Chip Ganassi racing installs solar lights

Sol solar lightsThe auto racing industry doesn’t generally standout for its sustainability. But some racers and race organizers are looking at solar options for building a more sustainable business. Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, a well-known owner with teams in the IZOD IndyCar Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Daytona Prototype and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, partnered with Sol, a Florida solar lighting company. Sol recently installed solar and grid-tied LED lights in the parking lots of two Ganassi locations in Indianapolis and Concord, NC.

The racing industry has been under quite a bit of pressure to become more sustainable,” said Paul Wickberg, Sol CEO. A lot of the sponsors in auto racing are trying to operate with sustainable and energy-conserving practices, which makes it important for those in the race industry to take strides toward greener practices, Wickberg said. “That’s where the technology of solar lighting comes in,” he said. Ganassi management got in touch with Sol to see what the options might be.

Sol was able to install new lighting at the two facilities that will enhance the look of the facilities, Wickberg said. He installed a combination of grid-tied and stand-alone solar LED lights. Together, the lights will reduce the cost of Ganassi’s outdoor lighting by 80 percent, Wickberg said. The solar lights won’t use any electricity at all and the grid-tied lights are  significantly more efficient than the low-pressure sodium light bulbs the company was using. Those bulbs also had to be changed out regularly. The LED lights will last much longer, Wickberg said. Not only do the lights save power, they also look god, Wickberg said.

“It improves the light distribution in the parking lot,” he said. “The absolute light level with these can be lower, but the quality of the light goes up.” The new lighting is a major benefit to the racing team. It stands out and anyone who pulls into the parking lot will notice that it’s solar, Wickberg said.

"We are always looking for opportunities to push the envelope on environmental efforts and this partnership with Sol does just that," Steve Lauletta, President of Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, said in a statement.