Winder and the other drivers were selected after winning a driving competition among all of the team members.

"I was pretty surprised (to win)," Winder said. "I didn't think I'd do that well. I didn't have much experience driving . . . basically my only experience was from video games."

Winder said first-year teams are usually not expected to finish in the top 10 at the competition, but the team's goal is to reach that plateau.

Todd said the only real way to judge how well the students' final project turned out is how it does in the competition, but he was more concerned about what students have already achieved than how the racer places.

"It's very gratifying; I feel like a father with sons and daughters who sees them put their hearts and souls into something that is good and gives them lessons to use throughout life . . . it has really shaped their character," he said.

In his years of working as an engineer in the automotive industry, Todd said he has encountered few engineers with more promise than the ones he has coached during the past year.

"I can't imagine hiring many better engineers than the students I have on this project," he said. "They're outstanding, and it's been a privilege to work with them."

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com