People

Ken Anderson

Ken Anderson's name is synonymous with engineering versatility in motorsport. Over more than four decades, he has crossed disciplines, borders, and technologies—designing winning cars and shaping racing projects across IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, off-road racing, and more. From pioneering shock absorber technology to building one of the world's most advanced wind tunnels, Anderson's work has left an enduring mark on the sport.

Anderson's technical journey began in motocross and road racing motorcycles. As General Manager and Chief Designer at Moto X Fox / Fox Factory (1979–1984), he delivered numerous championships and developed advanced suspension systems. In 1982, his designs contributed to the CART IndyCar Championship and in 1983 to an Indianapolis 500 win.

In 1984, Anderson joined Penske Racing in CART as Chief Engineer and Race Engineer to Rick Mears (1985–1988). He designed Penske Racing Shocks and helped found the company in 1984. The company secured exclusive contracts with Porsche North America for the 962 program and Williams F1 (1985–1988), where his work contributed to the team's 1987 Constructors' Championship. During this period, Penske also won multiple Indy 500s with Anderson as race engineer (1985, 1987 and 1988).

In 1989, Anderson became Technical Director at Ligier F1, engineering for René Arnoux. He then moved to Onyx Grand Prix as Technical Director, working with Stefan Johansson and JJ Lehto, and founded Quantum Suspension Technology and Quantum D.A.T.A..

From 1991–1992, he was Technical Director at Chip Ganassi Racing, engineering for Eddie Cheever and Robby Gordon, and formed G-Force Precision Engineering Ltd. in England. G-Force went on to build the first generation IRL cars, and the Thrust SSC land speed record car, which on October 15, 1997, reached 763.035 mph (1,227.985 km/h), becoming the only car to break the sound barrier.

In the mid-1990s, Anderson helped define the IRL's inaugural chassis rules, as well as serving as Technical Director at Bradley Motorsports, and engineered Buzz Calkins to victory in the inaugural IRL race at Disney World and the 1996 IRL Championship. He designed the G-Force IRL car that won the 1997 Indianapolis 500 with Arie Luyendyk, and the 1997 Indycar Championship with Tony Stewart

Anderson's CART career also included Technical Director roles at A.J. Foyt Racing (1993), Bettenhausen Motorsports (1994), PPI / Arciero Wells Racing (1998), and Team Gordon (1999). He engineered multiple drivers including Robby Gordon, Hiro Matsushita, and Stefan Johansson.

In 2000–2001, he engineered for Alex Gurney in Toyota Atlantic and led projects for Dan Gurney's All American Racers. He designed and manufactured the Falcon IndyCar in Charlotte (2002–2003).

From 2003–2007, he was Technical Director at Haas CNC Racing in NASCAR's Cup and Busch Series, building the infrastructure that transformed a back-marker into a team capable of winning the 2011 and 2014 NASCAR Championships. He also oversaw the design and construction of WindShear, a 180 mph full-scale rolling-road wind tunnel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2008, Anderson co-founded the USF1 team with Peter Windsor, aiming to re-establish a full-time American entry in Formula 1. Though the project did not reach the grid due to contracted sponsorship money not being paid, it underscored his ambition and vision.

From 2016 to 2025, through Grand Prix Engineering, LLC, Anderson designed and manufactured racing products for multiple markets, continuing work on ANDESIGN projects launched in 1984. His career portfolio includes work with elite teams such as Penske Racing, Williams F1, Ligier F1, Brabham F1, AJ Foyt Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Dan Gurney's All American Racers, Bradley Motorsports, Bettenhausen Motorsports, Haas CNC Racing, PPI/Arciero Wells Racing, Team Gordon, and Holbert Racing/Porsche USA.

Career Highlights & Major Wins

• Indianapolis 500 Wins: 1983 (Tom Sneva), 1985 (Danny Sullivan), 1987 (Al Unser Sr.), 1988 (Rick Mears), 1997 (Arie Luyendyk)

• IndyCar/CART Championships: 1982 (Rick Mears), 1985 (Al Unser Sr.), 1988 (Danny Sullivan), 1996 (Buzz Calkins)

• F1 Constructors' Championship: 1987 (Williams)

• Land Speed Record: Thrust SSC, 1997 – only car to break the sound barrier.

Ken Anderson's name is synonymous with engineering versatility in motorsport. Over more than four decades, he has crossed disciplines, borders, and technologies—designing winning cars and shaping racing projects across IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, off-road racing, and more. From pioneering shock absorber technology to building one of the world's most advanced wind tunnels, Anderson's work has left an enduring mark on the sport.

Anderson's technical journey began in motocross and road racing motorcycles. As General Manager and Chief Designer at Moto X Fox / Fox Factory (1979–1984), he delivered numerous championships and developed advanced suspension systems. In 1982, his designs contributed to the CART IndyCar Championship and in 1983 to an Indianapolis 500 win.

In 1984, Anderson joined Penske Racing in CART as Chief Engineer and Race Engineer to Rick Mears (1985–1988). He designed Penske Racing Shocks and helped found the company in 1984. The company secured exclusive contracts with Porsche North America for the 962 program and Williams F1 (1985–1988), where his work contributed to the team's 1987 Constructors' Championship. During this period, Penske also won multiple Indy 500s with Anderson as race engineer (1985, 1987 and 1988).

In 1989, Anderson became Technical Director at Ligier F1, engineering for René Arnoux. He then moved to Onyx Grand Prix as Technical Director, working with Stefan Johansson and JJ Lehto, and founded Quantum Suspension Technology and Quantum D.A.T.A..

From 1991–1992, he was Technical Director at Chip Ganassi Racing, engineering for Eddie Cheever and Robby Gordon, and formed G-Force Precision Engineering Ltd. in England. G-Force went on to build the first generation IRL cars, and the Thrust SSC land speed record car, which on October 15, 1997, reached 763.035 mph (1,227.985 km/h), becoming the only car to break the sound barrier.

In the mid-1990s, Anderson helped define the IRL's inaugural chassis rules, as well as serving as Technical Director at Bradley Motorsports, and engineered Buzz Calkins to victory in the inaugural IRL race at Disney World and the 1996 IRL Championship. He designed the G-Force IRL car that won the 1997 Indianapolis 500 with Arie Luyendyk, and the 1997 Indycar Championship with Tony Stewart

Anderson's CART career also included Technical Director roles at A.J. Foyt Racing (1993), Bettenhausen Motorsports (1994), PPI / Arciero Wells Racing (1998), and Team Gordon (1999). He engineered multiple drivers including Robby Gordon, Hiro Matsushita, and Stefan Johansson.

In 2000–2001, he engineered for Alex Gurney in Toyota Atlantic and led projects for Dan Gurney's All American Racers. He designed and manufactured the Falcon IndyCar in Charlotte (2002–2003).

From 2003–2007, he was Technical Director at Haas CNC Racing in NASCAR's Cup and Busch Series, building the infrastructure that transformed a back-marker into a team capable of winning the 2011 and 2014 NASCAR Championships. He also oversaw the design and construction of WindShear, a 180 mph full-scale rolling-road wind tunnel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2008, Anderson co-founded the USF1 team with Peter Windsor, aiming to re-establish a full-time American entry in Formula 1. Though the project did not reach the grid due to contracted sponsorship money not being paid, it underscored his ambition and vision.

From 2016 to 2025, through Grand Prix Engineering, LLC, Anderson designed and manufactured racing products for multiple markets, continuing work on ANDESIGN projects launched in 1984. His career portfolio includes work with elite teams such as Penske Racing, Williams F1, Ligier F1, Brabham F1, AJ Foyt Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Dan Gurney's All American Racers, Bradley Motorsports, Bettenhausen Motorsports, Haas CNC Racing, PPI/Arciero Wells Racing, Team Gordon, and Holbert Racing/Porsche USA.

Career Highlights & Major Wins

• Indianapolis 500 Wins: 1983 (Tom Sneva), 1985 (Danny Sullivan), 1987 (Al Unser Sr.), 1988 (Rick Mears), 1997 (Arie Luyendyk)

• IndyCar/CART Championships: 1982 (Rick Mears), 1985 (Al Unser Sr.), 1988 (Danny Sullivan), 1996 (Buzz Calkins)

• F1 Constructors' Championship: 1987 (Williams)

• Land Speed Record: Thrust SSC, 1997 – only car to break the sound barrier.