Andersen Walko Racing partnership announcement

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Feb. 20 - Andersen Walko Racing (AWR), one of the most successful formula car prep shops in North America, has become a dealer for Pi Research data acquisition products. 

AWR will use that company's systems in all three of its cars competing in the Formula Ford 2000 Zetec championship in 2004. Andrew Prendeville, Adam Pecorari and Mike Andersen are the drivers. 

Dan Abbale, Jonathan Klein and Chris Meredith drive for AWR in the Formula SCCA series. Scott Willard's Formula Continental car is prepped by AWR, as is Tim Dunn's Formula Ford. 

The team is currently installing Pi's new Delta Lite system with "X Sport" dashes and Toolbox Lite software into many of its cars. 

"We've had a long-term working relationship with members of AWR," explained Jason Knuteson, SCCA Club Racing sales manager for Pi Research, USA, which is based in Indianapolis. "AWR is one of our premier teams in SCCA Club Racing, and we're excited to have them on board. All of their team cars are on Pi systems." 

"We chose PiXpress because its new dash display is excellent and it offers a new 'qualifying mode,' which gives drivers instant feedback," said Andersen, who in addition to being one of the team's drivers is also its data acquisitions expert. 

"In addition to using Pi systems, we will carry their products and accessories for sale to other teams," added his father, team co-owner Dan Andersen. 

The new X Sport from PiXpress was developed directly from the steering wheel-mounted instrumentation used in the cockpits of Indy car and Formula 1 race cars. It allows drivers to see the data when they want to, and neatly replaces gauges or other bulkhead-mounted instrumentation in a small, lightweight package mounted directly on the steering wheel.

​Among the things it keeps track of are lap times and lap numbers completed; the driver's current lap position against the fastest lap of the day; real-time speed and RPMs; minimum corner and maximum straight speeds; gear numbers; and high-intensity gear changes in order to protect the engine. Logged data includes lap times, maximum speed and RPMs, and maximum and minimum sensor values for each lap. Data can be downloaded to a PC laptop to discuss in driver debriefings, hopefully resulting in better lines and faster speeds. 

For more information on Pi, see www.piXpress.com and www.piResearch.com. 
AWR has offices in Fairfield, N.J. while its race cars are housed in a shop in North Versailles, Pa. For more information call (973) 244-1900 and see the team's Web site at www.andersenwalko.com. 
-lm-