Louis Schwitzer Award
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The Louis Schwitzer Award (also called the Louis H. Schwitzer Award for Engineering Innovation and Excellence)[1] is presented by the Indiana Section of SAE International to an engineer or team of engineers "for their innovative design and engineering excellence" and acknowledges "engineers with the courage and conviction to explore and develop new concepts in racing technology" in racing vehicles for the Indianapolis 500.[2] The accolade also distinguishes engineers who were most responsible for designing and developing the winning concept to comply to IndyCar Series technical regulations, and awards "functional and recent permutations" that improve energy efficiency, performance or safety in chassis, drive train profiles by "emphasizing competitive potential along with future automotive industry possibilities."[2] Although the award specifically recognizes new concepts, experimental ideas arising from previous winners are considered if the development in engineering improves it.[2]
It was established at the 1967 event and renamed after automotive engineer, inventor and former chairman of SAE International's Indiana Section Louis Schwitzer by SAE before the 1978 race. Schwitzer also won the first automobile race to be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909.[3] Each year before the Indianapolis 500, an Indiana Section SAE International members committee meet with IndyCar Series technical officials to identify potential candidates.[1] The committee interviews candidates and votes to determine the winner.[4] The Indiana Section of SAE International provides $10,000 prize money to the recipient or team,Template:Efn who receive a plaque and have their names added to a permanent trophy on display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.[5] The presentation of the award is made annually at Indianapolis Motor Speedway before the Indianapolis 500.[6][7] It is currently sponsored by Cummins and Valvoline.[8]
During the 58 years the award has been presented, there have been a total of 116 recipients.[5][9] The inaugural winner was Andy Granatelli, who developed the gas-turbine run STP-Paxton Turbocar for the 1967 event.[3][4] The award has been presented for two concepts in a single year just once: in 1977, to Bob Bubenik and Bruce Crower for developing the automatic clutch and flat-eight engine, respectively. Two years later, John Barnard and Jim Hall were the first team to be recognized for designing the Chaparral 2K chassis for that year's Indianapolis 500.[4][9] Since then, another 25 teams have been recognized.[9] Firestone tire engineer Cara Adams became the first female recipient in the 2019 edition.[10] The award has been presented posthumously once, to Don Burgoon in the 2017 race.[11] The most recent honorees were engineers Raoul Fernandes, John Martin, Matt Niles, Darren Sansum, Rupert Tull de Salis and Thomas Williams in the 2025 event; they were recognized for their work on the IndyCar Hybrid Power Unit.[12]
Recipients
| Template:Dagger | Indicates posthumous award |
|---|
| Year | Image | Winner(s) | Concept | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Andy Grantelli on a mobility scooter in the pit lane of a race track | Script error: No such module "Sort". | STP-Paxton Turbocar | [4] |
| 1968 | Dan Gurney in racing overalls smiling at the camera | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Low cost racing engine | |
| 1969 | Colin Chapman in a black and white photograph sporting a mustache and looking to the left of the camera | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Lotus Type 64 | |
| 1970 | Bruce McLaren in racing overalls looking slightly to the right of the camera | Script error: No such module "Sort". | McLaren M15 | |
| 1971 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | McNamara chassis | |
| 1972 | Dan Gurney in a black and white photograph wearing racing overalls | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Eagle chassis | |
| 1973 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Stock block engine | |
| 1974 | A. J. Foyt at the 2015 Indianapolis 500 looking to the right of the camera | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Coyote chassis | |
| 1975 | Parnelli Jones at the 2015 Indianapolis 500 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Parnelli VP6J chassis | |
| 1976 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Lightning chassis | |
| 1977 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Automatic clutch | |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Flat-eight engine | [13] | |
| 1978 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Laydown Lightning chassisTemplate:Efn | [14] |
| 1979 | John Barnard wearing a light blue striped shirt and a navy blue and beige tie | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Chaparral 2K chassis | [4] |
| Jim Hall wearing rectangular glasses and a baby blue T-shirt with the top button undone | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1980 | The Penske PC-9 on display in the Collings Foundation | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Penske PC-9 chassis | [15] |
| 1981 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Eagle chassis | [16] |
| 1982 | The side view of a blue, red and white racing car with the number 1 in white on its side being driven on a race track | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Penske PC-10 chassis | [17] |
| 1983 | The Torsen differential taken from a road car | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Gleason-Torsen differentialTemplate:Efn | [18] |
| 1984 | A black and white photograph of Robin Herd looking at the right of the camera | Script error: No such module "Sort". | March 84C chassisTemplate:Efn | [19] |
| 1985 | BuickV6Indycarengine | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Buick V6 Turbo engine | [20] |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| 1986 | Mario Illien sitting on a chair and talking to the press at a press conference | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Ilmor-Chevrolet V8 engine | [21] |
| 1987 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Goodyear Racing radial tire | [22] |
| 1988 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tilton Carbon-Carbon clutchTemplate:Efn | [23] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1989 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Intelligent dashboard | [24] |
