As early as 1904, a Bosch spark plug-equipped entry finished first at the Gordon Bennet race in Ireland. From there, it didn’t take long for Bosch power to make its way across the pond to the United States. In 1911, Ray Harroun’s legendary Marmon Wasp won the very first Indianapolis 500 running on Bosch spark plugs.

Since those early days, the thrill of speed and the challenge of competition have propelled auto racing into one of the most popular sports in the world today. Each year, millions of fans flock to the track to experience the heart-pounding exhilaration of NASCAR, IRL, Champ Car and many other racing events. The blending of leading-edge technology and fan appeal makes motorsports a prime showcase for Bosch. Racing is about performance, and Bosch wants its products to be seen in the same way.

Racing places enormous demands on a vehicle, testing every part to its limit. The information gathered and the lessons learned from working with leading race teams, translate into premium quality, innovative products for every vehicle on the road. For example, spark plugs for most major race series are hand made, using precious metals and two or more ground electrodes. Bosch adapted this technology for passenger vehicles in Bosch Platinum Series Spark Plugs.

Sometimes spinning your wheels and driving around in circles can be very productive.