2013-02-06 14:02:20 -
Southfield, Michigan, February 6, 2013.Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML)
and John Force Racing, Inc. (JFR) today announced a technology partnership for
the development and testing of next-generation performance spark plugs on
nitromethane-fueled drag racing engines and other demanding applications. One of
the most successful professional drag racing teams, JFR will campaign one Top
Fuel Dragster and three Fuel Funny Cars in the 2013 NHRA(®) Mello Yello Drag
Racing Series. Each of the team's engines will be powered by Champion(®) spark
plugs.
"Even the most sophisticated computer-based simulations and other advanced
engineering tools can't begin to match the operating environment of a
nearly
8,000-horsepower Top Fuel Dragster or Funny Car engine," said Mark McMurray,
bearings and ignition technical specialist, Federal-Mogul Powertrain. "This new
relationship will enable us to develop and test a variety of next-generation
spark plug technologies to operate in very challenging environments."
JFR, like many leading professional drag racing teams, has used Champion racing
plugs for more than 10 years. "Champion has been the gold standard in racing
plug technology for nearly half a century, and Federal-Mogul continually
develops new ways to help teams push their engines to the very edge," said Mike
Neff, crew chief for John Force's Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car. "We're
excited to work even more closely with Federal-Mogul engineers to help Fuel
teams break new performance barriers."
Few applications match the demands of a Top Fuel engine, where each spark plug
must direct nearly 60,000 volts and 1 amp of power into the combustion chamber
to ignite the nitromethane charge. Simply surviving the 4-second run down the
track is challenging in terms of plug design given the extreme temperatures,
combustion pressures and intense vibration associated with a Top Fuel or Fuel
Funny Car engine.
"There is a very narrow window in which a spark plug can survive and properly
perform in a Top Fuel engine," McMurray said. "In fact, if the team just barely
misses in the engine tune, they can burn the plugs all the way back to the
threads."
In addition to Force's Castrol GTX Funny Car, JFR will campaign the Auto Club of
Southern California Ford Mustang Funny Car, driven by Robert Hight; Courtney
Force's Traxxas Funny Car; and the new Castrol EDGE Top Fuel Dragster, driven by
Brittany Force.
For more information regarding Champion spark plugs and other ignition products
for the original equipment marketplace, please visit www.federalmogul.com. To
learn more about Champion spark plugs for the replacement parts and service
market, please visit your Champion dealer or visit www.AlwaysaChampion.com. To
identify the right Champion plug for any engine, simply use the www.FMe-cat.com
electronic catalog. Federal-Mogul also offers a convenient Web catalog of lawn-
and-garden, ATV, snowmobile and other small-engine applications at
www.GetChampion.mobi. This eCat is optimized for mobile devices.
About Federal-Mogul
Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) is a leading global supplier of
products and services to the world's manufacturers and servicers of vehicles and
equipment in the automotive, light, medium and heavy-duty commercial, marine,
rail, aerospace, power generation and industrial markets. The company's products
and services enable improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced
vehicle safety.
Federal-Mogul operates two independent business segments, each with a chief
executive officer reporting to Federal-Mogul's Board of Directors. Federal-
Mogul's Powertrain Segment designs and manufactures original equipment
powertrain components and systems protection products for automotive, heavy-
duty, industrial and transport applications. Federal-Mogul's Vehicle Component
Solutions Segment sells and distributes a broad portfolio of products through
more than 20 of the world's most recognized brands in the global vehicle
aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with
products including braking, chassis, wipers and other vehicle components. The
company's aftermarket brands include ANCO(®) wiper blades; Champion(®) spark
plugs, wipers and filters; AE(®), Fel-Pro(®), FP Diesel(®) Goetze(®), Glyco(®),
Nüral(®), Payen(®) and Sealed Power(®) engine products; MOOG(®) steering and
suspension parts; and Ferodo(®) and Wagner(®) brake products.
Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899. The company employs 45,000 people
in 34 countries, and its worldwide headquarters is in Southfield, Michigan,
United States. For more information, please visit www.federalmogul.com.
# # #
CONTACT:
Drew Shippy (330) 688-3500
Jim Burke (248) 354-4530
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(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Federal-Mogul Corporation via Thomson Reuters ONE
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