| 1990 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Beadall racing helmet | [25] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| Bill Simpson signing an autograph on a table | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1991 | A red racing car adorned with sponsors logos and the number 11 in white on the front wing is primarily stationary in the shade and partially in sunlight | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Truesports 91C chassis | [26] |
| 1992 | A black and white racing car adorned with sponsors logos and the number 3 in black on the front wing sitting in a museum | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Galmer 9200 chassis | [27] |
| 1993 | A red and white racing car with sponsors logos adorning it and the number 4 on the front wing sitting in a museum | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Penske PC22 chassis | [28] |
| 1994 | Mario Illien on the grid wearing white clothing and looking to his right | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Mercedes-Benz 500I engine | [4] |
| 1995 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Tire monitoring system | [29] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1996 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Racing EyeCue | [30] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1997 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Oldsmobile Aurora V8 engine | [31] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1998 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | GM Motorsports Safety Technology Research ProgramTemplate:Efn | [32] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 1999 | Giampaolo Dallara speaking into a black microphone he is holding in his right hand with his left hand out | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Dallara chassis | [33] |
| 2000 | The G-Force GF05 car painted in navy blue, orange and white | Script error: No such module "Sort". | G-Force GF05 chassis | [34] |
| 2001 | A black carbon fibre HANS device attached to the back of a racing helmet on a helmet anchor | Script error: No such module "Sort". | HANS deviceTemplate:Efn | [35] |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| 2002 | A white-colored SAFER barrier retrofitted in front of a concrete wall | Script error: No such module "Sort". | SAFER barrierTemplate:Efn | [36] |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
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| 2003 | Giampaolo Dallara wearing a Tan blazer, white buttoned-up shirt and an orange tie | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Dallara IR3 chassisTemplate:Efn | [37] |
| 2004 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Honda HI4R-A engineTemplate:Efn | [38] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2005 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Delphi Earpiece sensor systemTemplate:Efn | [39] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
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| 2006 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Rear wing adjuster tool | [40] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2007 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Delphi Accident data recorder 3Template:Efn | [41] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2008 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Variable ratio rack and pinion steering technology | [42] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2009 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Head and neck support extension | [43] |
| 2010 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Mezzo microChannel radiator | [44] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2011 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Honda refueling safety interlock system | [45] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2012 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Chevrolet IndyCar V6 EngineTemplate:Efn | [7] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2013 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 Race Tire | [46] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2014 | The Dallara Advance Driving Simulator inside a building | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Dallara Advanced Driving Simulator | [47] |
| 2015 | A red racing car adorned with sponsors logos on pit road is being pushed back into the garage | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2015 Chevrolet Aero Kit | [48] |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| 2016 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Rear Beam Wing Flap | [49] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2017 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | PFC Carbon Disc Brake System | [11] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". Template:Dagger | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2018 | A red, white and blue racing car being driven at high speed on an oval race track | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Dallara DW12 UAK18 Universal Aero Kit | [50] |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | ||||
| 2019 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 race tire | [10] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2020 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | IndyCar Aeroscreen cockpit protection device | [5] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2021 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Biomedical engineering for driver safety | [51] |
| 2022 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | EM Marshalling System | [52] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2023 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Shell 100% Renewable Race Fuel | [53] |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| 2024 | – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | Xtrac Electric Servo Actuator | [8] |
| 2025 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | INDYCAR Hybrid Power Unit | [12] | |
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". | |||
| – | Script error: No such module "Sort". |
Statistics
| Name | Wins |
|---|---|
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
See also
Notes
References
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- ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
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Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Louis Schwitzer Award winners from Indianapolis Motor Speedway
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