Honda’s David Salters Goes Out A Winner In IndyCar

David Salters Incredible Career Accomplishments At Honda

Salters joined HPD in 2015 as chief engineer and engine technical leader before becoming technical director in 2019. Prior to joining HPD, he held a series of roles in other high-profile racing programs, including head of internal combustion engine power unit development for the Ferrari Formula 1 program, head of Formula 1 engine development at Mercedes-Benz High-Performance Engines (formerly Ilmor), and development and design engineer for the CART Indy car program at Cosworth Racing Ltd.

During his tenure, Salters oversaw three NTT IndyCar Series manufacturers’ championships and five drivers’ titles, in addition to securing the 2022 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship teams’, drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles.

Salters also pioneered the development and modernization of two electrified HRC US racing programs: the Acura ARX-06 IMSA LMDh car, launched for the 2023 season, and the current hybrid-powered Indy car, which debuted in 2024.

Additionally, Salters oversaw the launch of the new HRC US business division, which includes apparel, performance parts and a recently announced heritage racing business that connects motorsports collectors with Honda and Acura heritage race cars.

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the marvelous men and women at Honda Racing Corporation USA, our racing teams and talented drivers,” Salters said when he announced his departure on September 8. “It has been an honor to work together to add to Honda’s racing history here in the US.

“Honda Racing gave me and my family the opportunity to come to California 11 years ago. We had the honor of becoming American citizens and have had the most amazing life experience as part of the Honda family.

“HRC US is stronger than ever, with a brilliant team, a very exciting future in IndyCar and many other cool new projects on the horizon. Now is the perfect time to pass the baton to Kelvin. We have worked closely over the last six years, and Kelvin is the ideal person to support and lead the HRC US team into the future.”

Kelvin Fu And Honda’s Future

Fu has long served in senior roles at HRC US, most recently as vice president, and helped lead the organization to four of its 17 Indianapolis 500 victories while in that position.

Prior to joining Honda, Fu worked primarily in aerospace. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, followed by a PhD and postdoctoral appointment at the University of California, Berkeley, and another postdoctoral appointment at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Fu then moved to Los Angeles to join the defense and aerospace company HR Textron.

At HR Textron, Fu served as an R&D engineer and advanced to product manager before moving to ITT Aerospace, where he became director of engineering.

Kelvin Fu joined HRC US, then known as HPD, in 2015, managing chassis design, aerodynamics and the performance engineering group. He was named director of programs in 2020 before being promoted to vice president in 2021.

Fu’s role as HRC US president will be effective September 12, 2026.

“When I joined HRC US, I never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of leading this extraordinary organization,” Fu said. “I am truly humbled by the opportunity. Throughout my career at HPD and HRC US, I have been fortunate to work on a wide range of programs, from the development of the NSX GT3, Acura DPi race cars, and the LMDh engine and car to building lasting partnerships with our racing teams.

“I want to sincerely thank David Salters for his leadership, friendship and mentorship. Dave challenged all of us to think bigger, move faster and never lose sight of the fact that we are competitors at heart. He is a true racer whose vision and commitment have helped shape HRC US into the world-class organization it is today, and his impact will be felt for many years to come.

“Looking ahead, I am excited about the future of HRC US. We recently renewed our commitment to IndyCar as the series continues to grow and strengthen its position in North American motorsports. Our new business ventures also position us to better serve Honda racing fans. We will remain committed to innovation, competition, and developing the people and technologies that define the future of motorsports.

“The Honda racing spirit has always been about challenging convention and pushing boundaries, and I look forward to leading HRC US as we write the next chapter of that story together.”

David Salters Regime At Honda Came During Challenging Times

Salters oversaw a tremendous time of change and growth at Honda after he succeeded Ted Klaus in that position during the 2020 IndyCar season. Like all sports leagues that year, the COVID-19 pandemic creating major challenges, on the field, on the race track and in the business.

During a media availability last weekend at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Salters gave no hint that he would be departing, just three days later.

“It’s a thank you for the marvelous men and women at HRC,” Salters said. “We have the privilege of sitting here, but as always there’s real people doing real work. We have amazing real people doing our work, a whole team of them. We work as a team. We’re privileged to lead that, Kelvin and I.

“Just thank you to our men and women and thank you to the teams that we work with. Thank you to the brilliant drivers. Thank you to IndyCar. Thank you to the fans. Very kindly thank you for everybody here that writes about it and promotes it. Lots of thank yous really.

