Louis Schwitzer Award

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Louis Schwitzer Award
Louis Schwitzer Award NewTrophy 2015.jpg
The Louis Schwitzer Award trophy
Awarded forAwarded for excellence in motorsports engineering
Sponsored by Cummins
Valvoline
Location Indianapolis Motor Speedway
CountryUnited States
First award1967 (1967)

The Louis Schwitzer Award (also called the Louis H. Schwitzer Award for Engineering Innovation and Excellence) [1] is presented by the Indiana Section of SAE International to an engineer or team of engineers "for their innovative design and engineering excellence" and acknowledges "engineers with the courage and conviction to explore and develop new concepts in racing technology" in racing vehicles for the Indianapolis 500. [2] The accolade also distinguishes engineers who were most responsible for designing and developing the winning concept to comply to IndyCar Series technical regulations, and awards "functional and recent permutations" that improve energy efficiency, performance or safety in chassis, drive train profiles by "emphasizing competitive potential along with future automotive industry possibilities." [2] Although the award specifically recognizes new concepts, experimental ideas arising from previous winners are considered if the development in engineering improves it. [2]

Contents

It was established at the 1967 event and renamed after automotive engineer, inventor and former chairman of SAE International's Indiana Section Louis Schwitzer by SAE before the 1978 race. Schwitzer also won the first automobile race to be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909. [3] Each year before the Indianapolis 500, an Indiana Section SAE International members committee meet with IndyCar Series technical officials to identify potential candidates. [1] The committee interviews candidates and votes to determine the winner. [4] The Indiana Section of SAE International provides $10,000 prize money to the recipient or team, [a] who receive a plaque and have their names added to a permanent trophy on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. [7] The presentation of the award is made annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the Indianapolis 500. [8] [9] It is currently sponsored by Cummins and Valvoline. [10]

During the 58 years the award has been presented, there have been a total of 116 recipients. [7] [11] The inaugural winner was Andy Granatelli, who developed the gas-turbine run STP-Paxton Turbocar for the 1967 event. [3] [4] The award has been presented for two concepts in a single year just once: in 1977, to Bob Bubenik and Bruce Crower for developing the automatic clutch and flat-eight engine, respectively. Two years later, John Barnard and Jim Hall were the first team to be recognized for designing the Chaparral 2K chassis for that year's Indianapolis 500. [4] [11] Since then, another 24 teams have been recognized. [11] Firestone tire engineer Cara Adams became the first female recipient in the 2019 edition. [12] The award has been presented posthumously once, to Don Burgoon in the 2017 race. [13] The 2020 winners were Tino Belli, Marco Bertolini, Ed Collings, Craig McCarthy, Antonio Montanari, Bill Pappas, Stefan Seidel and Brent Wright, who developed the IndyCar Aeroscreen cockpit protection device. [7] The most recent honorees were engineers Raoul Fernandes, John Martin, Matt Niles, Darren Sansum, Rupert Tull de Salis and Thomas Williams in the 2025 event; they were recognized for their work on the IndyCar Hybrid Power Unit. [14]

