NASCAR and IndyCar racing are exceptionally popular and extremely dangerous. This highest level of racing in the world demands the highest level of safety. The racing industry's dedication, passion and drive in developing the most sophisticated technology to keep drivers and crews safe are unparalleled.
Team Penske, the single most successful and influential icon in this sport, values the safety of their drivers and crews beyond compare. Shoes For Crews also has shown unrivaled drive and dedication in developing innovative safety technology, making SFC the global leader in slip-resistant footwear. In turn, the partnership between Team Penske and SFC was a natural fit, resulting in Team Penske selecting SFC as "The Official Work Shoe of Team Penske."
Like the fast-paced world of racing, many workplaces are full of hazards and danger. It only takes a fraction of a second to win a race or encounter a life-changing injury on the job.
Join Team Penske and Shoes For Crews in the Winner's Circle. Get a grip with a pair of Shoes For Crews, The Official Work Shoe of Team Penske, today!
There's a race going on at the race track each weekend, but there is also a constant research and development race going on behind-the-scenes at Penske Technology Group's (PTG) wind tunnel and 7-post vehicle dynamics rig. Here's a closer look at how Shoes For Crews® (SFC) footwear helped PTG crew members combat slippery conditions on-the-job.
BACKGROUND
Team Penske's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship, can be attributed to their car preparation. PTG provides track simulation support to the race team via a servo-hydraulic 7-post rig and wind tunnel. Prior to a race, this technology and equipment allows the race team to simulate the #2 MillerLite Ford going around the race track.
No matter how clean and meticulous the crew was maintaining and servicing the 7-post rig's hydraulic equipment, a large concern was always about the slippery reaction mass surface that the aero-loaders are attached to and react against. It was like “trying to connect up the aero-loaders to the Cup car while wearing rolling skates,” says PTG General Manager, John Moloney.
PTG team members were also struggling for traction when working in the test section of their rolling road wind tunnel used for stock car and IndyCar vehicle aerodynamic testing. PTG has been conducting special development testing, which requires a slick silicon spray on their rolling road belt. As a result, slippery conditions surfaced around the rolling road and became problematic for the PTG crew — they worked slower and with more caution.
THE WINNING SOLUTION
PTG's test technician admits that his group was a bit skeptical about SFC improving their onsite work conditions. He and the other technicians were concerned about the grip, comfort, look and durability of the shoes. Nonetheless they initiated a shoe program in January 2012, and everyone is satisfied with results to date. “To use a wind tunnel term, I can say that we were blown away and impressed with all aspects of the SFC shoes. Primarily, the traction was the first big surprise and improvement!”
As Team Penske strives for perfection, in terms of winning races, safety, simulation and productivity, SFC plays a key role in keeping their team members safe, secure, comfortable and fast: “It is safe to say that the 'SFC effect' doubled our productivity, allowing us to resume the fast pace that we were used to prior to the silicon spray application (+dust) in the wind tunnel,” says Moloney.
Images used under license from
Penske Racing South, Inc.
Challenge
A slick silicon spray used on a rolling road belt created slippery work conditions for PTG crew members.
Solution
PTG replaced crew members' footwear (leather name-brand and hard-plastic sole crosstrainers) with SFC slipresistant footwear.
Results
Productivity doubled which allowed crew members to resume their fast pace prior to the silicon spray application.
