FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis’ 12th annual Motorsports Day will feature street-legal, two-seater IndyCar rides for $10 (cash only) a person this year.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 10 in front of Taylor Hall, 815 W. Michigan St., on the IUPUI campus.
Hosted by the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology and the Motorsports Club, Motorsports Day gives students and racing fans a first-hand glimpse into the world of racing. Team representatives from all forms of racing provide an insider’s view, including displays of vehicles, equipment and more.
Students and fans will have the opportunity to explore an Extract slot car; a funny car from John Force Racing; and USAC’s Silver Crown, sprint and midget racers. IUPUI will feature its new Miata racer and its Kart car as well as its Formula SAE car, part of a student design competition organized by SAE International, formerly known as the Society of Automotive Engineers. Dave Broyles will have his drag bike on display, and race car designer and manufacturer Dallara will have a display as well.
Tours of the school’s Motorsports Lab will be offered throughout the event, and a tour of the IUPUI campus is set for 2 p.m. Engineering students will be featured in a panel discussion from 10 to 11 a.m., and alumni who work in various aspects of racing will be featured in a panel discussion from 11 a.m. to noon; both events will take place in UC 104 on campus.
Motorsports Day showcases the nation’s only motorsports engineering program, part of the school’s unique initiative to increase the number of graduates in the STEM areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
More than 100 students from around the country and world are working toward their motorsports dreams in the “Racing Capital of the World.” This year, about 100 students are enrolled, representing more than a dozen states and such international homes as Venezuela, Hong Kong, Ukraine, India, Bolivia, Italy, Japan, Colombia, Taiwan, Greece, China, Canada and Mexico.
These students experience a variety of racetrack opportunities and internship placements, and then launch right into full-time engineering roles with professional race teams after graduation. Job placements in racing and automotive companies include Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, Cummins, Toyota, Penske South and Schmidt Peterson.
“IUPUI’s Motorsports Day is a great opportunity for motorsports engineering faculty and students to showcase the program to fellow Jaguars, industry partners and prospective students,” said Pete Hylton, associate professor and director of motorsports engineering. “The program is unique in that we have direct access to the motorsports industry right here in our backyard. Our goal is to work with industry partners to develop a pipeline of highly qualified workers with real experience. Thanks to these
partnerships, Motorsports Day has evolved over the years into an incredible experience for both students and race fans.”
About Motorsports at IUPUI: Located in the heart of Indianapolis, the “Racing Capital of the World,” IUPUI has much to offer in motorsports, and its programs are producing impressive results and garnering national attention. In 2008, IUPUI became the first university in the United States to offer a bachelor’s degree in motorsports engineering, and the university continues to develop programs encompassing all aspects of the sport. From a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in motorsports engineering to a Motorsports Technology Certificate or master’s concentration offered by the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI, to a variety of racetrack opportunities and outstanding internship placements, the motorsports programs at IUPUI continue to thrive.
About the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI: The mission of the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI is to be one of the best urban university leaders in the disciplines of engineering and technology recognized locally, nationally and internationally. The school’s goal is to provide students an education that will give them the leverage to be leaders in their communities, industry and society.