Ohio State Powers to Second Cleveland Electric Formula Classic Win

12 July 1997

    CLEVELAND, July 12 -- In a race marked by speedy pit stops,
Ohio State University's powerful entry smoothly steered to a first-place
finish in the Cleveland Electric Formula Classic sponsored by The Illuminating
Company.
    OSU's winning racer, driven by veteran Craig Taylor, reached a top speed
of 110 miles per hour and had a fast lap time of 1:39.005.  Bowling Green
University placed second and General Motors Institute finished third.
    Taylor credits his second win in the Classic to the teamwork of the
students in producing an excellent vehicle.  "Our prime concern was a car that
makes it through the day and a great team to make the battery change," he
said.  The team met the challenge with a 17-second pit stop.
    Coming in a close second, the Bowling Green University car driven by Larry
Crosser had the distinction of stopping for two battery changes.  The race
includes one mandatory battery-exchange pit stop.
    The Cleveland Electric Formula Classic showcases the high-speed
performance and environmental benefits of electric-powered cars.  A total of
six CART-style cars prepared by major universities from across the nation
competed today for more than $35,000 in prize money on Cleveland's Burke
Lakefront Airport as part of the Medic Drug Grand Prix.
    "Today's events truly showcased the exciting accomplishments of electric
vehicle technology.  The racers were competing with the most advanced electric
cars on the planet, and the performance characteristics of these cars will
soon be available to the general public at local dealerships," said Murray
Edelman, president of The Illuminating Company.
    Nine universities fielded identical single-seat, open-wheel race cars
sporting sleek bodies measuring only 30 inches high and 163 inches long.  The
engineering and technology students installed the motors, drive systems and
batteries.  Three contenders, including last year's winning car from Indiana
University/Purdue University at Indianapolis, did not complete the race.
Notre Dame University completed a half lap; West Virginia University and IUPUI
did not grid.
    Following is a listing of all participants and official times:

    Finish  Driver         School                         Fast Lap  Speed
    1       Craig Taylor   The Ohio State University      1:39.005  86.177
    2       Larry Crosser  Bowling Green State Univ.      1:39.181  86.024
    3       Tom Bagley     General Motors Institute       1:47.742  79.189
    4       Chris Reinke   Wright State University        1:52.785  75.648
    5       Todd Cannon    University of Oklahoma         1:44.786  81.423
    6       Tom Sneva      Bowling Green State Univ.      1:42.147  83.526
    7       Mark Folkert   University of Notre Dame       n/a       n/a
    8       Chris Shultz   Indiana University/Purdue
                              University at Indianapolis  n/a       n/a
    9       Thomas Bedell  West Virginia Univeristy       n/a       n/a

SOURCE  Cleveland Electric Formula Classic