Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 24, 1999Indy freshman wins 42nd Purdue Grand PrixWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Thomas Gray, a freshman in the Schools of Engineering from Indianapolis, came home as a first-time winner of the Purdue Grand Prix.
Smith, a senior in the School of Mechanical Engineering from Frankfort , finished second. After grabbing the lead, Gray stretched his margin to the point where by midpoint in the race, he was the only kart on the lead lap. "It was a great day for racing," Gray said. "The track was a little tight, but the kart was great and the crew was fantastic on the pit stop." Gray has been racing karts since he was 11 years old and spent part of last year racing on the national circuit. This summer he will be working at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for Andy Hillenberg's Fast Track driving school. The other top finishers were Jason Bezy, a freshman in the School of Technology from Floyds Knob , in third; Eric Goginsky, a junior in the School of Technology from Woodstock, Ga. , in fourth; and Dan Kelly, a junior in the School of Technology from Indianapolis , in fifth. Race results will not be official until Monday. The Purdue Grand Prix Foundation is a student-run, nonprofit organization that conducts the kart race and related events to raise money for student scholarships. This year the foundation awarded 20 scholarships totaling $10,000. The foundation receives support from Ford Motor Co., Procter & Gamble Co. and Coca-Cola Co.
Writer: J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTION Gary Gray (left) congratulates his son Thomas after the freshman from Indianapolis won the 42nd running of the Purdue Grand Prix. The 50-mile, 160-lap kart race is run each year at the West Lafayette campus on a special kart track north of Ross-Ade Stadium. The race and associated activities fund student scholarships awarded by the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation.(AP Photo/Purdue News Service, Vincent Walter)
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