Solar car race heads to Topeka

Story by The Associated Press

11:48 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A cross-country car race isn't using a single drop of oil, and it's coming to Topeka today.

Right now, a group of about 20 solar-powered cars are in the middle of a cross-country race called the North America Solar Challenge.

The cars were created by teams from schools across the country.

The group includes pit crews, medics, business managers and alternate drivers.

The group left Dallas on Sunday, stopped in Oklahoma and will head into Topeka in this 2,400-mile long journey.

The finish line is July 22 in Calgary, Canada.

Drivers are required to obey state speed and traffic laws, and the one-person cars are followed by two vans that monitor them.

Cars spend about 30 minutes at each pit stop to change drivers and tires. Time penalties are assessed at the checkpoints for any rules or laws that were broken.


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