Bryan Herta Autosport chooses Honda as new engine

Bryan Herta Autosport will try to defend its Indianapolis 500 title with a Honda-powered engine. The two sides made the announcement Thursday -- the day Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened for rookie orientation and refresher courses. Practice begins Saturday. The move comes a little more than two weeks after Lotus released Herta's team and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing from its contracts and a little more than two weeks before this year's May 27 race at Indy. Lotus has struggled all season. DRR announced this week it was forming a partnership with Panther Racing to use a Chevrolet engine. Herta's team was the surprise winner of last year's 500 with the late Dan Wheldon, who won after race leader JR Hildebrand crashed on the final turn of the last lap.