Mazda’s SkyActiv-D Mazda6 race car has become the first diesel vehicle to win a race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with the #70 SpeedSource Castrol Edge Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D placing first in the GX class in the Grand-Am Brickyard Grand Prix over the weekend.
The win puts Mazda ahead of Porsche in the Grand-Am GX manufacturers’ championship, with only four races remaining in the 12-race series calendar.
Prior to the Mazda6, the last diesel to compete at Indianapolis was the Cummins Engine Special… in 1952.
“We made history today, both for Mazda and for SKYACTIV Clean Diesel Technology,” said John Doonan, Motorsports Director at Mazda North America.
“While this is our fifth win of the season, and fifth in a row, it is by far the biggest win to date.
“To win at Indy is every racer’s dream, and that dream came true for Mazda here today.”
Added SpeedSource Engineering team owner and driver, Sylvain Tremblay:
“To score the first ever win for a diesel at Indy, in our first year with the program, speaks volumes for Mazda and our team.”
The Mazda6 SkyActiv-D race cars are built on a unique RWD chassis, but utilise an engine that’s not all that dissimilar to the 2.2 litre oil-burner used in the road-going Mazda6.
Around 51 percent of the race engine’s parts come straight from Mazda’s OEM parts inventory, although with a peak power of 300kW there’s nothing stock about this engine’s performance.