Retired Indiana Supreme Court Justice Theodore R. Boehm has denied an appeal filed by General Motors against IndyCar's decision to approve use by Honda of a revised compressor cover for its single turbocharger. Justice Boehm conducted the appeal hearing on May 9 in Indianapolis. Pursuant to Rule 13.11, of the IndyCar rule book, the appeal decision is final and binding.
In his role as Appeal Official, and pursuant to rule 13.4, IndyCar President of Operations and Strategy Brian Barnhart elected to utilize Justice Boehm, who Justice Boehm retired from the Indiana Supreme Court in 2010. As a private lawyer, in-house counsel, and managing partner of an Indiana law firm, Justice Boehm has participated in the negotiated settlement of a large number of complex business disputes. He also had extensive experience in negotiating substantial transactions including business acquisitions and dispositions, real estate transactions and a variety of commercial agreements. He served as Chairman and CEO of the organizing committee for the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, and was the first president and CEO of Indiana Sports Corp.
Honda Performance Development's vp Steve Eriksen expressed satisfaction with his company's second legal victory in the case, following a similar result of the original GM appeal hear by a three-man panel in Indianapolis late last month.
“We are pleased that Justice Boehm's ruling has again confirmed IndyCar's initial step to address parity of the Series-mandated single and twin turbochargers," he said. "This has been IndyCar's intention ever since the matter first came under discussion in late 2010. We eagerly look forward to continuing our battle with Chevrolet and Lotus as practice sessions for the Indianapolis 500, ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing', begin this weekend.”