April 23, 2005
O'Brien rallies to win third Purdue Grand Prix, tie record
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For Tim O'Brien, coming from 13 rows back to win the 2005 Purdue Grand Prix was not a concern.
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It was coming back from Phoenix to win that had him worried.
O'Brien did just that today (Saturday, April 23), overcoming an overnight flight from Arizona, blustery conditions and 32 other student racers to win the 48th annual edition of the Grand Prix at the university's kart track north of Ross-Ade Stadium.
The victory marked the third Grand Prix title for O'Brien, a senior mechanical engineering technology major from Lebanon, Ind., who also won the race in 2002 and 2003.
With the win, O'Brien became only the second driver in the race’s history to win three titles, joining Ian Smith, who won three straight races from 1993-95.
"I knew it was going to be a challenge to win again considering all I had to go through, but I also knew I could do it," said O'Brien, who was in Phoenix on Friday (April 22) to serve as an engineer for driver Reed Sorensen during a NASCAR Busch Series race that took place there.
"It took us all night to fly back from Phoenix, and I would say that I only got about an hour and a half of sleep, but we got here just in time for practice. I just took a little nap after that, and I was ready to go."
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Thanks to his Busch Series job, O'Brien certainly needed to be ready to go Saturday.
He missed last weekend's first day of Grand Prix qualifying because of his obligation to Sorenson, who attended the Grand Prix to see O’Brien race. O'Brien was forced to qualify on the second day, which pushed him to the back of the pack.
Then there was the overnight flight from Phoenix after Friday's Busch Series race, which left O'Brien exhausted entering the 50-mile, 160-lap Grand Prix.
"I had never even heard of this race before, but Tim's been working so hard for our team that I had to come when he asked me," said Sorenson, who drives for Chip Ganasi Racing. "I would say that he did a pretty good job for a guy who didn't get any sleep. I was feeling pretty sorry for him this morning, so I gave him some of my gloves to wear and told him they would be his lucky gloves. I think I'll let him keep the gloves."
Dan Parras of Cary Racing, a junior majoring in construction engineering from San Salvador City, El Salvador, finished second after leading many of the race's late laps. He lost his lead to O'Brien with six laps to go when his No. 77 kart got tangled up in traffic.
"Those last few laps when I was ahead were the longest of my life," said Parras, who finished third in the 2004 Grand Prix. "I got tied up, and what can you do about that? Second is still pretty good, and I'm pretty happy with it."
Patrick Moore of McAleer-Lunding Racing, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering technology from Dyer, Ind., placed third. Nik Rooney of the Theta Xi team, a senior majoring in management from Indianapolis, placed fourth. Matt Denning of the Shreve and Earhart halls team, a mechanical engineering technology major from West Chester, Ohio, placed fifth.
Clayton Smith of Team Smith, a junior majoring in aeronautics and astronautics from Mulberry, Ind., and the 2005 Grand Prix champion, started on the pole Saturday and was among the race's leaders when he was forced to withdraw with approximately 50 laps remaining because of mechanical difficulties.
Complete and official results of the 2005 Grand Prix will be released Monday (April 25), following a review of the race by members of the scoring board.
Kristy Curry, head coach of the Purdue women's basketball team, served as grand marshal of the 2005 Grand Prix, which is organized each year by the Grand Prix Foundation. The foundation is a student-run, non-profit organization that conducts the kart race and related events each year to raise money for student scholarships. This year it awarded $9,500 in scholarships to 19 students.
The foundation received support from Kimberly-Clark, Toyota Motor Co., Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics, Coca-Cola Co., Radio Works/WKHY-B102.9, Pay Less Super Markets, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Red Bull Energy Drink and Jefferson Commons apartments.
The first Grand Prix kart race, featuring cars that were made from scratch and powered by lawnmower engines, ran in 1958 and took place on an intramural field and adjacent parking lot near what is now the Recreational Sports Center. The race also was run for a time on the Engineering Mall in front of Hovde Hall before moving to the current track in 1969.
Writer: Aaron Martin, (765) 496-3133, martinac@purdue.edu
Sources: Tim O'Brien, (513) 850-3491, tobrien@purdue.edu
Dan Parras, (765) 532-2851, dparras@purdue.edu
Ross Trentadue, Grand Prix Foundation director of promotions, (765) 494-2708, (920) 988-6656, rtrentad@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Senior kart driver Tim O'Brien (center) of Excalibur Racing celebrates with his father, Mike (left), and NASCAR Busch Series driver Reed Sorenson after winning the 2005 Purdue Grand Prix today (Saturday, April 23) at the kart track on the university's West Lafayette campus. O'Brien, who works as an engineer for Sorenson's racing team, overcame blustery conditions and a 13th-row start to claim his third Grand Prix victory. O'Brien, who won the race in 2002 and 2003, became only the second driver in the race's 48-year history to win three Grand Prix titles. (Purdue News Service photo/Suzie Coles)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2005/grandprixwinner05-1.jpg
PHOTO CAPTION:
Senior kart driver Tim O'Brien of Excalibur Racing celebrates atop his No. 3 kart after winning the 2005 Purdue Grand Prix today (Saturday, April 23) at the kart track on the university's West Lafayette campus. O'Brien overcame blustery conditions and a 13th-row start to claim his third Grand Prix victory. O'Brien also won the race in 2002 and 2003 and is only the second driver in the race's 48-year history to win three Grand Prix titles. (Purdue News Service photo/Suzie Coles)
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2005/grandprixwinner05-2.jpg
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