The 1990s were arguably the ‘Golden Era’ of motorsport, particularly in the world of wings-and-slicks racing. High-revving engines, intense competition, and iconic car designs made it an unforgettable time. Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) was no exception, and Russell Cameron from Horizon Motorsport was right in the thick of it.

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In this episode of Tuned In, Russell shares his journey from a small-town upbringing in South Dakota to building a successful career in the professional racing world. He discusses the evolution of his mechanical skills and his rapid transition into professional racing within the CART series.

Russell also dives into the legendary Cosworth engines of the ’90s, the role of qualifying engines, and the relentless push to squeeze out every last bit of performance. From reliability to driver preferences and the subtle setup details that can make or break a lap time, he shares insights from inside the garage.

We also explore his career across multiple teams, the infamous CART–IRL split, the influence of the Indy 500, and the factors that led to CART’s decline. Russell reflects on moving from team manager to team owner and the realities of running a racing team. He also talks about the incredible ‘Hammerhead’ project he built with his son, Cavan — a stunning machine incorporating a lot of ex-CART/IndyCar components.

Russell has lived an extraordinary life in professional motorsport, and now he’s on a new adventure building the Hammerhead with his son. Combined with his storytelling ability, it makes this episode a seriously compelling listen.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

Follow Russel here:

Instagram: horizon_motorsports_llc

Youtube: horizon_motorsports_llc

For more on Hammerhead & Cavan Cameron listen to episode 153: A High School Project Gone Wild: 1,450HP IndyCar x Firebird.

Also check out theHammerhead World time Attack Challenge 2025 Youtube interview on our channel @Hpa101

Timestamps:

0:00 Inside CART’s Golden Era of Racing
4:10 How did you find an interest in cars?
8:24 Were you involved in any motorsport growing up?
12:17 Could you get into IndyCar the same way today?
13:36 What’s the difference between IndyCar and F1?
17:35 Were you using qualifying engines? How were they different?
21:54 Where do you look for advantages in CART/IndyCar?
23:14 What is an Inerter?
25:54 Can you make much adjustment to the aero package in IndyCar?
28:20 Does tight rules reduce budgets?
31:35 How did your career in CART/IndyCar develop?
35:53 What is a CART/IndyCar team doing between weekends?
39:25 What changes are you making to the car between practice and qualifying?
44:06 Is the car setups always driver specific?
47:20 How did you decide on a part's lifespan?
50:06 How did you end up running your own team?
51:99 What is the difference between CART & IndyCar?
1:02:15 How did you go from head mechanic to owning a team?
1:06:50 Can an IndyCar team be cashflow positive?
1:12:25 At what point did you decide to step away?
1:16:20 How did your son Cavan get involved?
1:26:15 What's the plan for Hammerhead in the future?
1:31:52 Final 3 questions