“You learn to be very humble in this game. You lose more than you win typically. When you have some success, thank the people who deliver that success.”

Fu takes over the position and has played a key role in much of the success HRC US has enjoyed during Salters years of guidance.

And after singing a multi-year agreement along with Chevrolet to remain as the two engines suppliers in IndyCar on February 12, HRC US will be part of an exciting future for the series that includes a new car and engine formula beginning in 2028.

“As you said, we signed for a multi-year with IndyCar, I think congratulations to IndyCar, right?” Fu exclaimed. “Everything this year has been fabulous. The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, the most exciting finish I think any of us have ever seen. The Washington DC race was amazing. It’s something we’re going to remember for the rest of our lives and also with DC, too.

“That is kind of the backdrop to everything that’s happened for us. The team has come back. We work really well with all of our teams. All have scored manufacturing points action; all have finished on the podium. It’s not just us working in HRC in Valencia, California and we work hard on advancing, but it’s also working closely with all our teams, Ganassi, Andretti, Rahal, Dale Coyne and Meyer Shank to try to get better at every single track.”

Five teams are part of HRC US’s IndyCar family, and each team led laps and finished on the podium during the 18-race NTT IndyCar Series season in 2026.

“I think it’s something where obviously some teams are stronger in street courses than ovals,” Fu continued. “Every team has had a chance to step up and show what they can do. It’s really a tribute to how they’re working internally. Also working with us. But we have to give credit where credit is due.”

Honda’s Reasons To Stay In IndyCar Explained.

A few years ago, Honda made overtures that it was considering whether to return to IndyCar after the previous contract expired in 2026. But after playing a key role in working with IndyCar on the new engine/car package for 2028, HRC US officials realized the tremendous upswing that IndyCar is currently experiencing.

“I think the proof, you can see it,” Salters said. “Believing is one thing, but actually you can see where IndyCar is going if you look at this season. We were averaging one million viewers, now it’s almost averaging 2 million. That is significantly more than Formula 1. It’s starting to catch up to NASCAR.

“Well done FOX. Well done IndyCar.

“That drives everything. That’s more people watching, more fans. Like I said before, the fans are why we do this. So that’s awesome.”

Salters is excited about the new car, the IR-28, but as he steps away, refining that package will be Fu’s role.

“If you look at the new car, in person it looks awesome,” Salters said. “Then what’s under the hood, there’s going to be new power train, new hybrid system. Then also the way we go about using that car. We have a charter. We can get more involved with how we run it.

“Honda does it to develop as people in these technologies, so it has those ingredients. But it comes down to the product. The racing is superb. The Indy 500 this year I think from start to finish was one of the best ever Indy 500s. There was stuff happening everywhere. You’re on the edge of your seat everywhere. That’s a proof point.

“Washington was unbelievable. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I’ve never really seen anything like that. Like the fly pass was the best-ever fly pass that’s happened in sport. I think that’s a fact.

“So, look where we are going. You don’t have to extrapolate; you can see it. So super, super optimistic. There are just all these proof points. Everything is growing. Can there be things that can be a little bit better? Well, of course. But actually, if you look at where it is, what’s happening, where it’s going, it’s entertaining.

“I think the reason to be optimistic you can see now, and it will only get better in the future, as far as I can see.

“I think the point is we’re very fortunate to celebrate that history and represent that history and keep that history going.”

The Best Moves Are Often The Ones That Don’t Happen

Despite overtures about a possible departure, which could have been viewed as political posturing in a business negotiation, HRC US knew the best move was to remain in IndyCar.

“We re-signed with IndyCar for a reason,” Salters said. “We love IndyCar racing. We’ve kept saying it. We’ve been doing it for 30 years. I sincerely hope we can do it for another 30. I don’t see why we wouldn’t. That is Honda’s DNA inside.

“It is a racing company. It’s won in F1. It has won in Moto GP. It has won the Indy 500. It has won all this stuff. Motorcross, et cetera.

“What we achieved this year is down to the men and women of Honda. You see that core. There’s 300 people that are distributed in California, in Indy, in Ohio that have Honda badges and 401(k)s, all that stuff, all work that Honda does. We’re enormously privileged to celebrate things like that.

“What we’re seeing now is more history being made with Alex Palou. We’re watching greatness. All of us should be amazingly proud and privileged to see the history being made now.

“I’m very proud for that.”

Salters concludes his time as the President of HRC US as a winner. The company’s latest IndyCar Manufacturers Championship is defining proof of that.