Alex Offenbach: The Persistent Pursuit of Chasing a Dream

Author: Teresa Walker
Event Date: May 29, 2021
In the world of motorsports, chasing a dream never ends. There is always another race, another track, and the hope for another win. And as a Boilermaker, Alex Offenbach knows the drill that every race means he keeps going again and again and again until the checkered flag waves. On Sunday at the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500, Alex will be working alongside his teammates on Andretti Autosport for a third year as their damper specialist. Last year at our annual Interdisciplinary Engineering Colloquium, "Bumper to Bumper Engineering," Alex talked about his dream working at the Indy 500, his preparation in Purdue Engineering and the Multidisciplinary Engineering undergraduate degree program, and the payoffs for the hard work and long hours.

Video Highlights from "Bumper to Bumper Engineering:

"I am proud to be one of many to represent Purdue at one of the most prestigious motorsports events in the world. I encourage every student to never give up on chasing their dreams.” 

- Alex Offenbach, Damper Specialist, Andretti Autosport

The persistent pursuit of chasing a dream. Alex Offenbach standing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2021 Indy 500 Update 

“I am very excited to take part in my fourth Indianapolis 500. The Purdue connection to the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ is one of the biggest reasons that brought me to study at Purdue University. I am in my third season as a Damper Specialist for Andretti Autosport, where I build and tune the shocks for the #26 entry of Colton Herta. This year has been especially exciting for the team. Herta finished third in the championship last season and won the second race of the NTT Indycar Series season in St. Petersburg, Florida. Herta, who recently turned 21, is aiming to become the youngest winner in Indianapolis 500 history. He is building a reputation as one of the next big stars of Indycar! 

Another level of excitement for the team is that the #26 represents Gainbridge, an online annuity and life insurance agency which is also the entitlement sponsor for the Indy 500. Having a shot at winning the Indy 500 is not only a dream come true, but also a huge deal for our sponsors, as racing is as much a business as it is a sport. 

I am proud to be one of many to represent Purdue at one of the most prestigious motorsports events in the world. I encourage every student to never give up on chasing their dreams.” - Alex Offenbach 

More about Alex 

January 2020

Alex Offenbach, '16 Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE), attended his first Indianapolis 500 when he was thirteen years old. He had always been mechanically minded, but from the moment the cars screamed by for the first time he set his sights on one day being a part of that race. There was never a doubt in his mind when he was accepted to Purdue that it was the place for him due to its engineering prestige and its deep ties to the Indy 500 (i.e. The Purdue University All-American Marking Band has been the host band every year since 1927). Due to the unique nature of the MDE program, he quickly found his home in the School of Engineering Education. After graduation, he was able to continue chasing his dreams working for the company that designs and certifies all of Indycar's racetracks. The following year he joined Andretti Autosport, which at the time was the defending champion of the previous two Indy 500's. Alex was able to complete his goal of being a part of the Indy 500! He now works as a Damper Specialist for Colton Herta's car with the team achieving two wins and three poles for the 2019 season, including smashing the record for Indycar's youngest ever race winner. 

Related: 2020 Colloquium "Bumper to Bumper Engineering: Multidisciplinary Engineering in the Automotive Industry"