Engines roaring down the track. A checkered flag emphatically performing its victory dance. Crowds erupting with continued traditions.
Lucca Conti, perched in a stand beside the track, studied a monitor filled with several windows of data, exhausted but overjoyed. The junior mechanical engineering major has never once missed attending an Indianapolis 500, but this year, the race was extra special because, for the first time, Conti was part of the greatest spectacle of racing not as a spectator, but as part of a racing team.
Photo by Brendon Sego
In the week leading up to a race, Conti and his teammates tested every sensor and part in the racecar, meticulously marking through a checklist that spanned several shared spreadsheets. As race weekend approached, the team traveled to racetracks around the country where Conti helped set up the team's timing stand along the track. On race day, he was responsible for providing critical real-time data about the car and driver's performance utilizing Pi Toolbox.
The cap was emblematic of a legacy Conti was proud to carry on. The Hulman family, whose generous gifts in 1971 earned them a permanent place in the Institute's name, also became legendary in racing, after Anton "Tony" Hulman, Jr. purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1945.
"I take pride in this school more than anything. I love this school, I love the people, and I love what it means to be a Fightin' Engineer." -Lucca Conti (ME, 2027)
It's not the only legacy that Conti seeks to uphold at the racetrack. His mother, Linda, was the first female team manager in IndyCar, and his father was a team owner in the USF2000 series.
"The most important thing that they have taught me isn't the engineering or the love of racing. It is to be a kind and decent human being and treat everyone with respect."
"My mom is my best friend. She's done so many cool things and been so groundbreaking," Conti said. "My dad and I call every day to talk about racing, the direction we went with the car, or the team."
Because of his parents' influence, Conti has never known a life without racing in the fast lane. He grew up at the track, and those long hours spent watching with an eager eye created a deep appreciation for not only the technical innovations but also the artistry of the cars flying down the track. It was only natural that, when he found a kit camera in his home, he immediately taught himself photography so that he could capture those fleeting moments forever.
"I love capturing that sense of speed, the details of the cars and the beauty of them, and, more recently, the human aspect behind the crew and the people who work on them," he said.
Much like how his understanding of the racecars goes under the hood, his knowledge of photography also pushes past the lens. Last summer, he worked at Roberts Camera in Indianapolis learning to repair cameras.
Photography was his aperture toward building his own professional name in racing. As he photographed, Conti introduced himself to the teams, establishing connections that led him to his co-op. In addition to his engineering responsibilities during his co-op, Conti did spy photography for the team, capturing photos of their competitors and their technical choices.
Conti's familiarity with the art of photography complemented his passion for the science of racing.
"It's been very useful to the team - especially in a spec series like IndyCar where everyone has the same car - to see what our competitors are doing," Conti said.
"I love racing more than anything, and this [co-op] only established my love for this sport even more," Conti said. "I hope to be back next year because this has been the best six months of my life."
The rush of the cars puts a rush in his heart, and his career goal is to immerse himself even deeper, making an impact in the sport he loves.
From his earliest childhood memories to his growing photography skills, to late nights at the garage and every Indianapolis 500 in between, Conti's relish for racing drives him toward success. His lifelong passion for the sport and the network of support he has built - both professional and familial - are helping him focus on a path sure to land him in the winner's circle.
Photos provided by Lucca Conti.