Siemens PLM Software Technology Speeds Hendrick Motorsports and Driver Jimmie Johnson to a Record Fifth Consecutive NASCAR Championship

PLANO, Texas – Siemens PLM Software today announced Jimmie Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports – whose cars are developed with the help of Siemens PLM Software technology – won the 2010 NASCAR® Sprint Cup championship for the fifth straight year.

Siemens PLM Software-sponsored races teams have now won 11 straight NASCAR Sprint Cup championships, including every championship this century. For Hendrick Motorsports this was a record tenth Sprint Cup owner championship, the most in NASCAR.

Hendrick Motorsports leverages NX™ software, Siemens PLM Software’s comprehensive digital product development solution, to design and optimize performance of their race cars. The design, analysis and simulation tools in NX allow Hendrick Motorsports engineers to virtually build and test parts that will maximize horsepower and performance on the track each weekend.

“Hendrick Motorsports uses Siemens PLM Software technology to stay at the forefront of competition,” said Jim Wall, Engineering Group Manager, Hendrick Motorsports. “When you’re racing 36 weeks a year you have to enhance performance on the fly. NX allows Hendrick Motorsports to move from the drawing board to production of parts for our fleet of engines and cars, often in hours, versus days and weeks as previously required.”

Siemens PLM Software’s Teamcenter® software, the world’s most widely used digital lifecycle management solution, helps Hendrick Motorsports manage the entire product lifecycle for their racing operations, helping to make sure that designs meet requirements, and to give anywhere, anytime access to information to their engineers and crews. Hendrick Motorsports also tracks every engine and car part and assembly that they build and race, from concept to end of life, helping to ensure that they are always a step ahead of the competition.

“Everything we do in engineering is about gaining a competitive advantage. When we can use Teamcenter to make better decisions at the track that translates into a competitive advantage," added Wall. "Having all of our product data readily available, even at the race track, enables us to not only produce vehicles more quickly but also to respond to, and solve, problems that occur during a race much faster. By doing so, we believe we improve race performance, reliability and durability − key elements to winning races.”

Johnson Makes NASCAR History

Johnson secured the championship in dramatic fashion during the final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, becoming the first driver in NASCAR history to win five consecutive championships. Johnson now has the most titles among active drivers. He now ranks third on the career list behind seven-time champions and Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.

“Winning a championship is a testament to the quality of our people and the tools they have access to,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “The technology Siemens PLM Software provides has a direct impact on performance, and that’s the name of the game in racing. We’re fortunate to have them on our team.”

“Siemens PLM Software congratulates Hendrick Motorsports and Jimmie Johnson on winning five consecutive championships, an accomplishment never seen before in NASCAR; we also congratulate all our sponsored race teams for an amazing run this past decade,” said Eric Sterling, senior vice president, Global Marketing, Siemens PLM Software. “Our sponsored race teams are proving on the track what our customers prove in the market on a daily basis, when the rubber meets the road Siemens PLM Software's technology dominates the competition. Siemens PLM Software’s mantra is to never let a customer fail and we strive to help every customer drive into victory lane, on the track or in the board room.”