U.S. Military To Use United States Grand Prix Equipment In Iraq
Indianapolis
Jun 26, 2007
Honda
Several pieces of machinery used in the 2007 United States Grand Prix to lift and move disabled Formula One cars will soon be on their way to the United States military in Iraq.
The nine JCB 541-70 loadalls that were used June 15-17 during the USGP at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have been purchased by the United States government and will arrive shortly in the Middle East.
During the USGP, the loadalls were outfitted with jigs, chains and linkage to safely move cars that had retired from the race but still remained in harm’s way. The cars were then loaded on flatbed trucks and transported back to the team’s paddock.
When the machines aren’t being used to lift 1,300-pound, state-of-the-art race cars, they are used in farming and construction to lift loads of up to 8,000 pounds nearly 23 feet high. Normally the loadalls used in the USGP are distributed to JCB dealers throughout the U. S. and are sold to civilian customers.
IMS “Wing and Wheel” logos have been added to the machines before they are shipped to the Middle East, alerting future operators to their prior work duty at the track. After departing Indianapolis, the loadalls will be transported to Savannah, Ga., where they will be packed into shipping containers and set sail to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, and will ultimately reach Iraq.
