Indiana Schools Making an Impact at the Brickyard

As I wrote recently in BizVoice magazine, Indiana University Purdue University – Indianapolis (IUPUI) has an incredibly unique offering in its Motorsports Engineering bachelor’s program. Now, the school is once again partnering with Sarah Fisher Racing in this year’s Indianapolis 500, in which SFR driver Ed Carpenter hopes to parlay an eighth position start into a delicious bottle of milk at the finish line:

As Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) proudly debuts its new driver Ed Carpenter at the famed 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, there’s another relationship the team is happy to continue developing—namely, a partnership with Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

“We so appreciate the support IUPUI has shown throughout our team’s history,” said Sarah Fisher, team owner. “IUPUI has been a loyal sponsor of our team since I started as driver/owner in 2008, and I’m thrilled to have them backing us as Ed takes the wheel this season.”

Beyond a traditional sponsorship, this relationship is truly something special.

Once a student herself in the Engineering Dual Degree Program through the Purdue School of Engineering & Technology at IUPUI and Butler University, Fisher has continued to give back to the school by visiting campus to talk with undergraduate students about her experiences in the motorsports industry. And students in IUPUI’s Motorsports Engineering Program – the only program in the nation to offer a Bachelor’s of Science in Motorsports Engineering – continue to sharpen their engineering skills and motorsports savvy through internships with the team each year.

Purdue University is also a factor in this year’s race, showcasing the school’s engineering prowess by partnering with HVM Racing.

Purdue University and HVM Racing have partnered for the Indianapolis 500. The relationship will bring the HVM team advanced engineering technologies in aerodynamics, manufacturing and advanced materials, providing opportunities for Purdue students and faculty to participate in motorsports with HVM.

“HVM Racing is one of IndyCar’s leading competitors with 2010 Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year driver Simona de Silvestro and one of her premier teams in the IZOD IndyCar Series,” said James Caruthers, the Reilly Professor of Chemical Engineering.

Keith Wiggins, president of HVM Racing, said, “This relationship with Purdue enables HVM to work with one of the premier engineering schools in the U.S. to exploit the latest technological innovations in aerodynamics, advanced materials and manufacturing, as well as being able to interact with bright, fresh-thinking Purdue students in a variety of ways for the future.”