AMES, Iowa - The students of Team PrISUm were feeling good about the start to this year's Formula Sun Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The team qualified sixth and began the day recording lap times near the top of the grid. The electrical problems that had plagued Anthelion (the $250,000 solar race car is named after the rare halo that can appear opposite the sun) were nowhere in sight.
And then, during a pit stop to change drivers, team members spotted trouble: a crack in the car's metal frame.
"There was a crack around the entire perimeter of one of the tubes," said Evan Stumpges, a team leader and a senior in mechanical engineering from Pauma Valley, Calif. "We were lucky we caught it."
Missing that crack could have led to major mechanical problems. But the team was able to borrow some welding equipment, make repairs and get the car back in race shape.
The repairs, however, cost about four hours of track time.
And so, at the end of the first day of the three-day race for student-designed and student-built solar race cars, Team PrISUm was in sixth place with 83 laps. The University of Minnesota was leading the race with 206 laps.
But Stumpges said the team is looking for better racing on Friday. The frame is solid. The batteries are charged. And several minor problems are also fixed.
"Everything is looking solid for tomorrow," Stumpges said late Thursday. "We should be able to keep up with the top teams."
Anthelion was looking so good, Stumpges was working into the night to help the team from the University of New Mexico make the necessary changes to pass inspection and qualify its car for the final two days of the grand prix.
This year's Formula Sun Grand Prix is part of Emerging Tech Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The special event is part of the track's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500.
