How Does a Toro Groundsmaster Compare to an Indy Car?

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Indy Car vs Groundsmaster

Indy 500[simple-social-share]

It’s Memorial Day weekend 2016, and for the Indianapolis-based Kenney Machinery Corporation, that means it’s time for the 100th running of the Indy 500 auto race.

For anyone who lives in the city of Indianapolis, this race and all the pageantry and tradition that surrounds it is a source of great civic pride.  We at the Kenney Corporation are especially proud that a division of our company, Landtech Design, was involved in a $90 million project to upgrade the Indianpolis Motor Speedway, including a new roundabout and pedestrian plaza outside turn 1.

We’re also proud of the fact that the Kenney Machinery Corporation has been selling farm and turf equipment in Indianapolis even longer than they’ve been racing cars at the Speedway–since 1906, to be exact.  We’ve been a distributor for the Toro Company (who celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2014) since 1939.

Given that both Toro and the Kenney Machinery Corporation have been around longer than Indy-style racing, we thought it might be fun to do a little head-to-head comparison between the latest version of the Indy Car and a 4000-series Toro Groundsmaster.  Let’s see how these two legendary machines stack up against each other:

Indy CarIndyCar 2012 Specifications

  • Chassis: Dallara DW12 carbon-fiber monocoque with honeycomb kevlar structure
  • Engine: Ilmor–Chevrolet Indy V6 and Honda HI16TT Indy V6
  • Weight: 1,570 lb (712 kg) on speedways, 1,600 lb (726 kg) on road courses and short ovals (without driver or fuel)
  • Power output: 550-700 hp (410-522 kW) depending on turbo boost and push-to-pass mode at 12000-12200 rpm
  • Fuel Capacity: 18.5 US gallons (70 litres)
  • Top Speed: Over 230 mph
  • Acceleration: 0 to 100 mph in less than three seconds
  • Mowing Speed: Can’t mow.
  • Attachments: None
  • Accessories: None

Toro GroundsmasterToro Groundsmaster 4000-D Specifications

  • Chassis: Toro
  • Engine: Yanmar® turbo diesel 55 hp (41 kW)
  • Weight: 4,166 lbs. (1,890 kg)
  • Power output: 58 hp @ 2600 RPM (43.3 kW)
  • Fuel Capacity: 19 US Gallons (72 L) diesel fuel
  • Top Speed: 16.2 mph
  • Acceleration: 0 to 16.2 mph in about 5 seconds
  • Mowing Speed: 8.3 mph
  • Attachments: 53 inch wide Erskine™ snowthrower and a rotary broom for sweeping parking areas (hey, somebody has to clean up after all those race fans)
  • Accessories: Atomic® mulching blades, canopy, Guardian® Recycler® Conversion Kit

So, there you have it.  If you have a need for speed, it looks like the Indy Car might be your best bet.  However, when it comes to maintaining your turf, the Indy Car will be pretty much useless–in fact, we’re pretty sure that driving high-performance race cars over your turf will cause lasting damage to both the cars and the turf.  Better stick with the Toro Groundsmaster.