Siemens, AWS and Andretti Global take the checkered flag at Detroit Grand Prix – but that’s only the start
Did you hear about the race? …Wow!
Back in June of this year, the Motor City lived up to its reputation. A classic showdown among top Indy racers took place in the streets of Detroit.
An exciting weekend of racing was topped off when Kyle Kirkwood won the Detroit Grand Prix in car No. 27, a Siemens AWS Honda from Andretti Global.
The win highlights the synergies of Siemens Digital Industries Software and Amazon Web Services (AWS). It’s an intriguing real-world testament to the transformative power that exists between Siemens, AWS and our customers.
How the race was won
The race is 100 laps and Kyle led 48 of those laps. On lap 78, however, there was a little “bump and run” going on. Kyle tried to pass car No. 7 on the right, but in the process he bumped the rear tire of the car he was trying to pass. Immediately, you could see the result. Kyle’s front wing had been damaged and there was concern about aerodynamics and drag. But Kyle managed to press on. In the final 21 laps he was challenged, but he never lost the lead.
In fact, when the checkered flag fell, Kyle was a full 3.6 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. That’s a lifetime in the world of motorsports!
A reminder of the powerful potential within
Siemens Xcelerator
No question leveraging Siemens industrial software expertise and AWS comprehensive cloud services gave Andretti Global a competitive advantage. At the heart of our collaboration is the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of software which is now fully integrated into Andretti Global’s racing operations. For Andretti Global, this means new levels of performance through real-time analytics, advanced simulations and predictive decision-making capabilities – all of which proved crucial on race day.
A closer look at how the Siemens and AWS collaboration helped the Andretti team win:
- Improved aerodynamic efficiency: Crucial for overtaking and racing capabilities, speed on the straight-aways, cornering and maintaining sufficient downforce without generating too much drag
- Improved fuel economy: Essential for effective racing strategy and decisive pit stops, enabling key gains in race position
- Reduced vehicle weight: Enabling better acceleration and fuel economy – also enhancing steering, cornering and braking response
- Optimized direct-shift gearboxes: Capable and consistent rapid gear shifting; boosting acceleration, maneuvering and overtaking the opposition
- Reduced emissions: Central to IndyCar’s effort to make racing increasingly sustainable by actively decreasing the sport’s carbon footprint
With Siemens Xcelerator running on AWS infrastructure, Andretti Global engineers were able to process massive volumes of race data in real time, enabling split-second decisions based on predictive analytics, optimizing everything from car aerodynamics to race-day strategy.
The victory in Detroit serves as compelling evidence of how digital transformation in motorsport, powered by the right technology partners, can drive success on and off the track.
This partnership is more than a technology upgrade – it’s a strategic transformation. Siemens and AWS are providing Andretti Global with the solutions to lead the next era of racing innovation. From the garage to the grid, we provide digital solutions to make faster, smarter decisions that directly impact the future of motorsport technology.
-Tony Hemmelgarn, President and CEO, Siemens Digital Industries Software
We’re also pleased to welcome AWS to our family of partners at the Detroit Grand Prix as the co-primary, along with Siemens, on Kyle’s car in the lead up to Realize LIVE Americas 2025 in Detroit following the race weekend. The collaboration between Andretti Global and these two partners plays a vital role in how we prepare, adapt and compete week in and week out.
-Jill Gregory, President, Andretti Global
Celebrating the victory at the
Detroit Grand Prix winner’s circle
At center, Kyle Kirkwood from the Andretti Global team. To the right, in second place, Santini Ferrucci of A.J. Enterprises. To the far left, in third place, Colton Herta, also from the Andretti Global team.
This year’s DGP winner, Kyle Kirkwood, thanks Siemens
and AWS for a wonderful opportunity.
Next up, Siemens Realize LIVE Americas in Detroit
The Detroit Grand Prix victory was the precursor to a memorable week in Detroit. After the race, just 24 hours later, Siemens Realize LIVE got started with the talk of digital transformation moving from the race track to the halls of Huntington Place – a stone’s throw from the finish line.
What exactly is Realize LIVE?
Created by Siemens Digital Industries Software, Realize LIVE is the premier digital transformation conference designed for professionals in engineering, manufacturing, product lifecycle management, design and IT/software administration. It’s a multi-day event loaded with activities that connects users, industry experts and partners allowing them to share insights and explore the latest trends, technologies and best practices. It’s all about digital transformation and discussing the latest trends in industrial AI, the industrial metaverse – and the very latest is in AI/Gen AI for industry.
This year we had three Realize LIVE events. First, we had Realize LIVE Americas (Detroit) in early June. Next, in late June/early July we went overseas to Amsterdam for Realize LIVE Europe. Our final conference was Realize LIVE Asia-Pacific which took place early August in Bengaluru, India.
Siemens and AWS highlights
in Detroit
This event turned out to be our most-attended Realize LIVE ever! Almost 3,000 innovators and visionaries joined the festivities in Detroit. Siemens had over 450 sessions and more than 60 percent of the sessions were led by customers and partners sharing their real-world insights.
Below are some of the key sessions from Siemens and AWS. Click on the title and you’ll receive more details on what was covered and the speaker(s) involved:
The future of industrial digital transformation is GenAI + low-code
Transforming into a software-defined vehicle business with Siemens, Accenture and AWS
Glass furnace management with Mendix, IDF, and AI assistance
Automating deployment center on AWS
Polarion-Teamcenter integration, from inception to implementation
Deployment options of Siemens Opcenter on AWS
Supercharge Polarion with GenAI – HCLTech ALMate powered by AWS Bedrock
Product Engineering on AWS
If you’d like more information on these talks or on all the discussions that took place at Realize LIVE Americas, please visit here.
Siemens and AWS highlights
in Amsterdam
At Realize LIVE Europe there over 350 sessions that featured insightful customer success stories, real-world best practices and numerous industry innovations. In addition, attendees had a chance to dive in and experience the latest breakthroughs in over 50 hands-on workshops.
Below are some of the key sessions from Siemens and AWS. Click on the title and you’ll receive more details on what was covered and the speaker(s) involved:
Transform into an SDV business with Siemens, Accenture and AWS
Supercharging CAE: customer success with Simcenter X on AWS
The future of industrial digital transformation is GenAI and Low-Code
Data-driven innovations in Autonomous Vehicles development
Why Knorr Bremse transformed 2 Cloud with TcXPCM to reduce cost & CO2e
Here’s a pretty good blog that covers all the events.
Siemens and AWS highlights
in Bengaluru
Our very first Realize LIVE event in the Asia-Pacific region. Over 1,500 attendees came together to learn, connect and shape the future of digital transformation. The event also included 95 expert-led sessions. The Siemens Solutions Center was a huge hit!
Because this was a recent event, key sessions to share are still being determined. For more details on the festivities in Bengaluru, please click here.
Siemens and AWS together –
allowing you to create without limits
No question, Siemens and AWS are at the forefront of helping organizations jumpstart their digital transformation whether it’s through the cloud, a new AI-enabled SaaS offering or exploring the industrial metaverse. Or whether it’s on the racetrack, the shop floor, in the classroom or conference centers around the world. Siemens and AWS are here to assist and help companies of all sizes realize their digital transformation goals.
Once a company makes the shift to a more digitalized operation, employees become more efficient at their jobs and feel emboldened to tackle more challenging aspects of their work. Suddenly employees have the time, the tools and confidence to innovate and stay competitive.
They discover that, with Siemens and AWS they can create without limits.
This is something the Andretti team recently discovered and turned it into a historic win.
It’s time for you to take the wheel and thrive as well.
