SOLAR CAR RACE : TEXAS TO CANADA

Winning Car From University Of Michigan Wins For 5th Time

Calgary- The long 2008 North American Solar Car Race is now officially over, and all 15 solar car teams finished the 3,862-kilometre race in fine style.

The winning vehicle was the entry from the University of Michigan, which crossed the finish line in first place for the fifth time, about nine hours in advance of the second place finisher.

The Midnight Sun team from the Canadian University of Waterloo crossed the finish line in second place but likely will wind up in 4th place once different time and delay penalties are assessed.

Of the 25 cars that began the race in Plano, Texas only 15 made it to the finish line.

There were a total of 25 cars that entered the North American Solar Car 2008 race, and entrants were from Canada, the United States and Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The cars averaged between 80 and 100 km/hour and the car from the University of Michigan actually got a 20-minute penalty for speeding.

The Solar car race was sponsored by Toyota to encourage research and production of renewable energy vehicles, and to provide hands on experience in environmentally friendly vehicles for university and college students.