Two more karting events added to evGrandPrix at IMS in May

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and United States Auto Club will host two additional karting events this year to go with the fifth annual International Electric Vehicle GrandPrix in May at the famed racetrack.

A high school and university GT series will be added this year. The three races are part of the May activities at the motor speedway leading up to the historic 100th running of the May 29 Indianapolis 500 and are a significant step in furthering Purdue's STEM educational mission.

"The evGrandPrix is an educational event where the students design, build, test and race electric go-karts. These hands-on activities complement the more theoretical, blackboard learning that students receive in their traditional academic coursework," said James Caruthers, the Gerald and Sarah Skidmore Professor of Chemical Engineering. "We have been fortunate that the design and construction of the go-karts requires a skill level that is appropriate for college students and that the cost of the karts is affordable."

The karting events will take place May 17-18 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with practice and qualifying set the first day and the races the second. May 19 will be a rain makeup day should inclement weather force postponement. Each of the events will take place on a special grand prix track designed by Purdue students.

In addition to the Collegiate evGrandPrix, the inaugural High School evGrandPrix should feature 10-15 karts and drivers from Indiana high schools. The karts will also be powered by electric motors, although they will use lead acid batteries verses the lithium-ion batteries used in the collegiate event

The High School evGrandPrix also is rooted in STEM education, Caruthers said.

"This is an excellent STEM education program for high school students," he said. "In addition to the technical design, construction and testing, the students have to raise sponsorship money, and build, test and decal the karts, all of which require project management, planning and communication. So, they get real-life project experience. Yes, it's fun and exciting, but if you make something fun and exciting, these kids now eagerly participate in their own education. Because of the educational connection, you can't believe the number of high school principals and superintendents contacting us to ask how they can get involved in 2017."

White said the vision for the High School evGrandPrix program is to have high schools all over the state participating. He also encourages small and large businesses to become involved in helping prepare for their future workforce. Any school or business can contact White or Caruthers for information.

The University GT Series is based off the Margay "Ignite" karting series that runs at Gateway International Speedway in St. Louis. Competitors will run specified Briggs and Stratton engines and will be gas-powered, said Danny White, the manager of the Purdue Motorsports K-12 Partnership. Competitors will be issued similar Hoosier Tires upon technical inspection in order to put the competition on a level playing field. White said this helps ensure that kart setup and driver skills will be key to winning. Teams will come mainly from four-year universities across the country.

The competition will promote motorsports and serve as a pipeline into the field for students and give them practical experience, but will still be firmly rooted in education, White said. Scoring for the competition includes five areas:

* Final race placement

* Design and innovation

* Community outreach

* Compliance with the rules package

* Fuel conservation

The International evGrandPrix, a fixture at IMS over the past four years, is more technical in nature and is open to innovation and new electric vehicle technology, White said. Thirty teams will race electric-powered karts at IMS. They will come from across the United States and from the University of Windsor in Canada and an entry from Wawrick-Coventry in England.

The evGrandPrix grew out of the Indiana Advanced Electric Vehicle Training and Education Consortium that was supported by the Department of Energy, which has developed degree and training programs for the electric-vehicle industry. The High School evGrandPrix has recently received support from the Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow program out of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovations. 

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu 

Contact: Danny White, 317-333-4457, white66@purdue.edu 

James Caruthers, 765-494-6625, Caruthers@purdue.edu