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NEWS RELEASE

05-02-01

Contacts:
Nick Mohr, Team PrISUm, (515) 294-0899
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917

ISU'S SOLAR CAR TEAM WILL COMPETE IN FORMULA SUN GRAND PRIX

AMES, Iowa -- Team PrISUm, Iowa State University's solar car team, will compete in a Formula Sun Grand Prix, May 7-11, at Heartland Park, Topeka, Kan. The race will include 23 solar car teams, many of which will use the Grand Prix as a qualifying race for the cross-country American Solar Challenge in July.

"This will be the first chance we get to see how our new car, PrISUm Odyssey, responds to race conditions," said Nick Mohr, a student and director of Team PrISUm. "It also will be the first time we will see how our team responds to race conditions. It should be a very valuable experience for our team."

The Formula Sun race will be held on a 2.1-mile closed track. It will include 25.5 hours of racing over a three-day period (May 9-11). The car that completes the most laps during the race is the winner. The first two days of racing will also be counted as qualifying mileage for the American Solar Challenge, a Chicago to Los Angeles solar car race, July 15-25. This will be one of two qualifying events for the American Solar Challenge. The second will be held just prior to the race.

PrISUm Odyssey is a sleek "2-D airfoil" design with color-phased flames painted on its nose. It is the sixth solar car designed and built by Iowa State students.

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