Innovations are born on the racetrack.

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In the automotive industry, it’s common knowledge that racing has long had a meaningful impact on technological breakthroughs. From safety to engines to simulation, the racetrack acts as an incubator—and the engineers who support the drivers help bring these exciting innovations to life.

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Taking his aerospace engineering degree down an unexpected path, Eric Cowdin has made innovations as a Race Engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing™. As a graduate student, Eric found his way to the Formula SAE team and was immediately put in charge of the wing program, tasked with looking into the aerodynamic forces that help the car move fast while sticking to the road—a new undertaking for the team at the time.

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As his time with Formula SAE progressed, Eric developed a passion for motorsports, eventually going on to become part of the team that won the Indianapolis 500 in 2013. We sat down with Eric to discuss his journey into motorsports, his passion for racing, and what the future holds for the racing industry.

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