CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rahal Letterman Racing's Buddy Rice, sponsored in part by The Timken Company, captured the checkered flag yesterday to post his third Indy Racing League (IRL) win of 2004 at the Michigan Indy 400.
Starting in the sixth position, Rice moved to the lead in lap 190 of the 200-lap race, where he fought challenger Tony Kanaan, winning by just 0.079 seconds. Rice, who won at Indianapolis and Kansas earlier this year, currently ranks second to point leader Tony Kanaan with six races remaining.
Timken has been an associate and technical sponsor of Rahal Letterman Racing since 1998, helping to push the performance envelope by using advanced technologies that include engineered surfaces, rolling element bearing design and high-strength steel alloys.
"We understand the demands placed on bearings, gears, and engine components and welcome the challenge by our partners to continue to make performance improvements," said Salvatore J. Miraglia, senior vice president - technology. "Timken continues to expand its capabilities to meet the needs of a wide range of customers, whether it's on the race track, in the air or in an industrial application."
To maximize the performance of the gearbox and reduce power losses, Timken(R) engineered surfaces were used in numerous applications, including the drop gears, change gears, ring gear and pinion gear. These modifications led to an estimated three-to-five horsepower (HP) reduction in power losses in the gearbox, which translates into more than a five percent increase in mpg.
"Saving fuel was a big concern," said Rice. "I knew we had a good car, so I saved fuel by drafting off other cars. I was being patient and today it was the last 10 laps that counted. I made my first IRL start here in 2002 and that makes today really special."
Rahal-Letterman Racing ( http://www.rahal.com ) is now in its second decade as one of the leading open-wheel racing teams in North America. Based in Hilliard, Ohio, the team is co-owned by three-time CART champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and CBS "LATE SHOW" host David Letterman. Currently, the team campaigns cars in the Indy Racing Leagues' IndyCar(R) Series and Toyota Atlantic Championship.
The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR, www.timken.com) is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered bearings and alloy steels and a provider of related products and services with operations in 29 countries. The company recorded 2003 sales of $3.8 billion and employed approximately 26,000 at year-end.
For Additional Information:
Jason H. Saragian, Communications Manager, (330) 471-3514,
Or visit http://www.timken.com/media
SOURCE The Timken Company