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Solar-powered cars built by 20 teams will follow the historic Route 66 highway during the American Solar Challenge

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Drivers face a 2,300-mile (3,700-km) trip, but this driver from University of Arizona seems unfazed

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Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry was the setting for the race start

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Here a Texas A&M Solar Motorsports Team member carefully polishes his team's pride and joy...

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... while another does some last minute tinkering

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Students say their strategy is to go as fast as they can and avoid potholes on the highway...

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... where they have been making even the most modern cars on the road look hopelessly old fashioned