Alex Knapp for Forbes:  Since right around the time people started driving cars, they've been racing them. And for over a century now, racing has been a major driver for innovation in how cars are built. Engineers and mechanics will put in a lot of sweat and brainpower just to gain racing edges of a tenth of a second.

That push for innovation is one reason why Team Penske signed a deal with 3D printing company Stratasys earlier this year for technical support and services.

Here's a few ways Team Penske is using 3D printing to gain a racing edge:

Rapid Prototyping

One of the most common uses for 3D printing by engineers is to make prototypes of parts and designs so they can be easily tested.

"Race teams love to test," says Jim Vurpillat, Director of Automotive and Aerospace. "3D printing allows them to try multiple things."

The overall impact, Vurpillat continues, is that the use of 3D printing for prototyping allows race teams like Team Penske to iterate and test designs more quickly.  Full Article: