April 28, 2016  

Indy 500 experts

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The following Purdue University experts can discuss various news topics related to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500.

 

STEM and safety during the month of May at IMS

Danny White, director of motorsports at Purdue and a leading expert in the field of motorsports, can discuss crash and fire safety, as well as what new safety innovations could mean for the quality of racing. White holds a Certificate in Safety Management from the Society of Safety Engineers and is a former member of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Fire Crew. He also was a founding member of the IMS Safety Committee. He has more than 20 years of experience with open-wheel racing and picked up a win at the Indy 500 as a crew member for Eddie Cheever. He has been a part of CART, Champ Car, IndyCar, NHRA Top Fuel and the 24 Hours of Daytona. White also helped create the MSTEM3 initiative at Purdue and can talk about the role of motorsports in STEM education.

CONTACT: Danny White, white66@purdue.edu or 317-632-0716

News Service contact: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

 

Public relations reach of Indy 500, festival

Josh Boyd, associate professor in the Brian Lamb School of Communication, focuses on public relations and advertising, and he can discuss how the race and festival have become part of Central Indiana/Indiana culture by extending its footprint beyond just the last weekend in May. Boyd also is an expert on corporate rhetoric and sports-related sponsorships.

CONTACT: Josh Boyd, boyd@purdue.edu

News Service contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

 

Race month activities impact tourism industry's bottom line

Jonathon Day, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management in the College of Health and Human Sciences, can talk about the regional tourism impact of the Indianapolis 500. "Spectators patronize shops, restaurants, hotels and related businesses over the course of the entire month of May. The impact on Central Indiana extends well beyond a single weekend," Day says. He also can discuss how hospitality industry campaigns help local businesses evaluate their strategy to attract tourists. Day has been instrumental in developing marketing strategies for international tourism destinations. His research interests include sustainable tourism and hospitality practices. Day is available after May 8.

CONTACT: Jonathon Day, 765-496-2084, gjday@purdue.edu

News Service contact: John Hughey, 765-494-2432, hugheyj@purdue.edu

 

Harnessing the thrill of auto racing to inspire students in STEM education

James Caruthers, Gerald and Sarah Skidmore Professor of Chemical Engineering, specializes in research to improve battery technology and also has led an electric vehicles initiative at Purdue. He can speak about how students' love for auto racing and electric vehicles can galvanize their interest in STEM education. "As a nation, we have to do a much better job of showing students early in their academic lives the fun, excitement and opportunities in science and engineering," Caruthers says. "We have stumbled into a way to use electric vehicles to motivate kids in upper elementary and middle school grades to become involved in engineering, science and technology at a time when they are making decisions about whether they will pursue science and math."

CONTACT: James Caruthers, 765-494-6625, caruther@purdue.edu

News Service contact: Emil Venere, 765-494-4709, venere@purdue.edu

 

Car racing's place in American sports history

Randy Roberts, distinguished professor of history, focuses on American and sports history, and he can discuss the role racing plays in American sports culture as well as the sports' challenges with building a strong fan base. He is the author of more than 30 books, including topics on college football, Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Oscar Robertson, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston sports. He has made more than 50 appearances on television documentaries and films in the past 20 years for the History Channel, ESPN Classic, HBO, BBC, PBS, E!TV and on the ABC, CBS and NBC networks. 

CONTACT: Randy Roberts, rroberts@purdue.edu

News Service contact: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723,  apatterson@purdue.edu 

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