NASCAR Team Turns to Microsoft High-Performance Computing to Increase Competitive Edge Before Races

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Chip Ganassi Racing uses computer simulation software to help its NASCAR team determine optimal starting configurations for its cars before each race. With the solution, the team increases its competitive edge by running simulations approximately 38 times as fast as before, providing enough time to run multiple simulations before each race.

"With Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, we were able to easily put a solution in place that helps our teams better prepare for race day," said Mark Paxton, research and development engineering manager for the NASCAR team at Chip Ganassi Racing. "With simulation times reduced from 24 hours to about 30 minutes, we now can run multiple simulations for each race and better tune the situations for each car, track and set of track conditions. Faster simulation times give our car teams more time to rerun simulations if issues arise at the track or expected race-day conditions change."

Since its founding as a one-car IndyCar team 18 years ago, Chip Ganassi Racing, based inConcord, N.C., has grown into a highly competitive racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nextel Cup, NASCAR Nationwide, Indy Racing League, Indy Pro and Rolex Grand-AM series. The team has used simulation software for several years, but its usefulness has been limited by the massive computing power required.

Chip Ganassi Racing worked with Microsoft and Stackpole Engineering Services Inc., its simulation software vendor, to modify the software to run on Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003. Whereas it previously took the team 24 hours to run a simulation, Chip Ganassi Racing can now run a simulation in less than an hour by using a five-node, HPC cluster. By taking advantage of HPC, Chip Ganassi Racing can run simulations faster and more often, enabling the team to optimize race car performance and ultimately be more competitive at the track.

Chip Ganassi Racing can identify optimal starting configurations by using the technology to model track characteristics, expected race-day conditions such as temperature, and how performance under those scenarios is affected by wheel camber, tire pressure, spring rates and other variables that affect suspension geometry.

"We're all about making cars go faster, not building fancy computer systems," Paxton said. "At first, I thought HPC was only for big companies that can afford multimillion-dollar supercomputers. After we realized that HPC was accessible and affordable, we saw the potential competitive advantage it would bring. My only concerns were that the solution be easy to use and easy to manage, and that we could easily modify the application. Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 enabled us to meet all three requirements."

"Typical HPC solutions can be costly and complex, but we have designed Windows-based HPC solutions to be cost-effective and easy to deploy, use and manage," said David Graff, U.S. automotive industry solutions director at Microsoft. "Microsoft is making long-term investments in HPC to help automotive and other manufacturing customers create innovative solutions that accelerate insights and ultimately drive business success."

About Microsoft in Automotive

Microsoft has been working with the automotive industry for more than a decade. In manufacturing, the Microsoft Automotive and Industrial Equipment vertical works with industry-leading partners to develop solutions based on Microsoft technologies that enable OEMs, suppliers and customers to improve efficiency, effectiveness and knowledge across the business. Through business applications, Microsoft .NET Framework technologies and enterprise platform support, manufacturers are able to accelerate time to market, collaborate globally with engineers, reduce costs by leveraging the power of the Internet, and increase visibility into their production and supply chain processes. More information can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/automotive.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

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