How Much Horse Power Does an IndyCar Have?

03/07/2025 07:26 PM

IndyCar is the closest thing that comes to the Formula 1 series, but how much horsepower does it actually have?

Well, when it comes to open-wheel racing, few series capture the raw speed and engineering masterpiece like the NTT IndyCar Series. True fans know that IndyCars have small engines (in terms of size), but they boast massive power propelling drivers to incredible speeds.

When it comes to horsepower, although IndyCars are quite similar to Formula 1 cars in terms of style and body shape, they are down on power. This is kind of expected, right? After all, Formula 1 cars have always been the pinnacle of motor racing.

But how far do they lack in horsepower? Let’s find out.
 

A Small Engine with Big Punch

Ever since 2012, IndyCar has relied on a 2.2-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, supplied by either Chevrolet or Honda. Although we are talking about a small engine, it is way bigger than Formula 1 where the cars have 1.6-litre V6.

But what we are concerned about here is the horsepower. We know that over the last couple of years, the engine size doesn’t mean much when it comes to the horsepower of the car. Yes, it can make a difference, but nowadays there are other clever ways (usually with electricity) where cars have a lot more horsepower from a small engine.

IndyCars have between 550 and 750 horsepower, which is quite a lot, and all depends on turbo boost levels and track type. This is a tactical edge that was designed to make the sport more exciting as drivers activated when they attack or defend their position.

Just as a comparison, Formula 1 cars have around 1,000 horsepower coming from an even smaller engine than IndyCars.
 

How the Boost System Plays Role in the Horsepower Of an IndyCar

If you are a fan of the sport, you’ve definitely heard about the extra kick that drivers get with the “Push-to-Pass” system, which is kind of like the DRS for Formula 1 cars.

This is a powerful button that usually lasts from 10 to 20 seconds, and it is capped at 200 seconds per race.

But what is the difference in terms of horsepower? Well, IndyCar drivers by pressing this button get around 60 horsepower more, reaching 750 horsepower for some cars.

On superspeedways like Indy, boost hits 1.5 bar during qualifying (up from 1.3 bar in races), squeezing out closer to 750 horsepower. It’s a tactical edge for overtakes or defending positions, making every pass a horsepower-fueled chess move.

The Hybrid Era of Indy Cars

In 2024, IndyCar galloped into a new era with hybrid technology, debuting at Mid-Ohio in July. The updated 2.2-liter V6 now pairs with a Motor Generator Unit (MGU) and supercapacitors, regenerating energy under braking for an extra punch.

When Push-to-Pass and hybrid boost align—think a corner exit at Long Beach—drivers can unleash over 850 horsepower (some sources suggest that it gets close to 900 horsepower) for brief bursts, a milestone not seen since the CART/Champ Car days of the early 2000s.

Honda’s HI24TT hybrid spec lists a peak of 800+ horsepower, confirmed by Honda.Racing, marking IndyCar’s most powerful engine in two decades.

So, that’s why the cars are so fast. If you blink, you’ll miss the action. Kind of like a horse race, but here there are 800 horses under the hood of each car. The IndyCar 2025 season is starting any day now, and it is a great warm-up for the big Kentucky Derby for all the horse racing fans.

According to TwinSpires, the Road To Kentucky Derby races are already on their way, carefully picking the lineup for this year's big race.

How They Do It: Engineering Magic

So how does a tiny 2.2-liter V6—smaller than many family sedans—crank out this much power? It’s all in the tech. These engines rev to a screaming 12,000 RPM, far beyond road cars, allowing more power strokes per minute.

Twin turbochargers force-feed air, and unrestricted E85 ethanol fuel (100% ethanol since 2023) lets them run rich without knocking. Plus, they’re built for short-term glory—each team gets four engines per season—so tolerances are tight and risks high, unlike a street car’s longevity focus.

Compared to the Competition

IndyCar’s 550-850 horsepower slots it between NASCAR’s Next Gen cars (670 hp on ovals, per NASCAR.com) and Formula 1’s hybrid V6s (over 1,000 hp in qualifying trim).

F1’s edge comes from its energy recovery systems, but IndyCar’s oval-tuned design hits higher top speeds—236 mph at Indy 2023 versus F1’s 231.4 mph record by Valtteri Bottas in 2016. It’s a different beast, built for raw pace over diverse tracks.

Final Words

So, we are talking about really fast cars here, and squeezing 900 horsepower from a 2.2 hybrid engine is a true engineering science.

Yes, they might not be as fast as Formula 1 cars, and even if they had the same power, they’d still be slower due to aerodynamics, but it is the closest thing that comes to a Formula 1 car.

In the future, we expect even more advancements in IndyCar engines, and soon they will break the 1,000 barriers for sure. Let’s hope that the drivers are ready, just because it is going to be a wild action on the racecourse.