| Buick Indy V-6[1] [2] [3] [4] | |
| Manufacturer: | Buick |
| Production: | 1982–1997 |
| Configuration: | 90° V-6 |
| Bore: | 4lk=onNaNlk=on |
| Stroke: | NaNinches |
| Displacement: | NaNL |
| Valvetrain: | OHV, two-valves per cylinder |
| Turbocharger: | Garrett |
| Power: | NaNhp |
| Torque: | 550lbft |
| Fuelsystem: | Mechanical multi-point fuel injection |
| Compression: | 9.5:1 |
| Fueltype: | Gasoline/Methanol |
| Oilsystem: | Dry sump |
The Buick Indy V6 engine is a powerful turbocharged,, V-6, Indy car racing internal combustion engine, designed and produced by Buick for use in the CART PPG Indy Car World Series, and later the IRL IndyCar Series; between 1982 and 1997.[5] [6] [7] It shares the same architecture, and mechanical design, and is based on the Buick V6 road car engine.[8] A slightly destroked 3.0-liter V6 engine was also used in the March 85G and March 86G IMSA GTP sports prototypes.
Though the Buick engine never won a CART series race, it did see some success at the Indianapolis 500, which was sanctioned singly by USAC. This was largely due to the fact that USAC permitted the non-overhead cam "stock block" pushrod engines a higher level of turbocharger "boost" (55 inHG) than CART's rules allowed. This made the engine attractive to smaller teams competing in the Indy 500; giving them a chance to compete with the higher budget teams, many of which ran the powerful Ilmor-Chevy or the Cosworth. Though the Buick engine had notorious reliability issues for the 500 miles, it often excelled in qualifying. Pancho Carter won the pole position with a Buick at the 1985 Indianapolis 500, and Gary Bettenhausen was the fastest qualifier in 1991. Roberto Guerrero became the first driver to break the 230 mph barrier in time trials, winning the pole for the 1992 race. Jim Crawford led eight laps and finished 6th in 1988, and Al Unser Sr. notched Buick's best Indy finish with a third in 1992.