UGS PLM Software Technology Fuels Championship Season for Andretti Green Racing and Driver Dario Franchitti

Andretti Green Racing's Dario Franchitti Wins the 2007 Indy Racing League(R) (IRL) IndyCar(R) Series Championship



PLANO, Texas, Sept. 14  /PRNewswire/ -- UGS PLM Software, a division of Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, today announced UGS PLM Software-sponsored racing team Andretti Green Racing (AGR) -- whose cars are developed with the help of UGS PLM Software technology -- won the 2007 Indy Racing League(R) (IRL) IndyCar(R) Series Championship.  AGR driver Dario Franchitti became only the third driver in IndyCar Series history to capture the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series championship in the same season.

Franchitti clinched the championship for AGR as he drove the Canadian Club car to victory at the PEAK Antifreeze IndyCar 300 presented by Mr. Clean at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday. This was Franchitti's fourth victory of the 2007 season and his first career championship.

AGR has now won three of the last four IndyCar Series championships with three different drivers, Tony Kanaan in 2004; Dan Wheldon in 2005; and Franchitti in 2007.  The victory was AGR's ninth win in 17 races of the 2007 season and it extended AGR's IndyCar Series record to 32 victories.

"Bringing the championship back to AGR is proof of our relentless pursuit of excellence and our ability to work together effectively as a team, and UGS PLM Software is an important member of our winning team," said Michael Andretti, CEO, Andretti Green Racing.  "IRL is a very competitive league and bringing home the championship for the third time in four years is a great accomplishment.  We rely on UGS PLM Software technology to help us fine tune our competitive edge and stay ahead of the competition."

"UGS PLM Software congratulates Andretti Green Racing and Dario Franchitti on winning the 2007 IRL Championship," said Dave Shirk, executive vice president of Global Marketing for UGS PLM Software.  "We are proud of our racing heritage and pleased that our technology is helping bring home championships.  The fact that UGS PLM Software sponsored race teams continue to win big is proof that our PLM technology is the best on the race track. UGS PLM Software is helping our race teams win the same way we help our customers win, by providing the best PLM technology in the market."

Andretti Green Racing uses UGS NX(TM) digital product development software for all of the design and development work the company performs on its fleet of eight race cars.  Although IRL rules limit the modifications a team can make to the car body and engine, engineers still have quite a bit of leeway in other areas such as the suspension.  Fine-tuning these areas often means designing and fabricating new parts in the brief interval between races.

A Tradition of Technology and Tracks

UGS PLM Software has a long tradition providing UGS NX(TM) software, UGS' comprehensive digital product development solution, and UGS Teamcenter(TM) software, UGS' digital lifecycle management solution and the world's most widely used PLM portfolio, through racing sponsorships.  Hendrick Motorsports, winner of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship; Joe Gibbs Racing, winner of the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship; Roush Fenway Racing, winner of the 2003 and 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Championship; and Andretti Green Racing, winner of the 2004, 2005 and 2007 Indy Racing League(R) (IRL) IndyCar(R) Series Championship; have been using UGS PLM Software for several years to help develop their cars and improve their performance on the race track.  KB Racing, winner of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Pro Stock Championship for four straight years, began using UGS PLM Software technology in 2005, and the Renault F1 Team, winner of the 2005 Formula One Drivers and Constructors Championships, established a partnership in 2004 using UGS Tecnomatix(TM) software, UGS PLM Software's best-in-class digital manufacturing solution.

About UGS PLM Software

UGS PLM Software, a division of Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D), is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with 4.3 million licensed seats and 47,000 customers worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, UGS PLM Software's open enterprise solutions enable a world where organizations and their partners collaborate through global innovation networks to deliver world-class products and services.  For more information on UGS PLM Software products and services, visit http://www.siemens.com/ugs.

About Siemens Automation and Drives

The Siemens Automation and Drives Group (A&D), Nuremberg, Germany, is the leading manufacturer in this field worldwide. Products supplied by A&D include standard products for the manufacturing and process industries and for the electrical installation industry as well as system solutions, for example for machine tools, and solutions for whole industries such as the automation of entire automobile factories or chemical plants. Supplementing this range of products and services, A&D also offers software for linking production and management (horizontal and vertical IT integration) and for optimizing production processes. A&D employs 70,600 people worldwide and in fiscal year 2006 (to September 30) earned a group profit of euro 1.572 billion on sales of euro 12.848 billion and orders of euro 14.108 billion, according to U.S. GAAP. Further information about A&D is available in the Internet at http://www.siemens.com/automation.

Note:  Siemens and the Siemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens AG.  UGS, UGS NX, UGS Teamcenter and UGS Tecnomatix are trademarks or registered trademarks of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. Indy Racing League, IRL, Indy 500 and IndyCar are trademarks or registered marks of Brickyard Trademarks Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.  NASCAR is a trademark or registered mark of National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders. 

DATASOURCE: UGS PLM Software



CONTACT:  Salim Rahimi for UGS PLM Software, [phone],

 



Web site:  http://www.siemens.com/ugs

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