Recipients

Key
Indicates posthumous award
Louis Schwitzer Award winners [11]
YearImageWinner(s)ConceptRef
1967 Andygranatelli.JPG Andy Granatelli STP-Paxton Turbocar [4]
1968 Dan Gurney en 1966.jpg Dan Gurney Low cost racing engine
1969 Colin Chapman (1965).jpg Colin Chapman Lotus Type 64
1970 Bruce McLaren en 1969.jpg Bruce McLaren McLaren M15
1971 Josef Karasek McNamara chassis
1972 Dan Gurney (1970).jpg Dan Gurney Eagle chassis
1973 Smokey Yunick Stock block engine
1974 AJ Foyt at Foyt Wine Vault - 2015 - Sarah Stierch 2.jpg A. J. Foyt Coyote chassis
1975 2015 Indianapolis 500 - Sarah Stierch 3.jpg Parnelli Jones Parnelli VP6J chassis
1976 Roman SlobodynskyjLightning chassis
1977 Bob Bubenik Automatic clutch
Bruce Crower Flat-eight engine [15]
1978 Roman SlobodynskyjLaydown Lightning chassis [b] [16]
1979 John Barnard.jpg John Barnard Chaparral 2K chassis [4]
Jim Hall (racer).jpg Jim Hall
1980 Penske PC-9 Indy Car, built for Mario Andretti, 1980 - Collings Foundation - Massachusetts - DSC07041.jpg Geoff Ferris Penske PC-9 chassis [17]
1981 John Ward Eagle chassis [5]
1982 PenskePC10.jpg Geoff Ferris Penske PC-10 chassis [18]
1983 Audi quattro AWD system.jpeg Vernon Gleasman Gleason-Torsen differential [c] [19]
1984 Robin Herd (Apr 1971 Barcelona).JPG Robin Herd March 84C chassis [d] [20]
1985 BuickV6Indycarengine.jpg Ron Kociba Buick V6 Turbo engine [21]
Joe Negri
1986 Mario Illien.jpg Mario Illien Ilmor-Chevrolet V8 engine [22]
1987 Stuart Grant Goodyear Racing radial tire [23]
1988 John Lindo Tilton Carbon-Carbon clutch [e] [24]
Ray Sorce
1989 Anthony Purnell Intelligent dashboard [25]
1990 Luciano AguirreBeadall racing helmet [26]
Tim Halsmer
Mike Held
BillSimpsonAt2015indy500.JPG Bill Simpson
1991 TruesportsChassis1991.jpg Don Halliday Truesports 91C chassis [6]
1992 Indy500winningcar1992.JPG Alan Mertens Galmer 9200 chassis [27]
1993 Penske PC-22 Emerson Fittipaldi 1993.jpg Nigel Bennett Penske PC22 chassis [28]
1994 Illien McCoy (Cropped).jpg Mario Illien Mercedes-Benz 500I engine [4]
1995 Chris Munroe Tire monitoring system [29]
Don Nowicki
1996 Ed RothrockRacing EyeCue [30]
Dave Schnelker
I-Fu Shih
Ning Wu
1997 Roger Allen Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engine [31]
Ed Keating
1998 John MelvinGM Motorsports Safety Technology Research Program [f] [32]
John Pierce
1999 Gian Paolo Dallara.jpg Giampaolo Dallara Dallara chassis [33]
2000 USNGPanozIndy.jpg Paul Burgess G-Force GF05 chassis [34]
2001 2017 Freedom 100 - Santiago Urrutia helmet.jpg Robert Hubbard HANS device [g] [36]
Jim Downing
2002 Milwaukee-Mile Aug2009 wall.jpg Ronald Faller SAFER barrier [h] [38]
Jim Holloway
John Reid
John Rohde
Dean Sicking
2003 2016 Mille Miglia, Parma - Gian Paolo Dallara (cropped).jpg Giampaolo Dallara Dallara IR3 chassis [i] [40]
2004 Steve Eriksen Honda HI4R-A engine [j] [42]
Steve Miller
Steve O'Connor
Yasuhide Sakamoto
2005 Erskine Carter Delphi Earpiece sensor system [k] [44]
Glen Gray
Andy Inman
Tim Kronenberg
Bruce Natvig
2006 Thomas German Rear wing adjuster tool [45]
Justin Horning
Tom Janiczek
2007 Erskine Carter Delphi Accident data recorder 3 [l] [47]
Glen Gray
Andy Inman
Tim Kronenberg
Bruce Natvig
2008 Nick Belonogoff Variable ratio rack and pinion steering technology [48]
Andrew Heathershaw
Andrea Toso
Soungjin Wou
2009 Jeff HortonHead and neck support extension [49]
2010 Charles BecnelMezzo microChannel radiator [50]
Tino Belli
Patrick Luke
Christophe Marques
2011 Robert BellHonda refueling safety interlock system [51]
James Goodloe
Roger Griffiths
Marcelo Martinelli
2012 Steve O'Connor Chevrolet IndyCar V6 Engine [m] [9]
Mark Kent
Steve Miller
Matt Wiles
2013 Dale HarrigleFirestone Firehawk Indy 500 Race Tire [53]
Brett Schilling
2014 Dallara Simulator.JPG Andrea TosoDallara Advanced Driving Simulator [54]
2015 Scott Dixon car - 2015 Indianapolis 500 - Stierch.jpg Chris Berube2015 Chevrolet Aero Kit [55]
Mark Kent
Aaron Melvin
Charles Ping
2016 Tino BelliRear Beam Wing Flap [56]
Aaron Melvin
Alex Timmermans
2017 James BornerPFC Carbon Disc Brake System [13]
Don Burgoon
Darin Cate
Paul Rankin
Mark Wagner
2018 Tony Kanaan at speed 2018.jpg Chris Beatty Dallara DW12 UAK18 Universal Aero Kit [57]
Tino Belli
Antonio Montanari
Andrea Toso
2019 Cara AdamsFirestone Firehawk Indy 500 race tire [12]
Brett Schilling
Phil Severyn
2020 Tino BelliIndyCar Aeroscreen cockpit protection device [7]
Marco Bertolini
Ed Collings
Craig McCarthy
Antonio Montanari
Bill Pappas
Stefan Seidel
Brent Wright
2021 Terry TrammellBiomedical engineering for driver safety [58]
2022 Luca De AngelisEM Marshalling System [59]
Luca Pierrettori
Taylor Prohaska
Simone Pusca
2023 Selda Gunsel Shell 100% Renewable Race Fuel [60]
Bassem Kheireddin
Jung Fang
2024 Andrew McDougall Xtrac Electric Servo Actuator [10]
2025 Rupert Tull de SalisINDYCAR Hybrid Power Unit [14]
Matt Niles
John Martin
Raoul Fernandes
Darren Sansum
Thomas Williams

