. I look forward to learning more.

To sell more Lotus Group cars (Toyota powered, I believe... :D ).

I think this is good news (any team or sponsor coming on board is good news). And "Lotus" is a legendary name in racing. But at the risk of being seen as Debbie Downer, people often forget that (as you pointed out) Lotus Group and Lotus' racing effort were separate entities. Although Colin Chapman founded both concerns, the two separated somewhere around 40 years ago, in much the same way that Cosworth Racing and Cosworth Engineering became separate firms.

That's not meant to take any of the spark out of this announcement. But this is a car company branding a racing team (same as with the F1 team and the MotoGP team). They also brand watches (which Lotus Design had a big hand in). I'm a Lotus fan and I believe I'll pick one up soon (the watch, not the car!).

Here's a pic of the Lotus Aprilia (sponsored/branded by the watch division). Even though it's all about branding and such, what I'd find exciting (in a nostalgic sense) is if Lotus Group could get Bruno Senna into one of its (sponsored) machines (F1 or IRL).
http://www.gpone.com/DB/Foto_2008_03/20080403lotus_G.jpg

[Lousada]

Lotus watches has no connection to the road cars nor the racing team according to their website. They were founded in 1980 by a Spaniard.

[Jag_Warrior]

I'm really not sure. I'm just going by what those at Lotus Design have said in interviews:


Commenting on the introduction of the first “in house” designed Lotus watch, Russell Carr, Chief Designer of Lotus Design explains: “This is the first time Lotus Design has had the opportunity to play such a significant role in the development of a non-automotive product.

Whilst there are factors specific to watchmaking which we have had to learn, we wanted the Type 1 Lotus Watch to be essentially like our cars: to create desire through emotional and unique forms that remain honest to the functionality of the product.”

Edit: Does Lotus Design make Lotus Watches? Are the companies one and the same???

P.S. Is ANYTHING about Lotus simple??? :D

[Lousada]

I'm really not sure. I'm just going by what those at Lotus Design have said in interviews:



Edit: Does Lotus Design make Lotus Watches? Are the companies one and the same???

P.S. Is ANYTHING about Lotus simple??? :D

Lotus design makes meditation pillows :p
http://www.lotusdesign.nl

[Lousada]

Maybe you're confused with Lotus Designs (http://www.lotusdesignsflowers.com/)


Yeah, maybe not :p

[Lousada]

Okay I have found the confusion.
http://www.grouplotus.com/engineering/lotus_design.html
This is the Lotus Design website you were referring to. Look at page 38/39 of their "Lotus Design Overview" portofolio thingie to see the Lotus car watches.

While this site:
http://www.lotus-watches.de/
is the site of the Lotus Watches that are involved in MotoGP.

[call_me_andrew]

Any chance of a Minardi return?

[Jag_Warrior]

Okay I have found the confusion.
http://www.grouplotus.com/engineering/lotus_design.html
This is the Lotus Design website you were referring to. Look at page 38/39 of their "Lotus Design Overview" portofolio thingie to see the Lotus car watches.

While this site:
http://www.lotus-watches.de/
is the site of the Lotus Watches that are involved in MotoGP.

Thanks for the links. Those help... I think. I thought the Cosworth saga was confusing. :D

Still, whoever these people are, it's good to see some outside sponsorship expressing interest in this form of racing.