Emerging Tech Day At IMS To Put Green Automotive Ideas On Track

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 19, 2010:The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will continue its legacy as an incubator and proving ground of automotive innovation for more than a century through the 100th Anniversary Indy 500 Emerging Tech Day on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at IMS.

Some of the best, brightest young minds in America will display innovative renewable technologies for the automotive industry at the Emerging Tech Day. The event will feature exhibition competition at IMS by alternative-power vehicles in the Formula Hybrid and American Solar Challenge series and by students from Purdue University.

"The 100th Anniversary Indy 500 Emerging Tech Day is a great addition to our impressive lineup of interesting, fun and fan-friendly events surrounding the Most Important Race in History next May," said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and chief executive officer. "There's no better place than IMS to display green technology due to the Speedway's rich heritage of automotive innovation through the Indianapolis 500, whether it was the first rear-view mirror on Ray Harroun's winning car in 1911, the turbine engine used in the famous STP cars of the late 1960s or so many other examples."

Allison Transmission, Inc., Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL) and Duke Energy are the co-sponsors of the 100th Anniversary Indy 500 Emerging Tech Day. The event was announced Nov. 19 in the IMS Pagoda Plaza with the famous 1968 turbine-powered Indianapolis 500 "Whooshmobile" car and two vintage electric cars on display, part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame collection.

Formula Hybrid challenges college and university students to design, build and race high-performance, plug-in hybrid vehicles. Building on the Formula SAE program, Formula Hybrid adds an extra level of complexity: fuel efficiency.

With technological challenges for students with backgrounds in electrical, mechanical and computer engineering, Formula Hybrid encourages interdisciplinary teamwork and innovation.

TheAmerican Solar Challengeis a competition to design, build and drive solar-powered cars in a cross-country time/distance rally event that covers between 1,200 to 1,500 miles between multiple cities. American Solar Challenge events have been staged for 20 years across North America.

Students from Purdue, located in nearby West Lafayette, Ind., will race electric-powered karts in a race similar to the famous Purdue Grand Prix kart competition.

The 100th Anniversary Indy 500 Emerging Tech Day is one of three events including green forms of transportation scheduled for Saturday, May 7 at IMS as a prelude to Opening Day for the 2011 Indianapolis 500, Saturday, May 14.

Also taking place May 7 at IMS will be the Centennial Era Balloon Festival featuring colorful hot-air balloons from across the United States, and the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon includes a lap around the famous 2.5-mile oval as part of its traditional course for 35,000 runners.