Winners selected for 17th annual model car competition

(Watch video of the event — 38.5 MB .mpg file)

ARGONNE, Ill., (April 28, 2007) — A team from Roosevelt Middle School, River Forest, has advanced to the National Middle School Science Bowl after achieving the best overall performance in the 17th annual model car competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory CNH Case New Holland, the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Each of the 22 teams that participated was required to design and build a vehicle that would complete a 10-meter race in the shortest possible time. The cars included an electrical motor powered by a fuel cell, unaltered fuel cell, motor and battery-pack.

Roosevelt was selected as the winner based on results of the model car race and performance in an academic science bowl.

The National Middle School Science Bowl will be held June 21-24 in Denver.

The other top winners of the day were two teams from Daniel Wright Middle School who captured first place for their model care design and best working knowledge of the principles and considerations for using fuel cells to power model vehicles.

This year's winners in the competition include:

Best Design

1st - Daniel Wright Middle School - Lincolnshire

2nd - Roosevelt Middle School — River Forest

3rd - Crone Middle School - Naperville

Fastest Race Time

1st — Daniel Wright Middle School, vehicle #18, 6.57 seconds

2nd - Daniel Wright Middle School, vehicle #19, 8.53 seconds

3rd — Roosevelt Middle School, vehicle #22, 9.0 seconds

Other teams in the contest were:

• Alternative Transitional Academy, Skokie
• Byrne Elementary School, Chicago
• Cass Jr. High, Darien
• Elm Place School, Highland Park
• Lakeview Jr. High, Downers Grove
• St. John's Lutheran School, LaGrange
• Jerling Jr. High, Orland Park
• Yorkville Middle School, Yorkville

The company CNH Case New Holland is the power behind leading agricultural and construction equipment brands of the Case and New Holland brand families. Its Burr Ridge Operations is located at the northwest corner of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) and County Line Road in Burr Ridge. More information about CNH Case New Holland and its products can be found on line at www.cnh.com.

The Society of Automotive Engineers provides a forum for engineers involved in the design and production of all kinds of vehicles and their components. It also provides several student participation programs such as the Fuel Cell/Solar Car Competition and A World in Motion to cultivate engineering interest in younger members.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.