From 2012-2017, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES was a series dominated by Chevrolet. Prior to 2012 however, Honda could quite easily be regarded as the engine that saved INDYCAR though too. When no one else wanted to jump in, it was Honda who provided engines to literally every team. They were at the time, the sole engine provider of INDYCAR. That takes a lot of time, money and commitment in doing so for as long as they did.

In 2012, they got relief. Chevrolet would be coming back. A new car was coming out as well. While they welcomed the competition, the bow ties just flat out dominated.

They won every manufacturer title in that span.

Chevy won 67 times compared to just 33 triumphs for Honda.

But, once the new car came out in 2018, it was now all Honda. They took the manufacturers crown in 2018, 2019, 2020 and again in 2021.

Also, for the first time since Chevy came back in for 2012 and beyond, Honda in 2018 eclipsed Chevy for most wins in a single season (11-6). A year later, Chevy then won the advantage 9-8, but Honda still won the manufacturer’s championship.

2020 was the debut of the Aeroscreen. It’s flip flopped for wins each season since.

The two were evenly split 7-7 for race wins in 2020.

For 2021, it was 10-6 in favor of Honda.

Last year, it was 11-6 in favor of Chevy.

Now, it’s swung back to Honda, 11-5.

You would have thought that on paper, Honda would easily have cruised to their second straight NTT INDYCAR SERIES manufacturers title this season Instead, heading into the 2023 season finale at Laguna Seca, the gap between them and Chevrolet is only 16.

Despite Honda holding an 11-5 advantage in regards to race victories, Chevy still has a chance to win the trophy among the two engine manufacturers on Sunday afternoon.

This season it’s been a tight battle between the two which will wrap up on Sunday. Honda has 1,362 points compared to 1,346 to Chevy.

How points are scored are based off the top two finishers from the respective camps each race. Bonus points are taken in account which is why despite Honda being the most dominant manufacturer, the gap is actually closer than you’d think it would be.

But, Honda has won 5 off the 6 natural road course races and can clinch the title on Sunday.

If you take a step back and look at the grander picture of things, since 2018 the scoreboard for race wins reads: Honda 53, Chevrolet 44. In the three-year span of the Aerokits from 2015 through 2017, it was Chevy 34, Honda 15.

From 2018-2019 with the new car but without the Aeroscreen, it was Honda 19-15.

With the Aeroscreen it’s 28-24, advantage Honda.