Team Contact:
Michele Gittleman
412-268-6556
michgitt@cmu.edu

September 29, 2005

Fontana, CA: Sandstorm ran a 2.2 mile qualifying course that might earn it a starting spot in a driverless desert race for a $2M prize. Sandstorm planned an elapsed time of 9:58 and ran in 9:47.

The trials certify basic skills on turf and asphalt, but without the physical challenges and high speeds of desert trail-running that will matter on race day. There are a hundred cones, many obstacles and several gates on the qualifier course.

Today's trial is Sandstorm's debut for the 2005 Grand Challenge season. Sandstorm tipped a few cones and edged over a few hay bales. The time was respectable, but the driving was a little rough.

Forty-three teams are competing in the National Qualifying Event for twenty starting positions in the DARPA Grand Challenge, which is a 175 mile desert race starting and ending in Primm, NV on October 8.

11 of the 43 contenders have already succeeded to some degree in these trials, but there's much more to come. One day into a week of qualifiers, the field is performing impressively and gaining strength.

For more information about the Red Team visit: www.redteamracing.org