Statistics

Multiple winners
NameWins
Tino Belli4
Andrea Toso3
Erskine Carter2
Giampaolo Dallara 2
Geoff Ferris 2
Glen Gray2
Dan Gurney 2
Mario Illien 2
Andy Inman2
Mark Kent2
Tim Kronenberg2
Aaron Melvin2
Steve Miller2
Antonio Montanari2
Bruce Natvig2
Steve O'Connor2
Brett Schilling2
Roman Slobodynskyj2

See also

Notes

  1. The cash prize was $1,000 but was later increased to $5,000. [5] [6]
  2. Finalists for the 1978 award were the American Kid Racer, the Chaparral Lola, the McCord Auto Finley, and the Gould Penske cars. [16]
  3. Other nominees for the 1983 award were the Argo, the March 83C, the 1983 Eagle, the Lola T700, the Penske PC-11, and the Wildcat IX cars. [19]
  4. The three finalists for the 1984 accolade were the March, the Lola, and the DSR1 cars. [20]
  5. Other finalists for the 1988 award were the Penske chassis, the Porsche IndyCar engine and the safety foot box design. [24]
  6. The 1998 nominees were the Delphi Delco Electronics Track Condition Radio, the Emco gearbox and the Riley & Scott chassis. [4]
  7. Announced nominees were the 2001 Dallara chassis, the 2001 G-Force chassis, the Infiniti engine and the IRL timing and scoring system. [35]
  8. The announced candidates were the Chevrolet Indy V8 engine, the Dallara 2002 chassis update kit, Delphi Accelerometers, and the Infiniti Indy 35A/E engine. [37]
  9. The Panoz G-Force GF09 chassis, the Honda H13R engine and the Toyota Indy V8 engine were nominated for the 2003 award. [39]
  10. The Dallara IR4 chassis, the 2004 Delphi IndyCar Safety Truck, the Chevrolet Indy V8 engine and the Panoz G-Force GF09B chassis earned nominations for the 2004 accolade. [41]
  11. The Panoz Chassis Update Kit, the Chevrolet IRL engine, the Honda IRL engine and the Team Penske Rear Wing Adjustment System were announced as nominees for the award. [43]
  12. The nominees for the award were Ethanol racing fuel, the Honda H17R Engine, and the Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Tire. [46]
  13. The BorgWarner turbochargers, the Dallara DW12 chassis, the Honda HI12R V6 engine, Lotus Indy V6 engine and the Xtrac transmission were announced as nominees for the 2012 award. [52]

References

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