"It's going to be exciting for us because it makes it clear in what direction HPD is moving," said HPD Vice President and General Manager Robert Clarke. "We're going from an engine support company to true R&D facility. We're going from two [dynamometers] to a facility capable of housing eight dynos, and we'll be operational with four of them by mid-year.
"We've been increasing our staff, buying equipment and it's a very big project. We hope to have it totally occupied by the end of November."
Clarke said Honda's partnership with Ilmor Engineering will continue through 2006 but HPD is structuring itself to become totally self-sufficient.
"Our CART engines were designed and produced in Japan and we were a rebuild and support company. Until HPD was charged with establishing itself as a racing engine R&D center, the capacity to design engines never existed in this country and now we'll produce - manufacture in-house or source through suppliers - everything ourselves.
"This is huge for HPD and Honda."