Team PrISUm still running a strong race to the American Solar Challenge

Team PrISUm's Hyperion chases the University of Michigan's solar race car. Larger photo. Photo by American Solar Challenge.

AMES, Iowa – Team PrISUm is cruising at the Formula Sun Grand Prix.

On Tuesday, day two of the three-day qualifying race for the cross-country American Solar Challenge, Iowa State’s solar car team turned another 146 laps around the Monticello Motor Club in New York.

That meant there were no electrical problems. No mechanical issues. The only real problem was a blown tire that team members quickly changed at the side of the track.

Things went so well, in fact, the team’s John O’Grady had time to help the University of Kentucky’s team weld new suspension pieces. The Iowa Staters even used a late-night tweet to offer assistance to other teams: “8 teams currently qualified for ASC 2012. Hoping to get a few more tomorrow. Hey teams, let us know if you need a hand with anything.”

“It was another good day for us,” said Evan Stumpges, Team PrISUm’s project director and a May graduate in mechanical engineering. “We hope to have the same tomorrow. The car is holding up well.”

So far, Hyperion, Iowa State’s 11th solar race car, has turned 271 laps. That’s second to the University of Michigan’s 303 laps.

The track racing will determine the starting positions for the eight-day, eight state, 1,650-mile American Solar Challenge from Rochester, N.Y., to St. Paul, Minn. That race begins on Saturday.

Stumpges said the Michigan team, winner of the past four races across America, is beginning to notice the team from Ames.

Yes, Stumpges said. “We were neck and neck with Michigan a good part of the day.”