Digital Prototyping Helps Auto Racing Team Optimize the Speed and Performance of Its Racecar

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia (Triple Eight Australia) has been named as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for January 2008. The Inventor of the Month program (http://www.autodesk.com/inventorofthemonth) recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made by the extensive community using Autodesk Inventor software, which provides the foundation for Digital Prototyping (http://www.autodesk.com/digitalprototyping).

The Australian branch of one of the world's most successful auto racing operations, Triple Eight Australia competes as Team Vodafone in Australia's highly competitive V8 Supercars race competition. Since winning the V8 Supercars championship is largely a matter of having the best car on the track, Triple Eight Australia designers use Autodesk Inventor software to experience and optimize the performance of the car before it reaches the track.

"We are often looking to improve the car's performance by hundredths of a second in a lap that lasts just one minute and 30 seconds," said Peter Jamieson, commercial manager for Triple Eight Australia. "When every single one-hundredth of a second counts, every part of the process can make a difference. The time that we spend on Autodesk Inventor at the workstation developing an efficient design is directly responsible for the ultimate performance of the car."

Inventor Professional allows Triple Eight Australia to produce complete digital prototypes of its racecars that validate the form, fit, and function of a design before it is built. These accurate 3D models enable the company to simulate how a design will work under real world conditions without having to expend time and resources on building a physical prototype. As a result, Triple Eight Australia is able to optimize the design and performance of every single car part, from the pedals to the pistons.

Triple Eight Australia's investments in Digital Prototyping have paid off, allowing the company to hone in on and improve specific areas of performance in its racecars. The results have been a series of increasingly impressive performances on the racetrack, including second place finishes in the V8 Supercars championship in each of the last three years.

"By effectively leveraging Inventor to create digital prototypes, Triple Eight Australia is turning the design process into a competitive advantage," said Robert "Buzz" Kross, senior vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. "Their outstanding results on the racetrack speak for themselves, and we are pleased to name Triple Eight Australia as the Autodesk Inventor of the Month for January."

About the Autodesk Inventor of the Month Program

Each month, Autodesk selects an Inventor of the Month from the more than 700,000 users of Autodesk Inventor software, the foundation for Digital Prototyping. Winners are chosen for engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. For more information on Autodesk Inventor of the Month, contact us at IOM@autodesk.com.

About Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia

Headquartered just outside of Brisbane, Australia, Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia employs more than 45 race technologists, engineers, suspension technicians, commercial managers and administration assistants who are working to realize the company's dreams. Competing as TeamVodafone, drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have established a strong competitive reputation within the Australian V8 Supercars Championship. For additional information about Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia, visit http://www.tripleeight.com.au.

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they are built. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com/.

Autodesk, AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

    (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO)

     Contact:  Christine Stoner 416.874.8841       Alyson Howard  312.297.7430
     Email:    christine.stoner@autodesk.com       alyson.howard@edelman.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.

CONTACT: Christine Stoner of Autodesk, Inc., +1-416-874-8841, christine.stoner@autodesk.com; or Alyson Howard, +1-312-297-7430, alyson.howard@edelman.com, for Autodesk, Inc.
/Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
http://www.prnewswire.com