AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May, 21,
2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 47th annual BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer
Award has been presented to engineers Dale
Harrigle and Brett Schilling
from Bridgestone Americas Motorsports for the Firestone Firehawk™
Indy 500 Race Tire. Designed to withstand the harsh environment of
the IZOD IndyCar® Series, the Firestone Firehawk Indy
500 Race Tire features improved compounds and construction designed
to increase performance, improve endurance and continue a winning
tradition.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130521/DE17740-a)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130521/DE17740-b)
Firestone tires have been setting the pace at the Indianapolis 500 since Ray Harroun's inaugural victory in 1911, when he
drove the Marmon Wasp powered by Louis
Schwitzer's Yellow Jacket engine. As the Indianapolis 500's exclusive tire supplier
since 1995, the Firestone race tire team built on its experience,
expertise and engineering excellence to develop race tires that
provide great grip, durability and racing excitement. The Firehawk
Indy 500 Race Tire features a high-grip tread compound created with
Firestone's propriety additives and raw rubber. The belts are
composed of a proprietary aramid synthetic fiber, with steel used
only in the beads. Firestone's engineers employed proven modeling
methods to calculate forces and moments, and perform steady-state
modeling. Within only six months, the race tire team developed and
tested the tires on the race track.
Presented by engineers to engineers, the BorgWarner Louis
Schwitzer Award recognizes individuals for innovation and
engineering excellence in race car design associated with the
annual Indianapolis 500. The
winners are honored at an awards banquet, and their names are
immortalized on the Schwitzer trophy on permanent display at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The $10,000 award is sponsored by BorgWarner and
presented to the winning engineer(s) by the Indiana Section of SAE
International.
Initiated in 1967, the award memorializes automotive pioneer,
engineer and professional race car driver Louis Schwitzer. In 1909, Schwitzer won the
first auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). He also
designed the "Marmon Yellow Jacket" engine that powered the Marmon
Wasp to victory at the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. After working in the
automotive industry for many years, Louis founded the Schwitzer
Corporation, which produced innovative cooling fans, water pumps
and turbochargers. In 1999, the Schwitzer Corporation joined
BorgWarner. Throughout his career, Schwitzer enjoyed numerous
technological accomplishments, supported higher education, led the
IMS technical committee and maintained a strong association with
SAE.
BorgWarner continues his legacy of technology leadership as the
official turbocharger supplier of the IZOD IndyCar Series. The
engine of every car in the 2013 Indianapolis 500 is boosted by
BorgWarner's line of EFR (for "Engineered For Racing")
turbochargers, which feature Gamma TiAl (titanium aluminide)
turbine wheels, ceramic ball bearings and stainless steel turbine
housings.
About BorgWarner
Auburn
Hills, Michigan-based BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA) is a
technology leader in highly engineered components and systems for
powertrain applications worldwide. Operating manufacturing and
technical facilities in 57 locations in 19 countries, the company
develops products to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and
enhance performance. Customers include VW/Audi, Ford, Toyota,
Renault/Nissan, General Motors, Hyundai/Kia, Daimler, Chrysler,
Fiat, BMW, Honda, John Deere, PSA, and MAN. For more information,
please visit borgwarner.com.
SOURCE BorgWarner Inc.